The ‘Not a real truck’ Truck Thread

#realtruckoftheday

 

Honda Ridgeline’s Frame: The Untold Story

I thought people might find this interesting. I have been researching since this thread opened. Having been a machine repairman at an automotive supplier, that made structural parts for 84% of the vehicles on the road in North America, I know the type of steel used in vehicles matters. A thinner ultra high strength steel or high strength steel part is much stronger than thicker mild steel. Astonishingly so. All manufacturers use a mix of several grades of steel where they feel they need to be. This place I worked was making the Honda pilot / first generation Ridgeline integrated receiver hitch when I worked for them. That steel was extremely hard on the bender that shaped the part into its final shape after the tube was formed on a roll form mill. We had to replace the grippers weekly and it would shear off 1/2" grade 8 cap screws requiring monthly teardowns to replace them. All the pivot points had 8 of these bolts per side that housed the bushings. In benders that bent mild steel, we rarely had to replace broken parts. This article and pictures shows there is more than one way to skin a cat as they say. Lol.

 

Wow! Really interesting on the differences in steel! And great read on the Ridgeline frame.

Here’s an interesting read and description of the suspension on the current generation:

2020 Honda Ridgeline Suspension Deep Dive | How it works - Autoblog

 

With a higher payload than some 1/2 ton full size trucks, 1600#, it has to be strong. Especially considering there is no ability for chassis flex like a conventional truck design. I'll be reading you link shortly.

 

Grades of Steel: How Many Types of Steel Alloys Are in Your Pickup Truck?

 

I remember watching that video while we were researching buying a Ridgeline.

 

Real truck...

 

A 'real truck' has to have some necessary attributes far as I'm concerned...

1. An 8 foot bed...
2. At least a 3/4 ton cargo capacity....
3. A full ladder type frame, solid axles suspended on leaf springs....
4. 4 doors with a full size back seat....
5. An engine of sufficient size to move it down the road (preferably a turbo diesel)...
6. a true 4x4 with free wheeling manual locking hubs....

I don't do 'weinie' trucks with short beds that cannot haul anything or pull a tandem axle trailer. Far as I'm concerned, those short bed 4 door trucks (bed shorter than the seating space) are nothing but soccer mom grocery getter wagons and I don't do anything but domestically produced trucks in the first place. Has to be a GM or a Ram or a Ford. Everything else are 'wannabe' wagons.

 

To each their own.

 

Many people have no need for a truck with the capabilities listed above but still need truck capabilities on a lesser scale. Some people can't understand that.

 

I have to have what you mention above for work. I've got a 04 dodge 6 speed manual , 8 foot bed, 5.9 diesel for work. I bought a 07 chevy 3/4 ton, standard but it sucks for work because it has a short bed.

But, for trapping or hunting I still prefer a four cylinder little truck. Problem is they don't make them anymore that will hold up to winching around and bouncing off things. I had a dodge ram 50 with lockers and total skid plates over 25 years ago that was the best for that. IF I could get one of those Toyota HILUX buggers like we had in the military I'd buy one tomorrow. Real steel beds and bodies. Awesome non EPA engines. I'm still trying to figure out how to get one to America.

 

I hear the southern border is rather porous...

 

northern border is even more, no walls on it that I'm aware of. Drive right thru a power line access.

 

Last time I checked you could still get a Tacoma with 4 cylinder, manual, regular cab. I've always preferred smaller vehicles in general. Most of my 4x4 buying decisions way back were for off-road uses where smaller / lighter is almost always better.

 

We have a southern boarder?

 

BTW, all these pics you are finding of people in 3rd world (mostly) places with huge mounds of stuff tied on top of anything with wheels...that's not made up...I was in Central African Republic about 10 years ago and those people don't play around! If it has wheels, its gonna have about 10X GVWR on it...bicycles included! And when they can't tie anymore on, they hoist a few people on top to try n hold it all together! I seen a nasty accident one day where a bunch of people got thrown of a WAY! overloaded van...if I can figure out which device my pics are on, I'll post some " loaded truck" pics...

 

Well...its more of just a line on old maps...

 

Lol.
I'm aware of their origin. Its all just poking fun at the not a real truck crowd. All in fun obviously.

 

I've seen this line on ancient maps you speak of.

 

All I know is my 97 Ford F350 OBS crew cab 4x4 is appreciating in value daily. I was offered 23 for it cash the other day. Not for sale. Has the forged rod 7.3 too. I don't do toy trucks, mine is a work truck (farm). If I want comfort, I drive my car. When it hits 30, I may off it as that is what I paid for it new in 97.