Full-sized American pick-up trucks have been criticised for being too big and impractical. But is there any truth to this? We spoke to some owners to find out.
They’re big, loud, and they’re impossible to miss on local streets. Full-sized American pick-ups like the Chevrolet Silverado and Rams are starting to become a common fixture on Australian roads.
While various experts and the public have criticised these cars for being too big, inconvenient and a potential safety risk, it’s a different story when you own one.
RELATED: I hated those big ‘Yank Tanks’ until I drove one
As Drive’s consumer journalist Zane Dobie found out when he took the Ram 1500 out for a spin, driving these big ‘yank tanks’ was “effortless” and intoxicating.
“The steering is light, you don’t need to stamp on the throttle to get up to speed, and sitting that high up, you seemingly have a better view of the traffic,” Dobie explained.
But why do people actually feel the need to own a big American pick-up truck? To find out, Drive reached out to numerous Silverado and Ram owners to shed light on their experience of driving these types of cars in Australia. Here’s what they said.
Towing capacity
For 52-year-old construction worker Mark Dunsby, who has owned approximately 25 large US trucks, full-sized American pick-ups are essential for his business.
“I’m in construction and the carry capacity [of these pick-up trucks] allows me to have a canopy and carry tools, or if I need a trailer,” Dunsby told Drive.
“We are often moving small excavators or skid steers, and a [Toyota] HiLux feels so unsafe; it doesn’t accelerate and is fatiguing just to drive. I have various sites and so efficient use of in between, as well as materials and assets, is key for me – I have not found a better solution, including light trucks, which are terrible for comfort and have less capacity.
“It’s fit for purpose for me, it’s not for everyone, and I reckon me having a vehicle capable of doing what it does makes it safer for everyone around me, and we have a responsibility for that also,” Dunsby explained.
Additionally, John Paul Collins, a Silverado 2500HD owner, said the full-sized American pick-up truck is essential for his travelling needs.
“I’m travelling around Australia and needed something that had a large tow capacity and was capable of towing 4.5 tonnes in all conditions. Most everyday [pick-ups] only have between 2.5 to 3.5-tonne capacity,” Collins told Drive.
Similarly, John Moore, a Silverado 2500 driver, uses the big pick-up truck primarily to tow his boat.
Moore told Drive, “Practicality is subjective. I wouldn’t tow my boat with a Honda, in the same way I wouldn’t use my [Silverado] 2500 to do the school run, shopping, daily errands, etc. I have another car for that”.
Safety is paramount
Various owners said big American pick-up trucks offer an abundance of safety features that make the driving experience easier for owners and other road users.
Michael Waghorne, a Victorian Vehicle Assessment Signatory Scheme (VASS) officer who owns a Silverado 1500 and 2500, said the car’s “trailer towing capacity is higher and the side-mounted mirror cameras for turning during tow mode are visible for the driver to see on the screen to ensure nobody is an obstacle, when turning the car on a corner.”
“[The Silverado also] have advanced wet, snow, and ice conditions controllability when the vehicle is in auto mode. This mode automatically corrects stability when applying the brakes when needed to keep the vehicle from oversteering or sliding uncontrollably,” the VASS officer told Drive.
Meanwhile, Dunsby said these trucks and their safety functions are essential in helping him come home safely to his family.
“[The car] has a huge range of safety features. I want to go home to my family every day, and they know the truck keeps me safe and safe.
“How many times have we all been [driving] on the highway and a megavan is being towed by a Ford Ranger/Toyota HiLux/Isuzu ute and it’s struggling to keep up, let alone brake? And how many others have been injured because these smaller vehicles are overloaded?” he told Drive.
Space and comfort are kings
When asked why they need to use big American pick-up trucks on Australian soil, an overwhelming majority of owners cited space and towing capacity as one of the most important factors.
Waghorne said the decision to own a Silverado was simply because “I like my leg room and comfort in any vehicle”.
“Interior space is important to me; it goes to passenger safety and comfort. Both the [Silverado] 1500 and 2500 can carry five large adults with ease without having the rear passengers’ discomfort by having their legs and knees push into the rear of the front seats.
“The [Silverado’s] universal ability to carry larger size payloads that will not fit in your standard sedan or SUV [is a big plus],” Waghorne told Drive.
Similarly, Bevan Lee Kannemeyer, a Ram 1500 owner and father of three, said “We are a family of five with three children in baby/child seats, so the width is suitable.
“I’m 6ft tall, 130kg, wide-build male with a disability, I need the larger door entrance [like the Ram 1500]. The smaller [pick-ups] and new SUVs like the Ford Everest/Ranger, Toyota HiLux/Fortuner are very cramped for me,” Kannemeyer told Drive.
Additionally, the father of three said the Ram 1500 is “practical for our needs as we often have the car loaded and/or towing trailers”.
Where the experts and the public got it wrong
Despite their intimidating and ‘inconvenient’ presence on Australian roads, most owners told Drive they haven’t encountered any negative feedback or roadblocks when driving full-sized American pick-up trucks.
John Paul Collins, who uses his Silverado 2500HD as a daily driver, said he hasn’t experienced any disadvantages of owning the car beyond height restrictions in car parks.
“Most people think these are huge vehicles and take up a lot of room either on the road or in car parks. This is not the case; they fit easily within the lanes, and parking my Silverado is a lot easier than parking my wife’s Audi e-tron,” Collins told Drive.
“The only issue I have is the height, but that’s a rare occurrence as most car parks have a 2.3–2.7m height restriction. If you don’t mind walking or doing some research, there’s no problem,” he added.
While it’s common to see photos of American pick-ups parked incorrectly or in small areas online, some Silverado owners like Waghorne and Moore take extra precautions, such as parking further back in car parks to avoid the hassle.
“[Owning] a [Silverado] 2500 means parking right out the back of a car park, whereas a 1500, it’s easy to just find a spot on an end row for a bit of extra room and you’re good to go,” Moore explained.
For Waghorne, the Silverado owner said he is aware of other people’s gripes with these types of cars, which is why he generally looks to park the car conveniently.
“When I choose to park my vehicles, say at a supermarket for example, I always reverse park my vehicle as the front overhang is shorter than the rear overhang,” he explained.
“You, as the driver, must be conscious about where you can park in relation to the length, width and height [of the car]. The 1500 Silveardo is easy to park in the majority of public parking areas, whereas the 2500 will have fewer places where [drivers can park].
“Most [owners] will park in areas less likely to affect others, or in long parking bays, if they’re available,” he told Drive.
The post The reasons why I need an American pick-up truck in Australia appeared first on Drive.