Are american pickups too big for European roads?

[mat777]

What does the PH missive think? I'm talking about tucks like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpFFUZTsCg8

I'd love one if I could afford the £40K purchase and import costs but most people I discuss them with reckon I wouldnt actually be able to park one anywhere, or fit down any single-carriageway roads. They arent much bigger than a dually transit van IMO though

[Hugo a Gogo]

are 7.5 trucks too big for European roads? how about buses or artics?

I think the forward vision out of those type of trucks isn't great though, with that big high bonnet

[kambites]

Hugo a Gogo said:

are 7.5 trucks too big for European roads? how about buses or artics?

Well I wouldn't want to park them in the local supermarket.

[EDLT]

Is the F-450 over 3500kg? If it is you might need a different license. Would something that big need a taco + speed limiter?

[Hugo a Gogo]

kambites said:

Hugo a Gogo said:

are 7.5 trucks too big for European roads? how about buses or artics?

Well I wouldn't want to park them in the local supermarket.

let's start a thread: "Are american pickups too big for European supermarket car parks?"

[kambites]

It seems to be just over 2m wide excluding the mirrors; just under 2.5m including them. That's significantly bigger than a Transit, but not massively so. You could hire a transit and try driving it around for a few weeks and see if the size is an issue? It would probably have to be a LWB transit to make it the best comparison possible.

ETA: It seems to be 3900kg, so I don't think you could drive it on a car licence.

Edited by kambites on Monday 21st May 10:40

[300bhp/ton]

mat777 said:

What does the PH missive think? I'm talking about tucks like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpFFUZTsCg8

I'd love one if I could afford the £40K purchase and import costs but most people I discuss them with reckon I wouldnt actually be able to park one anywhere, or fit down any single-carriageway roads. They arent much bigger than a dually transit van IMO though

Are yes the idiots who proclaim such trucks won't fit done country lanes, completely forgetting that vans, lorries and buses drive such roads daily....

There's no denying these pickups are or can be big. But if you don't mind this or are used to larger vehicles then they are no problem what so ever.

How big is kind of your choice though, I mean do you really need a long bed, quad cab dually? Or would a short bed normal cab 1/2 ton be more than enough for your needs? The length and width of these trucks can vary hugely. As a rule most can be had with around a 130" wheelbase, this makes them the same length as a Land Rover Defender 130, which is perfectly acceptable in the UK.

Ok they are a bit wider than a Defender, but we're only talking a few inches. If you regulary park on narrow roads or in small car parks then this might be an issue, although I doubt anymore of an issue than parking a Range Rover or Cayenne.


If size is a potential problem don't forget you can buy other trucks too, Dodge offer the Dakota which is a size class smaller than the Ram but can still be had with a V8 and in high specification. Smaller still Ford offer the Ranger (which is a totally different truck to the same named UK Ranger which is really a Mazda).

[C8H18Head]

Hmmm, I find that a little ugly.

Having been expertly flung around a Sprinter this weekend, I'd say it's the driver and not the size!

May I suggest a classic F150 460 V8 from the late 70s at a mere 19ft and £4000?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290714382377?ssPageName=...

[300bhp/ton]

ok, sadly Dodge seemed to have stopped Dakota production. But you can still get them used. They are bigger than the pickups we get in the UK, but smaller than a full size pickup. singe and quad cab options available, along with V6 and V8 engine options.

[markmullen]

I had a Dodge Ram 3500 for a while, loved it, whilst it was big (it would take up at least two spaces in a car park but that is the fault of the crappy little spaces painted nowadays, a 5 series fills one) it wasn't an issue driving on road.

[v8will]

I'd buy a full size yank pickup without hesitation but, I'm not able to get over the LHD aspect.

Must try and get a drive in one to see if that changes my mind.

[MX7]

I think quite a few cars are too big for the UK. The Q7/X6 look out of place on some of our B roads.

[Garlick]

PHer twiglove gets on OK with his.....

[300bhp/ton]

v8will said:

I'd buy a full size yank pickup without hesitation but, I'm not able to get over the LHD aspect.

Must try and get a drive in one to see if that changes my mind.

If you do, try and get a descent drive. It took me about 20 mins or so solid driving to start and get used to LHD, but a whole weekends worth or driving to really get comfortable with it. Once you are it's no bother at all. Although some people never feel comfortable with it.

[FoundOnRoadside]

300bhp/ton said:

If you do, try and get a descent drive.

Would an ascent drive be OK too?

[v8will]

300bhp/ton said:

If you do, try and get a descent drive. It took me about 20 mins or so solid driving to start and get used to LHD, but a whole weekends worth or driving to really get comfortable with it. Once you are it's no bother at all. Although some people never feel comfortable with it.

Thanks, never driven LHD in this country. Must have a look into it. I guess the higher vantage point that a truck offers would lessen the percieved difficulties.

[off_again]

Said it before and will keep saying it. US cars (and trucks) were designed for the US roads - and as a result they dont really fit into European roads. That said though, if your lifestyle copes with this then great - they arent as bad as many people make out. But if you dont have the lifestyle (on street parking in a cramped city and use to park in / around city streets and parking spaces as an example) then I am sure it would get annoying.

So I guess its if you can manage it.

[300bhp/ton]

FoundOnRoadside said:

Would an ascent drive be OK too?

[Vipers]

And guaranteed a slot on the "Bad parking" thread.

[300bhp/ton]

off_again said:

Said it before and will keep saying it. US cars (and trucks) were designed for the US roads - and as a result they dont really fit into European roads.

As an owner of multiple American cars I'm afraid my response is - tosh.

Yes the trucks are big, or can be big, but so is a Range Rover...

For the cars though, nope. Many are no bigger (often smaller) than Euro or Jap cars we see each and every day and don't complain about.