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by throw0101c 654 days ago
> This is pretty absurd… there are plenty of non commercial reasons to use a truck- towing trailers, hauling wood, etc. they’re pretty essential for people that live in the country, do subsistence farming, or build/maintain their own house.

Of course there are practical reasons for pickup trucks. But those are not the reasons why people actually buy them.

63% of F-150 drivers self report that they rarely/never tow:

* https://www.axios.com/ford-pickup-trucks-history

29% tow "occasionally", and 7% regularly.

> I grew up in the country in a house my dad built, and we got much of our food from plants and animals we raised- we needed a truck.

Fourth-fifths of the US population is currently in an urban area:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanization_in_the_United_Sta...

* https://www.statista.com/statistics/269967/urbanization-in-t...

Few people tow, and if you want to haul things a minivan would probably be most practical.

Even in construction, I think most folks would be better served with a van, as you can lock up your tools more securely and any supplies won't be exposed to the elements.