Parking - in the new day an age - Rant

[MossRoad]

Can we talk about the parking size?? my truck barely fit in some of these parking's, seem like the width is design for prius ...

Found this quote on the googler...

"Average parking spots in the US are 7.5 to 8 feet wide, down from 9 to 10 feet a few decades ago when we drove supposed "land yachts."

Here's the problem: We're driving land yachts again."

 

[MossRoad]

What I've noticed often is that my 1993 Suburban was one of the largest vehicles you could purchase in 1993. Same with my current 2003 Suburban. Today, they are absolutely dwarfed by pickups. Most pickups today I cannot reach into the bed over the side. Heck, I can barely rest my chin on the side of the bed and I'm 6' tall. It's ridiculous.

 

[oosik]

Yes - Moss - I've noticed that change from my 2002 Ford F150 to my 2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon( the Taco Wagon). It IS ridiculous but it seems to be what the buying public wants and it sells.

It's preference over function.

 

[Oaktree]

Yes - Moss - I've noticed that change from my 2002 Ford F150 to my 2018 Ram 2500 Power Wagon( the Taco Wagon). It IS ridiculous but it seems to be what the buying public wants and it sells.

It's preference over function.

I get what you're saying, but IMHO it's a small percentage of the buying public that's driving this.

The trouble is that if one manufacturer makes a huge massive truck, their competition feels they need to make one even more massive to one-up them, and it just snowballs and nobody can back down. If you want a full size truck, you really don't have a choice but to buy one of those monstrosities. Much like how difficult it is to find one that isn't 4 door...supposedly "that's what sells", but it doesn't seem you have much of a choice.

OTOH, look at the success of the Maverick...a year's production run got sold out in what, a couple weeks?

 

[gstrom99]

"Auto Park" is a terrible invention, right up there with "Auto Drive"... except to the lazy ones...

How about those "info-tainment" dash screens we have. We have to take our eyes off the road to adjust pretty much anything anymore. At least mine has the toggle buttons on the back of the steering wheel to adjust music volume or stations.

 

[ponytug]

As I not infrequently drive a "land yacht", often a one ton extended cab and trailer, or bigger, I always park in the distant areas of parking lots, and yes, if the stripes are less than the truck width out there, I do park right down the centerline, usually all four spaces. More than a few times, I have found someone parked right next to me. As in inches away. I don't get it. I'm guessing that they need a large vehicle to be able park themselves. Either that or they are scoping out my rig to see what they can lift off it. As I have seen a few people cruise up to the rig to check it out and then drive away when they realize I'm in it, I know some of them are up to nefarious things. Folks who like the rig stop to talk about the rig...

Heck, I own a Prius, and some of the parking lots only give the Prius four or five inches on each side. Parking lot design, at least around here, is certainly not realistic, or reflective of what people are driving.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

As I not infrequently drive a "land yacht", often a one ton extended cab and trailer, or bigger, I always park in the distant areas of parking lots, and yes, if the stripes are less than the truck width out there, I do park right down the centerline, usually all four spaces. More than a few times, I have found someone parked right next to me. As in inches away. I don't get it. I'm guessing that they need a large vehicle to be able park themselves. Either that or they are scoping out my rig to see what they can lift off it. As I have seen a few people cruise up to the rig to check it out and then drive away when they realize I'm in it, I know some of them are up to nefarious things. Folks who like the rig stop to talk about the rig...

Heck, I own a Prius, and some of the parking lots only give the Prius four or five inches on each side. Parking lot design, at least around here, is certainly not realistic, or reflective of what people are driving.

All the best,

Peter

Person in parking lot: Why did you take up two spots?
Me: Because my truck is bigger than one spot.
Person in parking lot: You should get a smaller vehicle.
Me: They don't hold as many bodies.

 

[ljjhouser]

That's one reason I lean towards the smaller trucks. I like my Colorado and loved my '04 Ranger. Yet they can't seem to put a decent seat in them. Rather, they are too low to the floor and your feet are too close to level with your tailbone. I have to be careful not to end up with back problems.

I really like the Colorado and the Canyon. I looked at them first. But needed more tow capacity to pull my eq trailer with tractor. I guess the price for that is a truck that won't fit.

I am amazed that the trucks (1500 and 150) just a few years ago were pretty much smaller than the Colorado.

 

[Jstpssng]

Another part of this same discussion… I walked out of a convenience store today and literally almost into the side of a big diesel 4 door duality with a slide in camper. He had pulled right up to the main entrance to avoid walking… then left the truck running, apparently so that he could fill the store with diesel stench.

He also was in a spot marked as a “No Parking” zone. I’ve always wondered how it feels to be more important than everyone else.

 

[ovrszd]

I was quite entertained reading this thread. Most of you claim to be country folk. Sorry, you are not.

I'll walk 100 yards to the doorway of a business rather than park competitively. What are you thinking?

I'm Blessed to be able to walk ti the doorway. I'll walk past open parking spots so those that might need them can use them. I've never once crammed my vehicle into a tight spot.