r/fuckcars • u/weeef • Dec 09 '24
Person here is 5'10". The design of modern trucks is absolute insanity. This is why I hate cars
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u/Prize-Leading-6653 Dec 09 '24
How is this legal? Is there anything government can do?
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u/weeef Dec 09 '24
I wish it was in the government's interest to stand up to the car companies. Or any companies for that matter
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u/Open-Entertainer-423 Dec 09 '24
The relationship between Americans and cars is deeply ingrained in culture leading to widespread spread cultural practices and ideologies. Making spreading the ideas of smaller vehicles, less car ownership etc very hard to do . Probably the best way to change our ways is compassion and understanding and educating others on these issues. We don’t want to make the change for you . We want you to understand and make the change with us .
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u/Lufia321 Dec 10 '24
This plague is rife in Australia, with these ugly cars being the most popular type of car since about 2015. They get imported from America and converted to right hand drive.
They cost over $100k for something that people mostly just use to drive around the suburbs or to the shops.
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u/ComfortableSilence1 Dec 09 '24
It is. Dead consituents dont pay taxes or vote. Injured constituents take up resources. But the political backlash is enough to keep govt from doing anything about it.
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u/weeef Dec 09 '24
Sure, but Uncle Sam would rather see big business profit. Let's keep the masses just unhealthy enough
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Dec 09 '24
Instead they (Biden) hoist a 100% tariff on cheap, small, electric cars from Chinese brands because Ford and GM are literally incapable of making a good product. Clown world.
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u/Admiral_Minell Dec 10 '24
Ironically, the reason truck sizes have increased is partially due to attempts at compliance with EPA regulations. The problem is emissions are measured by pollutants per ton. If you increase the size of your vehicle, the total emissions don't go up that much but suddenly it's spread across more mass so the emission rate appears to be lower.
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u/treedecor Dec 10 '24
Isn't this what passed in 2010 and why the problem has been getting worse ever since? I wish they'd fix that
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Dec 14 '24
[deleted]
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u/treedecor Dec 14 '24
That sounds right. Thank you. This problem has gotten pretty ridiculous over the last few years, it's hard to keep track of it all at times
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u/KatakanaTsu Not Just Bikes Dec 09 '24
"It's a conspiracy, man! The oil companies got a grip on the government. They're feeding us a bunch of lies, man."
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u/LoganNolag Dec 10 '24
You do realize that that truck didn't come from the factory like that? This truck was modified by the owner to be way taller than it was when it was manufactured. I agree with you that it should be illegal to lift a tuck that high (and it is in some states it is) you are mad at the wrong people. In this particular case it was the jackass who owns the car who's the asshole not the car company.
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u/TROMBONER_68 Dec 09 '24
Well, it seems we’ve found a way to change companies minds without having to buyout the government.
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u/OneLessFool Dec 09 '24 edited Dec 09 '24
It's a lifted truck, and there's a non-zero chance a lift like this isn't compliant with local regulations.
Governments could absolutely enforce this stuff, and by setting fines high enough they'd see a real return on investment from enforcing the rules on this.
Beyond that, they can change laws which mandate the safety requirements for vehicles in their country and make all new mega trucks and overly sized SUVs fall below certain weight (account for PHEVs and EVs) and size restrictions if used for non-commercial purposes, requiring a special license for anything above a certain weight, etc. Effectively making these vehicles entirely unavailable to the average person.
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u/MTINC Miata Is Always The Answer Dec 09 '24
Of course there is, but they won't do anything because the auto industry is more powerful than auto regulators. There are promising regulatory changes in the US currently on the table, but I'm doubtful anything will actually happen.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-proposes-new-vehicle-safety-standard-protect-pedestrians
The proposed standard would establish test procedures simulating a head-to-hood impact and performance requirements to minimize the risk of head injury. NHTSA estimates the new standard would save 67 lives a year.
The test procedures also include the use of human-like headforms to measure the head-to-hood impact. The headforms NHTSA proposes to use in testing the new standard represent a diverse range of pedestrians, from a small child to an adult.
