I love trucks. Having said that, there are two reasons I'd NEVER get one:
First, I live on the west side of LA. There is a ton a traffic, lots of small streets and the parking can be a massive pain in the a** with such a large vehicle.
Second, I don't want to be "that guy." That guy who owns a truck. Every dirt bag you know that you haven't talked to in three years will call you up and ask how you're doing, how's the lady, how's this or that. They don't care about you. The jerk has a couch they want to ditch in an alley someplace and they can't fit it in their Civic. You (the truck owner) are now their best buddy in the world.
It's for those very reasons I asked for the keys of the Ram. Our company is "that guy" and I hit them up for a favor. Granted, it was very handy to have the truck for the flea market I went to, the four truck loads of boxes I had in storage and hauling away the unwanted cabinets. But in the end, I was that schmuck. I was living the free-loader's dream.
@nbsp;
The only hiccup to the dream was a temperamental key fob. It wouldn't always unlock when I hit the key. I used the key to unlock the door but when I opened it the alarm went off. I stood there with sirens blazing hitting the unlock key until it finally worked several stressful minutes later.
I'm ashamed to say that I started to entertain other low-life schemes of truck use. Maybe I could pick up those fence segments at Home Depot. Maybe I could buy those bags of fertilizer and mulch for the garden...
Maybe I can call in another favor.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 23,057 miles
wrinklebump says:
04:32 PM, 03/15/10
If I recall, there is a similar gremlin living inside the Challenger's fob. Sounds like Chrysler needs a new supplier.
allenychung says:
05:01 PM, 03/15/10
That is the exact reason why I won't buy a truck.
70ss454_man says:
06:00 PM, 03/15/10
Stick the key in the ignition and turn it to ON...
ddoouugg says:
06:40 PM, 03/15/10
The perks of working at IL
hybris says:
09:02 PM, 03/15/10
There are three ways of dealing with the free loading bum when owning a truck.
1. Build up self confidence and train yourself to say "No". (Up until 2 years ago this is what I did and it works well.)
2. Become a big enough jerk that the bum in question would rather not deal with you. (Hard to do for some)
3. Start accepting the moving help requests and charge them $20 or more (within reason) for gas. This my current stance I take with my truck and sometimes I don't have pay for gas out of pocket for a whole month!
stovt001 says:
09:43 PM, 03/15/10
Not gonna lie, I'm probably that guy. I see no reason to buy a big thirsty non-sporty vehicle just so I'll have it the .01% of all driving occasions where I need to move something big. Then again considering how many people "need" a Suburban to accommodate their one child, I'm still probably in the minority.
petrolhead85 says:
12:31 AM, 03/16/10
Reminds me of that bumper sticker: "Yes, this is my truck. No, I won't help you move."
Of course if you happen to be "that guy", but don't want to be known as "That Guy" (ie. a tool) there's always the Canadian solution: the person borrowing the truck buys the truck owner a two-four.
As for the keyfob, it looks like there's a glitch in the design somewhere because I've noticed a number of complaints about them on various forums, especially on the models with the push-button start.
the_big_al says:
01:54 AM, 03/16/10
I am the truck guy... albeit a small truck. It's not a brand new truck, nor is is especially flashy, but it's not a beater either. I usually just toss them the keys and say bring it back not wrecked. Granted the people I toss the keys to though are friends that I also know won't find the nearest empty lot and try to see what kind of tricks they can pull. I usually get the truck back with more gas in it than when it left and so to those that know they can borrow it, I don't mind it so much.
It's a truck, needs to be used as a truck and so it really gets used as a truck. Towing, hauling couches, trash to the dump, moving washer's, hauling brush whatever. It's even hauled palm trees and most recently with its ladder rack has hauled mattresses on the rack with the bed stuffed full of various boxes and other moving oddities while towing a 12x8x4 trailer full of couches, chairs and the rest of the other various moving oddities. It's due to repeat all that again this weekend again when I help another buddy move...
I hate it when people have trucks and don't use them as such and cry rivers when the smallest scratch or dent appears on them. They never take them off-road, don't put anything in the bed and put the shiniest wheels they can find with the lowest set of profile tires that will fit that won't stand up to any pothole or bear up any type of load. Then they whine about the miserable mileage they get, yet they continue to drive it, only they drive it like a 100 yr old man driving his TownCar...
adamb1 says:
05:57 AM, 03/16/10
What I've used my truck for in the past 30 days...
1. Daily commuting
2. Hauled 4 scouts and 27 backpacks to a campout
3. Pulled a 21' bassboat to the lake
4. Pulled a 16' tandem trailer loaded 4' deep with mulch
5. Hauled trash to the landfill weekly (no rural collection)
6. Purchased shelving at the home store in 12' lengths
7. Pulled a mail carrier out of a ditch
8. Put step ladder in bed and cleaned out gutters
9. Towed trailer and mower to take care of relative's yard
10. Had a blast doing donuts in the snow
The deal is, it's a utility vehicle. It's not THE BEST vehicle for every use. But, it's capable of doing most anything well.
stingray454 says:
07:16 AM, 03/16/10
Sheesh - Scott, lighten up. If you're so worried about stereotypes, image, and what people think of you so much, you're not going to have much fun in life. I bought a used Suburban to serve a variety of purposes and needs that I use all the time. The truck is huge, but I use its size and capabilities a lot. Of course the truck comes with all sorts of stereotypes, from all different people. I'm sure some people look at my truck and think things like my weiner must be small, or I have some ego problem, or I hate the environment, or I'm on a power trip, or I'm a dumb ass, or I don't have much money (my truck is 12 years old), or I'm a closet redneck, or a wannabe soccer dad, or a wannabe FBI/Secret Service (my Suburban is black like they use), or just "that guy".
Bottom line is, I could care less if anyone thinks those things about me when I drive my Suburban, and I laugh because I know none of them are true. As Dr. Seuss once said: "be who you are and say what you want, because those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter."
jeepsrt says:
07:35 AM, 03/16/10
Not having a truck after having a truck you realize fast how much you actually used it. My brother traded his '01 Dodge Ram off Road for a Hummer H2 SUT and after 1 year he is getting ready to buy a 2010 Ram, the Hummer SUT has absolutely no storage or practicality at all. It also sucks gas like crazy and he is sick of all the dirty looks.
ptcdawg says:
09:59 AM, 03/16/10
I like Big Al's attitude...
cr_driver says:
06:05 PM, 03/16/10
Stingray, for not caring, you really know many many things people may think about you and your suburban....interesting.