this post was submitted on 03 Dec 2024
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Fuck Cars

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Just look at that. This truck is taller than a used kid (10 years old). I assume the truck can run over pretty much any other age but probably the driver might be able to see older kid's heads. Or we could teach our kids to jump to school rather than walk. If you see a truck, jump and make eye contact before jumping while crossing the street. Or we could tell our kids to never go outside until they are 21.

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[–] LePoisson@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What do you use it for that a smaller truck, hatchback, mini van or other vehicle would be unable to also get the job done?

[–] MethodicalSpark@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The truck is my primary vehicle. Here’s a summary of its use:

  • Towing: We own a 12,000lb camper that we’re using as a primary residence while we build a house. This alone justifies the expense of the truck given how affordable a camper / truck is monthly vs rent now. I also own a 6,000lb mini-excavator and rent other heavy equipment. I estimate about eight uses for this purpose in the last year. Once the house is done, the truck and the camper will be used for a few long distance road trips before we sell the camper.
  • Payload Capacity: You’d be surprised how quickly 80lb bags of concrete mix or stacks of lumber add up, quickly exceeding the rated capacity of a smaller truck. I estimate a dozen uses of hauling in the bed that exceeded 1,200lb or more in the last year.
  • Commuting: I work remotely in a desk job most days so it sits in the driveway for the majority of the week. I estimate 50 trips into the office within the past year.
  • Leisure: We occasionally drive it for errands or weekend activities, but it’s often more practical to take my girlfriend’s Mazda. I estimate two dozen uses for this purpose in the last year.

So that’s about ~74 trips where a truck is not needed and about ~20 trips where it has been invaluable. In my personal opinion, the sheer convenience of ownership outweighs alternatives such as renting when a need arises.

Planning activities around truck rentals would significantly delay / impact progress on my home and frankly, it would add a large amount of stress / reduce motivation to complete work. The nearest rental place is thirty minutes away and they don’t offer trucks with fifth wheel hitch compatibility. It would be another hurdle in an already complicated process.

[–] LePoisson@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Yeah, no judgment but it sounds like it definitely comes down to lifestyle choices. For example, renting a place vs living in the camper. Hauling vs delivery and stockpile.

Obviously the choices you make and life you live are your own and valid. Sometimes I wonder how much of a problem and stress on the planet my life in suburbia is. I need to have a car to just survive. It's all my choice and the wife too of course but I do feel like a hypocrite many days of my life.