Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[rontaki]

I always wondered what marketing genius came up with the "hardbody" name, especially given how quickly they rusted out here in snow country.

I think his name was "Gym"

 

[Oaktree]

My 018 Colorado doesn't.

Huh. Just looked at the owner's manual, and it does imply that there are 2 different transfer cases available for this truck. Guess mine came with the so-called automatic xfer case. It's an LT with 3.6 & 8 speed.

 

[CliffordK]

Myself, if I had to haul anything over 12,000 pounds, I'd buy a used class 8 truck and do it better, and safer than a new $100K pickup. And if spec'd right, get the same MPG.
I already know a guy with a Kenworth with a 450 Paccar in it and he's getting better mileage than his new Ram pickup.

There is a quite a group of "Hot Shot" truckers. Driving essentially big pickups. They typically deal with smaller loads than the big trucks, and I assume have somewhat cheaper equipment and better fuel efficiency than the big trucks.

Many display DOT numbers on their vehicles. I don't know if there are regulations that they are able to bypass.

 

[Jstpssng]

Huh. Just looked at the owner's manual, and it does imply that there are 2 different transfer cases available for this truck. Guess mine came with the so-called automatic xfer case. It's an LT with 3.6 & 8 speed.

So is mine.

 

[JasperFrank]

Who really needs a pickup any way.

 

[Jstpssng]

Who really needs a pickup any way.

Is that TBN member Digginit? He had a Taurus which he hauled nearly everything in. Then again we once hauled a MotoSki snowsled home in the back of the Belair station wagon, with both parents and 6 kids in the car.

 

[WinterDeere]

It had little tiny joints which were so small that you couldn't get a grease gun on the zerk when it was installed...

 

[WinterDeere]

I always wondered what marketing genius came up with the "hardbody" name, especially given how quickly they rusted out here in snow country.

Older pickups had a single-wall bed, so any items you had rolling around in the bed would cause dents visible on the outside fenders. "Hardbody" denotes a double-wall bed, where a rear differential or pile of rocks rolling around in the bed won't cause dents on the outer body.

 

[Jstpssng]

View attachment 4184662

Yep. So why didn't they use one?

 

[Paystar]

There is a quite a group of "Hot Shot" truckers. Driving essentially big pickups. They typically deal with smaller loads than the big trucks, and I assume have somewhat cheaper equipment and better fuel efficiency than the big trucks.

Many display DOT numbers on their vehicles. I don't know if there are regulations that they are able to bypass.

I did that too. And if you are running LEGAL, yes you need all the same as a big rig. CVOR, registered business and tax account, commercial insurance.

But many of these guys are fly under the radar type, which is why they work so cheap and rates suck.