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I'm the Pickups host here at Edmunds CarSpace.com - be sure to check out the Pickups forums if you have or are interested in one!
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The Big Rigs
We're gonna talk about the big ones... trucks and buses that require those 3 marker lights front and rear. Everything from dual rear wheel pickups to class 8 trucks to the bus that takes you to work.
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and Ford F150 were revealed today at the North American international Auto Show. As a current Ram owner and former F150 owner, I certainly feel qualified to offer my pair of pennies on these new designs. So here goes:
 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
I like the evolutionary design changes on the exterior. The lines are cleaner, getting the aero value back down to where it was with the 1994 design. I understand why the grille is no longer attached to the hood, but i will miss that. I also have a problem with the rear "uni-bulb". My 2005 Ram has separate rear turn signals/hazard lights, and since I drive in the dark every work night, complete lighting is very important to me. A single bulb can be misconstrued by inattentive drivers, plus you lose brake light function when hazards are on - only the high-mount brake light actually functions in this situation. There is certainly enough room in the new truck to allow for separate rear turn/hazard lights. I think Dodge made a good move by creating a crew cab over continuing the oversized Mega Cab. They may lose some bragging rights, but the truck will be a lot easier to handle. One thing I find very annoying though - on both the quad and crew Cabs, the rear seat cushion is cut down in the center - this makes child-seat placement almost impossible - especially for a rearward facing infant seat, as there's not enough cushion to support it.
Which leads me to the rest of the interior. I like the new dash and gauges. The front seats clearly have improved bolstering for more back and side support, which is appreciated by those of us who make long commutes. The increased number of storage bins will be useful for most buyers, and the materials used are definitely an upgrade. But I have my complaints, too. Still using the beige upper interior, no matter what color seats/dash/carpet you order (see my blog entry "Every day is a gray day") tells me the effort to improve the interior is only half-hearted... the common beige pillars and headliner are strictly a cost-savings move. Go the extra mile, will ya? We're paying for these trucks (and quite a bit of money too); don't shortchange us because of an accounting decision. And again, we're only offered tan and gray.
Next year, it is expected that the heavy-duty Rams will be brought to the new body style, and in speaking with fellow Ram owners, there are some things we want to point out:
- the front bumper and fascia can't be integrated with the fenders. Bumpers need to be removable and adjustable for installation of items like winches and snow plows.
- don't forget those who need a truck to actually be a truck... rubber/vinyl interiors that won't be ruined on a muddy ranch, but still have soundproofing where the luxury interiors do, and manual locks and windows that won't freeze on a subzero morning when the job doesn't take a day off for weather.
- heavy duty springs that won't sagf under a load (or in my case, over time from the weight of the Cummins)
Those of us who buy and use this class of truck don't expect the same ride as a Chrysler 300, we expect these trucks to do the job their weight class dictates.
2009 Ford F150
I drove a 1990 and 1993 F150 (broke 'em both, thus my moved to duallies). One thing still bothers me... Ford is still the only manufacturer who thinks the half-ton pickup shouldn't share its body with its big brothers. This cheapens the F150 to a lot of people - it gives a perception of not being as rugged as the Super Duty models.
The exterior changes from the 2004 design are minimal, just as the 2008 Super Duty essentially has just a new front clip and new tailgate... the doors of a 2008 SD are exactly the same as those from the 1999 model introduced 10 years ago. While not a terrible styling exercise, two details stand out as negatives:
- the mirror mounting area in the front door is almost as large as the old vent windows... why does that have to block out so much glass space and visibility?
- I commended Ford for moving the headlights on the 08 SD to the bottom of the cluster, making them more effective by being closer to the road - so why not the same for the new F150?
The interior is a pretty evolutionary change from the current model. Not too crazy about the combination of rectangles and chrome-ringed circles in the dash design... I'm more of a no-nonsense "just give me the controls, ma'am" person (blog entry "Too much information"). I also think 7 trim levels is way too many. The STX and FX4 should be one "sport" trim package, and why so many luxury trucks like the new Platinum? Isn't that what the Mark LT is for?
Then there's the high bed sides. In the Ford press release, Matt O'Leary (who headed the engineering effort of the new truck) noted that owners had trouble reaching the bed due to the high sidewalls, and observed owners trying to climb on the tires, or using objects to stand on. But rather than following the request of owners to lower the sides to previous levels, O'Leary decided that a step attached to the truck was a more progressive solution. Say what? Since when is a step safer than standing on solid ground? Reaching into the bed is usually done to load or unload something... if you have to also balance yourself on a step just to reach the bed, that item you're trying to lift will change that balance and you run a very real risk of losing that balance and falling. Not smart at all, Ford. I've been driving full-size 8-foot-bed pickups exclusi9velyt for over 17 years, and I do not take my personal safety lightly when loading or unloading cargo - I shouldn't have to worry that my feet won't be where I put them.
Personally, I think the Dodge was better executed in this round of redesigns. Both trucks will get their share of truck of the year awards from various sources, but the bottom line will be sales. With the falling market share due to the economy and other factors, the people who will be buying expensive trucks will be us hardcore truckers. Don't give us cars with beds, please.
 Most consumers don't order their cars... they look over the dealer inventory and find what comes closest to what they want. Conversely, truckers order exactly what they want right down to the tire tread on each axle.
Heavy duty pickups are getting caught in the middle.
Because of the surge in sales of full size pickups over the last 15 years, manufacturers have increasingly followed the lead of cars and make their trucks available in large option "packages". This saves costs by reducing the number of configurations and cutting build time. And with the notable exception of Ford, whose heavy pickups are on a completely separate chassis and body, these cost saving measure are shared over the entire line. This option package mentality is understandable for small and midsize cars because of the volume and lack of profit margin... pick a color, pick a primary package, and drive home.
But does that really serve the intended customer of a heavy duty pickup?
I ordered my 1996 and 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT dually pickups, exactly the way I wanted them. But if something happened to my 2005, I could not order an equivalent 2008 because of the new option package mentality. Part of my 2005's features are in the 2008 SXT trim level, and part are in the 2008 SLT trim level. If I am willing to sacrifice what I can no longer get in an SLT, I still have to get an option package that includes things i have never ordered and definitely don't want. not surprisingly, most of these "extras" are electric or electronic and expensive to repair if they fail.
And this is not to single out Dodge... all the manufacturers do this.
But heavy duty pickups and chassis-cab trucks (250/2500, 350/3500, 450/4500, 550/5500) are purpose-built, and primarily for people who need a truck to be a truck. I like a comfortable supportive seat, but I shouldn't have to spend hundreds extra for premium cloth or leather to get it. If I want the steel fold-out floor for the rear, why do I have to now order a package that includes an alarm system? What do those two things have to do with each other?
When a trucker sits down to spec their next rig, they make sure it's going to do the job. They can specify things like suspension type (air or leaf pack); tire size, brand, load rating, and tread; engine brands, size, and power rating; transmission type and number of gears; brand and model of seats; the number of gauges and which functions; even the number of marker lights and turn signals. Not saying my next truck needs to be that customizable from the factory, but if I want a particular component, I shouldn't have to order 10 things I don't want or need.
A dually is not a consumer vehicle or a "family car". It's a duty-rated vehicle that should be configured to the desires of its owner in order for it to perform the needed tasks. I don't want "fluff" with my "stuff"... but I fear that's exactly what I'll have to suffer through the next time I sit down at a sales desk in a showroom.
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