I'm a software engineer and I have a Tacoma. I've found it useful for hauling things to and from lumber stores (I also do wood working and most of my own house projects). It was incredibly useful during PNW winters when it snowed or iced over roads completely; one was so bad my partner got stranded on our metro train and I had to go get her. Going across the mountains in my truck has also been quite nice compared to when I had a hybrid sedan.
The alternative is that for every delivery of goods I would need to pay an $80 fee (and I do these with pretty regular frequency; that's about 2x what it takes to fill up my tank). We'd need to be more careful of not going out during storms or when there's even moderate risk of winter storms. I would need to plan trips across the mountains much more in advance. There's a lot of other things that'd probably change too, including how we do road trips.
I'm a bit judgy of people who have a truck that clearly don't do truck things with it, but of all my friends that have trucks I don't know anyone who isn't. All that to say, I roll my eyes when I see statements trying to steelman who should morally own a truck.
Tacoma's have a reputation for being the stereotypical choice for actual recreation or practically though haven't they? Relatively small, reliable, pragmatic if you're already in a position to use it.
Do you think you'd feel the same if someone in approximately your situation got something like a 2024 Silverado with a laughably large grill, much larger and more expensive? To me there's practically I wouldn't even second guess, and then there's everything beyond that, but I'd be curious what a truck owner thinks.
My grandfather's always had a truck, but it's always been something the size of a Canyon or Tacoma, and with that he's never struggled with any of the relatively large crap he hauls around.
I think most people are just reacting to "redneck" culture. I don't really like it either, but I think people should be able to do what they want. Including buying a truck they don't need or taking an unneeded trip to Paris to visit museums and art galleries.
I'm not sure that's the case. I don't think people are responding to the "redneck in a pick-up" stereotypes as much as that "pavement princess" owner trying to "cosplay" truck culture stereotypes.
Sidenote - I'm finding my vocabulary pretty lacking now that so much stereotyping is done in images and memes.
I've heard this sentiment before. My truck has a rack on it and I've never needed to weigh it down to navigate icy or wet terrain. Maybe that applies to full size trucks more than Tacomas?
Unlikely it's a huge truck problem, as it was also true of small pickups used as company vehicles in Northern Europe -- in the wintertime, they'd keep bags of sand in the back, or the rear would slide around.
To be fair, a Tacoma is the closest you can get to a Hilux in the US, which is a completely practical vehicle around the world. The OP seems to be going after the oversized full size pickups.
The alternative is that for every delivery of goods I would need to pay an $80 fee (and I do these with pretty regular frequency; that's about 2x what it takes to fill up my tank). We'd need to be more careful of not going out during storms or when there's even moderate risk of winter storms. I would need to plan trips across the mountains much more in advance. There's a lot of other things that'd probably change too, including how we do road trips.
I'm a bit judgy of people who have a truck that clearly don't do truck things with it, but of all my friends that have trucks I don't know anyone who isn't. All that to say, I roll my eyes when I see statements trying to steelman who should morally own a truck.