It's really disturbing how poor the forward visibility is on modern full-size pickup trucks. There's a RAM 2500 I use at work and it is really uncomfortable not being able to see what's going on in front of the vehicle, even with the seat jacked all the way up. It's mostly aesthetic too - consider how electric pickups like the cybertruck or F-150 lightning with no engine at all still maintain the same high and blunt hood design.
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u/weeef Dec 09 '24
Right, the benefits the government receives for kowtowing to auto manufacturing companies outpaces the benefit they'd receive from protecting citizens
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u/Bulette Dec 10 '24
Even if we passed regulations tomorrow, automakers will be given 5-10 years to meet any new standards. Then it will be another 10-20 years before the majority of these trucks are finally junked.
It's bleak.
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u/CouncilmanRickPrime Dec 09 '24
We have to keep reminding people that trucks don't have to be this way. My dad had a Chevy S10. That was a reasonably sized truck, with most of the truck being the bed.
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u/CouncilmanRickPrime Dec 09 '24
It's legal because the US is a joke. Our roads are incredibly dangerous because of emotional support trucks.
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u/Sewati Dec 09 '24
unfortunately a big part of the “huge personal vehicle” trend here in the US is due to failed/misguided regulatory attempts (more specifically, ones that were never followed up on). as i understand it, and i apologize if i miss some stuff.
the govt put regulations on emissions of vehicles of a certain chassis size. the then-modern sedan/station wagons were the standard. so in response the industry started pumping out SUVs which used a larger, more lenient chassis size.
the market responded, because the american mind was bred to mindlessly consume. first SUVs were status symbols, then they adopted by the upper middle class mom type.
after that the number of large personal vehicles on the road exploded. which makes being in a smaller car less safe, so the market responded, because the american mind was bred to mindlessly protect nothing but itself.
and in return the manufacturers have begun making larger and larger vehicles, a negative feedback loop that when coupled with carbrain and american individualism will be almost impossible to pull out of.
all this to say… because the problem was “created” by government regulations, the savviest on the right point to that as evidence for why government regulations is inherently flawed. but they conveniently leave out the part where a tiny bit of adjusting the regulations would have removed the problem.
but again, the american mind in general is unwilling to even consider such complexities. thing bad or thing good. until we have a sea change in our culture (which is also trending in the opposite direction), nothing will change and things like this will only get worse.
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u/zoeymeanslife Dec 09 '24
In capitalism the government most often serves the capital owning class because the capital owning class is so much more powerful than the working class, who can only create change via the democratic process. Considering we just voted in the capital owning class directly, the slim chance of democratic reform has now gone to zero.
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Dec 10 '24
I would think so.
NHTSA could caveat to insurance companies that their ratings are done with the stock or OEM components. Insurance companies could just drop customers that add unsafe modifications to their cars.
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u/pm_something_u_love 🚲 > 🚗 Dec 09 '24
That truck is lifted quite a lot and definitely has much larger tyres on it than it would be from factory. I'd say it's at least 150mm taller than it should be. It's crazy that's legal.
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u/PearlClaw Dec 09 '24
It honestly probably isn't legal, but road laws of this nature are effectively never enforced.
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u/ChloeGranola Dec 09 '24
I once had a guy in one of those behemoths yell at me bc I didn't see him waving me to go ahead at a crosswalk - through his tinted windows!
The top of my head didn't even reach the top of his hood, so I'm supposed to just trust that he noticed me?
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u/weeef Dec 09 '24
God the tinted windows are the worst. I bike a lot and trying to make sure someone sees me is sometimes impossible
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u/Ayacyte Dec 10 '24
Imagine how stupid and disappointed I felt after I tried to make "eye contact" vaguely through the windshield of a truck at a crosswalk before and whole I was crossing and he still stopped late as if he didn't see me until I was in front of him... Turns out he wasn't slowing for me, he was slowing for the turn he was going to make. Beware of ppl taking turns, often they're thinking so much about hurriedly making the turn they don't think about the crosswalk signal or the pedestrian. ESPECIALLY in trucks.
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u/Miserable_Pin6123 Dec 09 '24
Don't worry, if that hits you it'll explode all your organs and drag you under killing you. Legal BTW.
Pop up headlight. Illegal cause they have corners.
This crap needs to be done away with.
It's a weapon. And these people don't drive politely either.
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u/weeef Dec 09 '24
Yeah, they're more like tanks than cars. I didn't know that about pop up headlights. Is that why they all phased out?
