When you look at a pickup truck the first thoughts you may have are generally centered around it being a useful tool. That's exactly what they are, they carry people and heavy loads from point A to point B. Nonetheless, you could get forgiven for thinking that's all there is to it, because, there's actually a lot more.
If pickups are just tools, then why do Americans buy more of them than any other vehicle? As we shall explore, there are some very good reasons why the pickup truck, which also can last you a lifetime, is the preferred vehicle of choice for Americans.
10 Pickup Trucks Are Reliable Workhorses
Reliability is always important when it comes to getting a vehicle. No one wants something that will not last them a long time. Pickup trucks do just that, they last a very long time. Studies conducted by the car search engine iseecars.com found that pickups can last over 200,000 miles. Some can last even longer with regular maintenance, for example, some owners of the Honda Ridgeline have noted mileages around the 300,000 mark. Considering pickups are generally seen as a work vehicle, that’s a pretty good number. On the domestic side though, who wouldn’t want something that can quite possibly last their lifetime.
9 Pickup Trucks Have The Ability To Go Anywhere
The ability to go anywhere is something that most vehicles do not have. Doing normal everyday driving, they are fine, but when it comes to getting out of the city and into nature, that's a different story. Pickup trucks give people the option to be able to go anywhere, even when the terrain gets rough and rugged. With features such as big chunky tires, low range transmission, 4WD and AWD systems coming as standard these days, pickups give people the ability to go where cars cannot. They can be surprisingly good daily drivers or an escape to the great outdoors.
8 Pickup Trucks Are Practical Machines
There's one feature that a pickup has that no car can beat and that's a flat load bed. There may be an argument that a station wagon has the same if you put the back seats down, however, there are some distinct differences. Firstly the load bed on a pickup is not restricted by height (obviously the load needs securing at a safe traveling height), unlike a station wagon where a roof limits how much it can hold. Secondly, and some may say, more importantly the suspension on a pickup is a lot stronger, so it can handle a much heavier load. A quality that's always handy to have whether it's used or not. On top of this, a pickup truck can transport as many people as a car. All in all, the pickup is a lot more practical than most other vehicles.
7 Pickup Trucks' Ability To Haul
When it comes to pulling power, pickups have loads, especially when they’re compared to average family vehicles. As with anything that’s hauled, it’s all about the weight and pickups can pull more. For example, the normal family vehicle has a hauling capacity between around 1,100 lbs - 9,300 lbs, whereas pickup trucks range between 6,720 lbs - 37,100 lbs. It is quite clear that pickup trucks offer people the option to haul much heavier items if they so choose. When you add this to the fact that pickups can literally go anywhere, the ability to haul makes them a very attractive package.
6 Pickup Trucks Have Plenty Of Power
If you put a pickup next to a normal family car or SUV, it is clear that they’re a bigger vehicle. So it makes sense that they would need bigger engines and more power to move them. The average horsepower of a family sized car is between 180 HP to 200 HP. Fortunately, pickup trucks have more power than that. For example, even a base model Ford F-150 has a 3.3-liter engine that produces 290 HP, in comparison a base model Honda Accord comes with a 1.5-liter engine producing 192 HP. Bigger engines and more power not only allows pickups to move heavier things but also gives them performance as well, for example, a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 can do 0-60 MPH in 6.0 seconds.
5 Pickup Trucks Are Offered In Various Trims And Models
With the popularity of pickup trucks increasing all the time, so is the range of pickups that are available. As some might say, the list is quite endless. Take, for instance, the off-road beast Chevrolet Silverado. There are three main models and within each model there are numerous categories like Reg Cab, Crew Cab, Extended Cab, Double Cab and so on. Or the ever more desirable Ford F-150, that has eight different models. Basically, there’s a huge range of choices for people to find a pickup truck that’s tailored towards their needs and wants.
4 Pickup Trucks Provide Great Value For Money
Gone are the days when pickups had no interior to speak to. They were basic, dull, and boring. Nothing to write home about. Thankfully, that’s all changed. Modern features that you find on cars as standard have become standard in pickups too. The cabins are comfortable places to sit, there's satellite navigation, infotainment systems, air conditioning, parking assist, Wi-Fi connectivity and so on. All the creature comforts you could think of. When you consider the price, it's hard not to think there's a lot that you get with a pickup. For instance, the jaw-dropping GMC Sierra has a MSRP starting at $38,995 which is roughly what you would pay for a family sedan. Pickup trucks have become an affordable option that offer a lot for the money that you pay.
3 Pickup Trucks Are Very Tough
Pickups are, by their very nature, built to be tough, rugged machines. You could say it's in their job description. Considering their primary function is to move heavy things around, they’re built to withstand the weight that’s placed on them, which means having a strong chassis. And that's just what they have, a chassis made from steel. Not only that, the chassis has to be strong enough to take on the uneven road surfaces it may encounter if it's taken off-road. Having a steel chassis gives the pickup the toughness it needs to tackle whatever situation it’s in.
2 Pickup Trucks Have Attractive Bulky Designs
Early designs of pickups featured nothing in terms of flare. They were practical, functional pieces of machinery. Essentially an open box with a cabin on four wheels. A boring, passionless, soulless, dull, dreary pile of metal that had no character. Fast-forward to the present day and everything's changed. They still have the same basic shape, but a lot more thought has gone into the design. Now they’re chunky and bulky with bold bulges in just the right places. They have become attractive and trendy, some may say sexy in their design. There is now a brutal charm to the pickup truck that is very appealing to the masses.
1 Pickup Trucks Are Very Versatile
One of the main virtues of a pickup truck is that it can wear many hats. Apart from the obvious, of it being a solid workhorse and a go anywhere vehicle, it can also cameo as a family vehicle. Many pickups have cabins that are as luxurious and as comfortable as a car. There’s plenty of space for a family or the weekly shop, or whatever a family uses a vehicle for. Pickups are now a more versatile vehicle, able to perform many different functions. That versatility makes them a good choice for lots of people.