Will trucks ever become awesome again?

[u/cakeba]

I bought my first truck recently, a 2017 F-150 SCSB with the 5.0 and the 6 speed. 4x4. It has NOTHING. Manual windows, manual locks, I consider the A/C system to be the most luxurious aspect of the vehicle. I love it to death.

Is that era totally over and have I scored the last of its kind? Will we ever see boxy, simple, spacious trucks again? The free market is supposed to dictate what gets produced but between government regulations and what people are buying, it seems like every new truck is just amber running lights, plastic everything, complicated and expensive tech...

I feel a little bit hopeless about what the future holds for pickups, but I also think that if they made a real pickup for the pickup crowd, like literally brought back bricknoses and square bodies with nothing more than a modern power train (not too modern; a naturally aspirated V8 will do just fine) and modern suspension, they'd be knockouts with trades companies, simple people like myself, broke blue collar guys... How do we get them to put 4 wheel drive under metal boxes again without ipads for climate controls?

[u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

What exactly is it that you’re asking for? This Reddit circlejerk of cars being too nice or “tech-y” is so boring.

Manual windows? Manual locks? Are you on crack? It’s 2025, you don’t need to live like this anymore. The power windows and locks in a 1995 Camry will probably still work today nearly 30 years later.

Complicated and expensive tech? 99% of these base level trucks have basically cruise control and some minor safety features. Most of these things you complain about are safety and driver assistance related.

This circlejerking and race to the bottom of who can be happiest with the shittiest interior is ridiculous. Every truck manufacturer offers a work truck trim like the RAM Tradesman, 1500 W/T, F150 XL, etc. with what you’re asking for and you literally want less. It’s like false modesty but worse.

[u/TruckTires → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

Well said! OP is crazy for thinking 2017 was the last year of the real man's "simple truck". What a line of bull.

Why doesn't OP go back even farther to the even simpler and "real-er" trucks with a carbureted engine, no power brakes, no power steering, no crumple zones in the chassis, no air bags or shoulder strap seatbelts, and a 6 volt electrical system and starter. Now THAT'S the simplest, realest, manliness turned up to level 100 kind of truck!! Lol

This whole post oozes the energy of "I couldn't afford a better/nicer truck, so I'll just argue that my basic cheap truck is still better... somehow".

[u/PlaneReflection → u/TruckTires]

Who needs fancy fuel injection? Just pull on the choke. /s

[u/macs_rock → u/TruckTires]

Psh, your truck has electric start? Break your arms cranking it by hand like a REAL MAN!

[u/TruckTires → u/macs_rock]

Bro, you're right but now I'm looking for a lorry that runs on coal and steam. Internal combustion is witchcraft magic and therefore must be a modern sissy man's way to get around.

[u/macs_rock → u/TruckTires]

A buddy of mine is a real prepper type guy, and after the battery in his Camry took a dump last week he started looking into how to DIY one (he's not remotely knowledgable about cars). After I shot that idea full of holes, I told him to start researching early steam engines since anything ICE is not gonna be feasible over the really long term, mostly because anything remotely modern won't like whatever oil is left 40 years post apocalypse.

[u/ThiqSaban → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

It's the the new wave of hipsters, "I like it because it sucks", nostalgic for a time most of them weren't even old enough to experience, fragile masculinity begging to be validated by a "work truck" that won't do any work harder than moving a couch

[u/Scared-Loquat-7933 → u/ThiqSaban]

Literally. Then they're like it'll "last forever" disregarding the fact that something as stupid as the power windows breaking or infotainment shitting the bed don't affect its ability to start up and drive.

[u/Minuhmize → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

Ding ding ding. These basic trucks (which are still available from most manufacturers), also cost about the same as the basic trucks from the 90s. The only difference is, the interior is nicer, they have more power/torque, they tow more, and you won’t die if you hit a car at 40 mph.

Yes, there are 100k trucks which is insane, but the market demands it. They sell. Regardless, you can still purchase a $40k f150, which adjusting for inflation is pretty much what they cost in the 90s.

The only real outliers here are RAMs and Jeeps, and their sales numbers are hurting because of it.

[u/RR50 → u/Minuhmize]

You can still buy a 30k dollar f-150.

I thought you would like this New 2024 Ford F150 XL for $30194 on Autotrader http://atcm.co/S2PVDP/2B08EAED.

[u/Minuhmize → u/RR50]

That’s a great deal, but the MSRP is ~40k still. Can’t really add discount is in this because 90s trucks also had discounts.

[u/CondeNast_yReddit → u/Minuhmize]

New base f150 work trucks start at like $35k msrp

[u/Minuhmize → u/CondeNast_yReddit]

No, they start at $38.7k, excluding destination. I think in 2024 there was a big increase in price.

[u/CondeNast_yReddit → u/Minuhmize]

I just checked and I stand corrected

[u/VonsFavoriteChicken → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

I just want a truck with a bed, seat, and steering wheel. Walls, windows, roofs... those are just more things that will break.

[u/Drzhivago138 → u/VonsFavoriteChicken]

Sounds like what you really want is a SxS UTV.

[u/Montreal4life → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

I wouldn't even buy a daily without ABS, fuel injection, power windows and locks... but some of these safety aids I absolutely abhor, I always disable anything related to lane keep, frontal colission, etc... and if you could still spec a stick shift I'd go that route too

So there's definitely a sweet spot but the modern truck, at least in work trim, avoids a lot of the silly farkles

[u/AquaPhelps → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

Ngl i could go for manual back up windows. Ive had 4 vehicles in my life. ‘94 jimmy (replace 3 power windows), ‘03 trailblazer (4 power window replacements), ‘11 1500 (2 power replacements), ‘79 f150 original cranks still work

[u/Pkock → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

The power locks, windows (okay, except for one), seats, sunroof, and headrests still work on my 88 5-series. The rest of the car itself is borderline scrap.

They are comedically simple and stout features when they're powered quality electric motors made in countries that actually gave a shit.

[u/TalkyMcSaysalot → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

Thank you for finally putting my feelings towards these posts into words better than I could

[u/DORTx2 → u/Scared-Loquat-7933]

I love this comment