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Tundra needs sterioids
I think the real reason Toyota or other Japanese maufacturers don't have true heavy duty pickups is that the typical buyer in the important American truck market won't buy them. That is why the F-150 or some other 1/2 ton pickup is always the best selling vehicle despite the fact that the Japanese equivalents are available. Foreign cars have taken over many other segments but this one has remained strong for the domestic manufacturers. I think as you progress into the diesel and dual rear wheel segments a preference for domestic vehicles would be more of a factor. Even if they were available the average guy driving around in a 1 ton truck or better isn't likely to buy a Japanese equivalent if it was available.
There are still some ares of the market that prefer to buy from the American vehicle manufacturers. It may have a foreign engine, be built in a foreign country such as Mexico or Canada but they still want it to have an American badge. We like our redneck cadillacs
If you look at the consumer and commercial markets that 3/4, 1 ton and better pickup style truck area is huge and the vehicles aint' cheap. I could be wrong but the Japanese have succesfully entered just about every area of the vehicle market, there must be some reason the have never cracked this one. If they thought they could make $$$ they would have been there already. Even these new bigger Japanese trucks they are going to make aren't really after the same customers. Until they offer higher ratings, dual rear wheels, diesels, different beds, tons of space and luxury, etc. the competition is all domestic.
As far as why Americans drive our traditional style of pickup and others don't I think traffic congestion is only part of it. How many place in the world can the average "Joe" afford to drive a $40,000 pickup that gets around 10 miles a gallon just to go to Home Depot once a month and get some 2" x 4"s?
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Tundra needs sterioids
We had a 70' something Toyota LandCruiser before they became suburban like vehicles. It was very nice and solid vehicle. Much like a CJ-7 with the rear seats facing each other rather than a typical front facing bench. Very solid body on the LC though unlike the CJs and the rust problems. Although I did love the CJ as well.
I brought up the 1/2 tons like the F150 to illustrate that even in the area of the market where the Japanese DO offer comparable vehicles the buyers seem to stick to the domestic versions. This "loyaly" has not been shown in other areas of the American car market but I think truck buyers are a little bit of a different animal.
I know many pickup owners and many will not consider Japanese even when they shop even for their 1/2 tons. There are exceptions to every rule but I think the typical American purchaser of a "work" truck tends to want to buy American when possible. This MAY be the reason the Japanese have not aggressively gone after the HD pickup market and even on the 1/2 tons they have failed to dominate as they have in other areas.
Time will tell but as you said, the Japanese for whatever reason haven't tried to compete in the HD truck area.
Guess we have to ask them why, maybe they've done some surveying of potential HD truck buyers??.
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Tundra needs sterioids
Yes it did and it was a pretty strong motor. We had the hardtop and a softop for it. It was that beige, safari color w/ a black interior. Must have been about a 1970 or there about.
I do not consider the F-350 to be an off-road vehicle, more of a "get me down the muddy driveway or through the snow vehicle". 22' long and 8,000 lb.dually's are NOT suited for serious off-roading. You have to clear a forest to swing a U turn and they sink in soft stuff Also it ain't' fun being the biggest vehicle when you do get stuck it takes a commercial wrecker to free you! I suppose an F350 with agas motor(for less weight) in shortbed and regular cab would do well though.
The CJ and LC were great though, just not practical for my needs now.
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