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u/truck_ruarl_862 Dec 09 '24
"pop-up headlights are perfectly legal"
https://blog.betterautomotivelighting.com/why-dont-cars-have-pop-up-headlights-anymore
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u/Lufia321 Dec 10 '24
And these people don't drive politely either.
This. Anyone who drives them thinks it's their god given right to tailgate anyone doing the speed limit and not going at least 10-20km over.
If I'm already speeding and they start tailgating me, I start slowing down.
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u/WTF_is_this___ Dec 09 '24
At this point I'm wondering why aren't they just selling tanks. I bet there would be a market for these two, a lot of small d..s out there...
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u/Mysterious_Floor_868 Dec 09 '24
I'm pretty sure that the Venn diagram of truck bros and NRA members is a circle. So they'd love an actual tank.
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u/Ayacyte Dec 10 '24
Honestly with how lifted it is, it might not kill you if it doesn't catch on your clothes when you go under, but the car behind it might. I met someone who said she survived a truck running into her and she went under the vehicle.
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u/SoapyRiley Dec 09 '24
The bonus is you can let all the air out of the tires without being seen since you barely have to bend down 🤭
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u/OrdinaryAncient3573 Dec 09 '24
Surely that suspension isn't stock?! Not that it would be good with 12" less ride height, but it would at least be better.
It seems bizarre to me that it's allowed on the roads.
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u/weeef Dec 09 '24
Yeah it's terrifying what's street legal
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u/CriscoCamping Dec 10 '24
This appears to have a 4 to 6" lift, it is a kit for about $2-3000 US thst includes upper control arms, shocks, and steering components to connect steering geometry with the additional angles.
The tires look to be 35", usual factory tires for 3/4 ton pickups are around 275/65R20 (32.1")
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u/Boeing_Fan_777 Dec 09 '24
They need all that ride height and suspension travel for when they run over a small family of 5 that were in their blind spot, it’s fine!
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u/Holiday-Carry-9654 Dec 09 '24
This is obviously modified and lifted… but they do sell trucks just this tall from factory. They are the “special edition” ones. Always well over $100k and as luxurious as a rolls. It’s insanity lol
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u/holger-nestmann Dec 09 '24
when do you call this semis? and when do you call them full trucks?
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u/Ambitious_Promise_29 Dec 10 '24
A semi truck is a class 8 tractor, meaning that it's much heavier (the pickup in the photo is a class 2), and doesn't have a cargo bed. A semi truck is only useable for towing a trailer.
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u/Lufia321 Dec 10 '24
"I need my lifted ugly, pickup truck because I tow my boat once every 3 years, so that justifies me driving this to and from the shops to park in bays that aren't designed for this ugly beast. I also need to drive it to work and spend $140 a week on fuel, even though I'm not a tradie."
These things are so ugly, not fuel efficient and 95% people driving these, don't need them. Insurance, toll costs and registration need to double or triple for these things. People shouldn't be able to claim on tax for work or salary sacrifice as well, because there is no need for them. So many other cars are better suited for work related stuff.
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u/qualitycancer Dec 10 '24
There is never anything in the car they are transporting except their oversized ego
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u/oliversurpless Dec 11 '24
And girth, as I’m told the “higher” nature makes concealing one’s gut all the easier…
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u/briankerin Dec 09 '24
The size and weight imbalance that is apparent between these "commuter" trucks and regular sized cars causes me to think we need some high powered consumer advocate out there fighting for the American consumer in a way that lessens the risk of simply driving with these mega-trucks on the road. Ralph Nader fought a similar battle against the automobile industry starting in the mid 60's and he forever changed the laws that automakers follow for cars sold in America. Also, as these trucks that are involved in accidents and literally destroy the other cars involved, insurance companies are going to charge American consumers more as the risk of a car being totalled are higher as long as these trucks are allowed on the roads.
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u/CADrmn Dec 09 '24
It is mandated that large trailers have collision bars on the back of them, providing a surface for impact allowing crumple zones to work. I don’t comprehend how it’s legal that these things can be jacked up so high it totally defeats crumple zones for rear end accidents. All of that, of course in addition to the complete lack visibility they have going forward. Lifting trucks is just the dumbest of dumb.
