The real pressing question about new pickups

[noteven]

Anyone know what that great gaping space above the rear wheels is for?

[noteven]

If a guy measures the maximum suspension travel to the stops there seems to be plenty of daylight to spare... even when jumping like in the commercials...

The system then has those great high wheel humps inside the box... trim them down and they could advertise another 2 cubic feet!

[rwjejits]

gbopp wrote:
It's a place to set your beer, out of the sun, while working on or around your truck.

Winner!

[The_Mad_Norsky]

McDonoughDawg wrote:
I find the beds on new trucks to be WAY too far off the ground. You cannot reach over into the truck beds anymore on the half ton's....I don't get it.

Funny how different trucks are from brand to brand and 150/250/350 differences.

I can easily reach into the bed of my F350 dually, and I am vertically impaired. :B

In other words, I'm short.

[RoyJ]

Joking aside, the obvious reason is to compensate for squat under load.

So why do 4x4 sits higher than 4x2, with less load capacity?

Well, the FRONT of a 4x4 is higher to make space for the drivetrain (especially the live axle on Ford / RAM). The rear has to be made higher by leveling blocks to match the front.

So, a 4x2 truck is the absolute minimum height, and a 4x4 is artificially higher for "looks" and headlight alignment.

[McDonoughDawg]

I find the beds on new trucks to be WAY too far off the ground. You cannot reach over into the truck beds anymore on the half ton's....I don't get it.

[camperforlife]

APT wrote:
If this is an honest question, then what is "new" and what is "old"? OEMs in the last 10 years are all using 32-33" stock tires, so they aren't growing to fill larger wheel wells. But 20 years ago 29-30" tires were a lot more common on pickups.

Today's pickups are actually lower than trucks 10-15 years ago. Check out the front air dam on a 2014 GM Z71 - hahahaha! Wheel wells are larger though. I believe it is just due to perception of the scale of wheel diameter to wheel well. The black tire disappears compared to silver or chrome wheels and shiny body paint. Trucks have 17-22" wheels vs. 16-17" 10 years ago.

I would argue this. I have had an assortment of 1500's, 2500's gas and diesel since 1972 and my 2wd '11 2500 GMC is the first truck I ever needed a stool to get in the bed. I have hauled 3200lbs in the bed and still had 4" spacing between the rubber stopper and the springs and 10' clearance above the rear tire. The truck is absurdly tall and yes there is enough space to stash a Prius in the fender well.

[Jwmoehrle]

I thought itvwas there to process dear when they ran into the side of the truck, at least that is what happened to my 08 ford. It did not hold up too well, guess a prius would let it last longer.

[campigloo]

Srt20. Sometimes U need to hide one of those little fart mobiles until it can be properly disposed of

[RKW]

kodiakcanuck wrote:
Some great answers in here guys. :B This one is my favourite so far

srt20 wrote:
It's there so you don't damage the box when you "accidentally" run over a Prius and the dang thing gets wrapped up around the tires.

It's funny cuz it's true!

[kodiakcanuck]

Some great answers in here guys. :B This one is my favourite so far

srt20 wrote:
It's there so you don't damage the box when you "accidentally" run over a Prius and the dang thing gets wrapped up around the tires.

[APT]

If this is an honest question, then what is "new" and what is "old"? OEMs in the last 10 years are all using 32-33" stock tires, so they aren't growing to fill larger wheel wells. But 20 years ago 29-30" tires were a lot more common on pickups.

Today's pickups are actually lower than trucks 10-15 years ago. Check out the front air dam on a 2014 GM Z71 - hahahaha! Wheel wells are larger though. I believe it is just due to perception of the scale of wheel diameter to wheel well. The black tire disappears compared to silver or chrome wheels and shiny body paint. Trucks have 17-22" wheels vs. 16-17" 10 years ago.

[JTrac]

It's a place to catch all the crud that would otherwise go on your shiny new truck.

GM has finally started putting wheel well liners/coatings on the rear of their trucks, except for the duallies. Mine is white and that big open space was glaring and was getting dirty quick. There is no aftermarket liner available so I went to Lowe's and bought 2 cans of Rustoleum spray for wheel well liners for $15. Taped it off and presto, I have a black not so noticeable wheel well that matches the front. Really looks good and so far it is holding up well. The inside of well is all metal and I did do a little sanding first to rough it up. I'm hopeful it will last but should be easy to touch up if needed.

[Flashman]

gbopp wrote:
It's a place to set your beer, out of the sun, while working on or around your truck.

I thought it - but was not brave enough to say it.

[srt20]

It's there so you don't damage the box when you "accidentally" run over a Prius and the dang thing gets wrapped up around the tires.