What Happened to Small Trucks?

Remember the Ford Ranger? Chevrolet S10? Toyota Hilux? Why doesn't anyone make good small trucks like that anymore?

It's Josh the Car Guy time, boys.

Music Attribution:

"Proof of Concept" and "Local Cluster" by Wintergatan

[DinnerGuests]

A few commenters have brought up that we missed the influence of EPA import regulations in our research. Thank you for sharing this with us. We had little time for research, and if any of you are Wikipedia editors, please add this info to the pages for compact trucks so others don’t make our mistake. We stand by our analysis of consumer trends favoring increasing size in American cars over the past 20 years, even if it was only part of the reason compact trucks went away, and hope that you will enjoy our analysis of the two trucks and our conclusion that good compact trucks should be a continuing part of the American car experience.

[ralan]

Because the EPA killed small trucks with the algorithm they used to determine truck footprint compared to minimum fuel mileage. Do a search on YouTube that at says why can’t we have small trucks anymore

[TechnicallyMexican]

My family had a 95 Toyota T100 growing up, such a great vehicle! BRING BACK SMALL TRUCKS!

[Razzman-bvqc]

Others have mentioned the EPA and CAFE regulations that in effect force bigger and bigger trucks onto the US market. There's also the Chicken Tax, a import tariff on imported small trucks of 25%, this has been present for about 40 years now, it made the imported small truck to expensive to compete in the market.
The US truck makers have in effect had no "World" competition for 40 years and a market to themselves. However there are American small trucks out there, The RAM 700, is around overseas though, it is small just like those NISSAN and TOYOTA trucks of days gone by.

[smpractice]

This video feels cater built for someone's algorithm. The music choice, video essay format, there's a vague Nathan fielder vibe, suburban Nostalgia, bookend with a physical bit based off wordplay.
Tho standing in front of a mall jc penny while talking about a not that old relic which is getting passed over with time...pre planned?

[JacobSeely]

I really like you doing this format of video. Humor mixed with information. Also your filmography and editing has gotten quite good. 10/10 would watch another video like this.

[chiefproblems]

I remember when you could go to Europe and buy a VW from the factory. Drive all over Europe on vacation and ship it home to the U SA. I think they cost less than 1000 buc.

[JRudy]

In July 2021 I needed a new pickup. My 2005 Colorado was toast. I had a 1996 Ranger before the Chevy. I scoured Craigslist and everything was picked over or extremely overpriced. I ended up buying a brand new regular cab Silverado work truck with a 2.7 four cylinder 4x4. I would have preferred a midsized truck, but the Silverado work truck was a better deal. I'm thrilled with this truck. It's got an eight foot bed that comes in real handy.

[TylerBevanOfficial]

I love playing Dodge Dakota. As it stands, I have no friends named Dakota so I have about a 20-year win streak

[patrickradcliffe]

I will repeat what I read about the death of the mid-size and compact pickups is that car manufacturers found it took just as much time to build a mid-size or compact truck as it did to build a full size so the profit margin was smaller.

[SaskatchewanBadAss]

EPA killed them just as much as the chicken tax, as well as when they went by vehicle footprint. Just incentivises bigger vehicles. For them to make small trucks today the mpg requirement would make it impossible

[Paul-ymn]

I have a 2003 zr2 chevy s-10 truck or is a great truck o love it wish they could still make them

[levyoliver]

Yes. Why did they stop making the singlecab long bed pickup?

[rogerveal]

What about Australia. We have lost all of our Utes. Utes are different to your small trucks being based on a car platform. All gone since 2017 when Ford and Holden (GM) gave up local manufacturing. I've still got two of them and never selling as nothing on the market to replace them.

[dontran]

Aside modern trucks are getting bigger, we also noticed the appearance of more SUVs & crossovers (which are also has an SUV like body) & less sedans. A lot of well known sedans like the Chevy Malibu is phasing out in favor of more suv & crossover models.

It’s a bummer because I am a fan of small pickup trucks & sedans. I used to own a 1986 Mitsubishi mighty max small pickup truck. My mighty max, although small, was very reliable & easy maintenance too & does not have to be fancy like the modern giant pickup trucks. Plus because my truck was small, parking in compact parking lots was no problemo

[stoggy]

i put 500k miles on a 98 Toyota 4x4 standard. Only replaced tires, oil/filter, batteries, wipers and brakes.

my 2009 Toyota Tacoma standard has 300k on it. I get 29 city and 36 hwy. No big truck can touch it. No automatic and touch it. I don't need a ton of caring capacity. the most i ever put in the back was a 1300cc motorcycle. I have never owned a trailer hitch. I need to carry some but i like dollars in MY wallet more then in their wallet.

[EvzenKovar-ip]

I’d love it if you could buy a put-it-together-yourself kit Nissan Hard Body from about 1989. I’m sure the government wouldn’t allow that though.

[art-uxff]

You should do a bit more research on why smaller trucks and vehicles have 'fallen out of popularity'. Its because we cant import them anymore. Look up the youtube video on "Why We Can't Have Small Trucks Anymore - Blame the EPA"

[amberfox]

This is a good video i was wondering why they aren't making this kind of trucks anymore it's a shame because i just drove one of them for the first time and it was pretty fun.

[SirLordCustardtheth]

As a Brit this all seems completely absurd the ramifications of riding around in the back of a pickup truck would make your head spin 😮