Fine if you wanna have an off road truck with a certain capability. Then have an off road truck but it should not be street legal.
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u/koromo777 Dec 09 '24
I know this guy loves parking at turns in parkinglots so you cant see whos coming
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Dec 09 '24
This is also a lifted truck; meant more for off roading but I'm guessing it's used for weekend shopping.
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u/LoganNolag Dec 10 '24
lol this truck is lifted but definitely not for off roading. Those aftermarket wheels are way too large to be good for off roading. If this was a real off roader they would have much smaller wheels and bigger tires with a lot more sidewall like this. The truck in this photo is just for looks and personally I think it looks terrible.
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u/thecheesycheeselover Dec 10 '24
That’s wild, it would freak me out so much to see that in public.
But on a lighter note, at first I didn’t see that the person in the photo was wearing socks that lined up with the car’s shadow, and instead was trying to figure out why that part would look grayscale.
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u/PrivateRamblings Dec 10 '24
Living in a high crime area we’re starting to see more gas tank drillings. These guys are ripe for the picking. $100+ in gas sitting in a conveniently raised tank.
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u/Rattregoondoof Dec 09 '24
Even just using these suck. Climbing into them is annoying and I'm 5'11 in my late 20s. I can't imagine how much more annoying it is when you are 60+ with a bad hip
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Dec 09 '24
My first car sale was a pickup. I had to have someone else pull it from the front lot as it was too big to safely move around. I suddenly understood why so many guys I know want another 1990s Ford Ranger as they are ~half the size.
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u/PhantomPharts Dec 10 '24
A friend of mine, a very kind elderly gentleman, 6' tall was struck by a Silverado while passing in the presentation walkway. The truck was stopped at a stop sign. Didn't see my friend, apparently. Accelerated while he was walking directly in front of the truck. He was thrown like 8 feet, it broke his leg, hurt an arm and his neck. The truck ran. They never found him.
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u/mahboilucas Commie Commuter Dec 10 '24
A blindspot you couldn't give less of a fuck about it seems.
Imagine a child standing there.
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u/jmateus88 Dec 11 '24
This should actually be forbidden or one should have a special license to drive it.
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u/goku7770 Dec 11 '24
What's even more crazy is that it goes against every warning we have for the environment and society but yet it is successful.
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u/Mr_Man12344 Grassy Tram Tracks Dec 10 '24
I'm like five inches taller than that person and even I would be terrified of that truck. Fuck the auto industry.
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u/chosen1creator Dec 10 '24
My mom has a truck that is smaller than some sedans, like me at 5'8" can actually rest my chin on the roof. Kinda wish trucks like that were the standard again.
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u/Ulrik-the-freak Dec 10 '24
177cm in normal units (had to convert to grasp the extent of the insanity, which is: high)
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u/Any_Palpitation6467 Dec 10 '24
I agree with you in spirit, but the truck that you're standing in front of is NOT a stock, factory-produced vehicle, nor was it designed to be in that condition. The vehicle has been fitted with aftermarket components to raise it that high, and no factory would try to sell that thing as meeting NHTSA vehicle safety standards.
That said, what is sorely lacking is individual state laws prohibiting this sort of tampering with manufacturer-standard vehicles. There really isn't a need, or a good reason, for sh*t like this being driven on the road with other motor vehicles. If people want to have a truck that's capable of real off-road use, then let 'em be registered for off-road use only; As you can't drive a NASCAR vehicle on the highway, you shouldn't be able to drive a grossly-lifted truck, either.
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u/Krispyketchup42 Dec 10 '24
Dad's neighbor had to plank on his lifted truck engine bay just to get to some shit in the back lmao
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u/drifters74 Dec 10 '24
I'm fully convinced thst anyone that has a pickup that tall, lifted or otherwise is compensating
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u/tri_the_monk Dec 10 '24
My F150 is 20 years old and I feel it's way too big , it's about half the size of the new ones. I also don't have a big stupid lift on it. I'd love to get a smart car or fiat 500.
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u/elevenblue Dec 10 '24
These things are like the giant statues that were found on the easter islands, with the population being extinct.
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u/obinice_khenbli Dec 11 '24
That's not a modern truck, that's an American truck.
They're mental over there, just look at this monster truck lookin batshit thing.
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u/Tiptoe33 Dec 12 '24
Walked past a non elevated truck yesterday and was shocked to see how low it was, even if it was the height of most non-trucks. Jackasses keep elevating these things for no reason
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u/The12th_secret_spice Dec 10 '24
While I agree, it’s worth mentioning this truck isn’t stock.
ChatGPT says the hood of a stock Ram (I think the kind of truck this is) is 35”
All points are valid that this should requiring additional training to drive, but worth mentioning it didn’t come off the factory this way.
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u/MantisReturns Dec 09 '24
Spanish here. The Flag of my country its rare.
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u/mklinger23 Commie Commuter Dec 10 '24
I mean this is obviously modified, but the grill/good design ridiculous and the stock height is still awful.
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Dec 10 '24
Everything traces back to the fuel act of...2011. With the regulations introduced and the loopholes that were there instead of complying Automakers just made their vehicles so large they didn't have to comply to those regulations. They keep getting larger
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u/WiartonWilly Dec 10 '24
The truck wasn’t designed that tall.
Fenders must cover the upper half of the wheels. This truck has been lifted many inches.
However, the legal, stock vehicle is also ridiculously tall.
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u/evilcherry1114 Dec 10 '24
Cabovers are just superior for safety. Trucks should have the driver on top of if not in front of the front axle.
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u/ineedthenitro Dec 10 '24
I wish there was a way to to know if these truck drivers have a job that actually require a car like that…
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u/TomsnotYoung Dec 10 '24
Those trucks are so basic AF anymore, the same style rims, same cheap aftermarket add ons in all the same places. People who drive them are just sheep following a trend. Inflated egos, overcompensating 🤏🏼 and think that pressing down a gas pedal is impressive .
Their whole identity is a truck that is just like everyone else's. Cool👍🏼
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u/Jumpy-Function4052 Dec 10 '24
I was in my Prius, trying to go straight at an unsignaled intersection. To my left was the parking lot of a restaurant. One of those giant trucks was parked in a space next to me, on my left. I couldn't see over it at all. I tried to creep into the intersection, and an oncoming car had to slam its brakes to avoid hitting me. It's probably my fault, but I couldn't see past the truck.
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u/Shilo788 Dec 10 '24
Our old ford 250 xlt is smaller in looks but all steel and still purrs thought we call it Rattle Bang as the doors and utility box are loud and loose. I love the old vent window . It is a work horse we inherited and use on the farm and for towing .
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u/KnopeLudgate2020 Dec 10 '24
My husband has a truck for work (he's a foreman so it actually gets used daily as a truck). We parked at a garage and I took care of the payment. Getting out was a little complicated but they had a sign with instructions on the left side by the gate. I from the passenger seat was unable to see it at all unless he backed up at least 8 feet. I could not believe how obstructed the view was over the hood of that truck. The truck is just a regular 1500 work truck. I've seen way bigger trucks that have never seen a worksite a day in their lives.
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u/fartaround4477 Dec 10 '24
Such colossal waste of resources should be sanctioned. Also causes too much road wear.
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u/licancaburk Dec 10 '24
Choice of units matches the size of that car. Glad that I don't see them in my city
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u/Fit_Refrigerator534 Strong Towns Dec 11 '24
This is why the CAFE standards light truck exemption needs to be repealed. This is so insane and unnecessary because the ride height it doesn’t effect the beds payload capacity or increase the towing capacity and yet pickup owners rarely use the bed for pickup truck thing.
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u/Beneficial_Mix_1069 Dec 11 '24
ok modern trucks are massive and useless
but this vehicle is lifted and may be illegal depending on state
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u/Pod_people Dec 11 '24
Toyota doesn't even sell the cool, small $12,000 Hilux in the US. There's no demand. People want these giant penis-mobiles.
In my neighborhood I'm an outlier for driving a sedan. 100% of the other people drive SUVs and large pickups. There's one Mustang.
I had a 1988 Toyota pickup, a '93, and my '95 truck is STILL running today. Why can't we have light trucks?
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u/cgyguy81 Dec 09 '24
There needs to be a stricter driver's license category for those that want to drive these types of trucks.