Thanks for that Lou.

I thinks it's interesting that the ford ranger is the 5th best selling truck in canada behind the big three's trucks in sales even though it hasn't been produced for a year or so. Its more than double the next truck the tundra at 6th. That position makes me think maybe there is a bit of a market for them then.

Some folks might not want to hear it, but from what I have personally witnessed, a lot of folks bought a Ranger cause it was the cheapest pickup/vehicle they could get.

I even looked at one years ago when I made much less money. I really wanted to love the thing, and the salesman told me to take a couple hour test drive to get a good feel for it.

The more I drove it, the more I hated it. I am sooooo glad that the salesman let me take that long drive.

Ford and Toyota long term debt is over 100 billion each, while GM's is at 16 billion.

@Anthony_D85. Thanks.
The USA population is 9 times bigger than Canada. If one factored that into sales some interesting numbers are generated.
.........USA............................Canada (per capita factoring)
Ford - 645,316 ..................... 893,979
Chev -157, 185 .................... 359,658
GMC - 418,312 ..................... 302,319
Ram - 293,363 ..................... 577,394

The weighting of sales shows some intersting patterns. Canadians love their pickups.
In Canada GMC Sierra is more popular than Chevrolet Silverado. Ram is much more popular than either Chevy or GMC. Ford is the dominant truck player. Unlike the USA where 1st and 2nd is close, there is a huge per capita gap in Canada.
I am also comparing Dec. USA sales to November Canada sales.

Combine gmc and chevy (as it should be) and they outbsold the infamous ford.... just sayin'

Chevrolet Silverado
418,312
+
GMC Sierra
157,185
------------------
575,497

Ford F-Series
645,316

Chevy Silverado +
GMC Sierra +
Chevy Colorado +
Chevy Avalance +
GMC Canyon
-----------------
645,067

Ford F-Series
645,316

@carilloskis, For off-road operation, ride height can be increased either 1.2 inches or 2 inches, which Chrysler claims gives the Ram 1500 class-leading ground clearance, breakover angle, and departure angle. No other full-size pickup has anything like it. In the quest for the best full-size pickup ride quality, payload capacity isn't sacrificed; Ram claims a credible 1930-lb payload capability.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1208_2013_ram_1500_first_drive/viewall.html#ixzz2H4E8hgeB

2013 FORD SVT RAPTOR
approach 30.2
departure 22.7
break over 19.5
ground clearance 9.3
Haul 930lb
6,000lb tow

2013 POWER WAGON
42,000 SL trim
approach 35
departure 26.5
break over 25.5
ground clearance 14.5
Haul 1,880lb
tow 10,250lb

Sad the regular ford super crew 4x4 has more departure angle then the Raptor does. 22.7 Raptor 25.1 super crew.
http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/view-all/

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/trucks/1208_2013_ram_1500_first_drive/viewall.html

http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredvehicles/129_1012_2010_ford_f150_raptor_vs_2010_ram_power_wagon/viewall.html

http://www.fourwheeler.com/roadtests/129_1301_the_ultimate_factory_4x4_shootout/ram_power_wagon.html

FOR THE SAME PRICE YOU GET A 12,000 LB WINCH, TOW/HAUL, MOST OFF ROAD CAPABLE FROM OEM.

POWER WAGON. THE FIRST NAME IN 4X4 TRUCK SINCE 1946. WINNER 05, 10, 12, 4 WHEEL MAG OFF ROAD OF THE YEAR.

Yeah, but the problem with the Power Wagon is that it comes with that crappy little hemi.

The problem with the Power Wagon is it comes with that crappy little hemi.

@Frank and Lou thanks for the link to ( If your brand was discontinued). I know it is outdated but sheds a little light for me.

I have to tip my hat to GM fullsize , even with an old platform they still show an increase in sales. I sure wish the Ranger would return, it was a good little runabout. I saw a post here that a few thought Ram would take over #1 in sales, LOL not a chance, Ford and GM are way too far ahead for this to happen. Nice trucks but Ford and GM always beat the Ram in payload and towing.

@HemiV8 - it was stated that the air ride Ram at maximum lift rode poorly.

I would suspect that departure angles for the F150 4x4 versus Raptor are a typo.

Most offroad capable all depends on your parameters. You did post a link about a 4x4 test ranking the most capable vehicles and the Jeep Rubicon was #1, the Raptor rated #2, and the Power Wagon rated #3. That would mean the PW is the 3rd most capable OEM vehicle. The Power Wagon has greater cargo capacity than a Raptor, but has less capacity than a 3/4 ton.
I'd rather buy a 3/4 ton outdoorsman for 42,490 and spend 4K on winch, offroad bumper, tires and skid plates than 46,290 on a base model Power Wagon. A base model SLT is 31,695. Is the PW worth 10K more?
At least with the SLT or Outdoorsman you get 13,550 towing capacity versus the PW 10,250.

Your money, your choice and your preference.

If it were my money, my choice, and my preference - I'd rather have the Outdoorsman. A detatchable winch on a reciever hitch is much more versatile.

I really enjoyed my rangers when I had them. Ive had 2. There good for a younger lad who doesn't need an expensive tow/haul vehicle. Tough trucks that don't die. I hydrolocked it once it lived, (after oil change, 02 censors and spark plugs), 6ft of air doing 70km, and thought it would be a good idea to drive through an abandoned shanty but it turned out to have a metal frame and I came to a dead halt. The truck always carried on. Always really fun to drive. I miss the fun I had with them.

@TundraHQ

The updated 2013 Ram has only been available on dealer lots for maybe a month or two now. I'd be willing to bet that 90+% of 2012 sales and 50+% of Dec 2012 Ram sales were attributed to 2011/2012 Rams.

I assure you, especially with all of the new features of the 2013 Ram, that Ram will continue to see sales growth and continue to grab a larger chunk of the overall market.

Ford is a junk food in truck industry.

Unbelievable that GM with a 12 year old design stayed right on fords butt after ford pumped 2 billion dollars into the f series and failed with a horrible hd transmission and week engine. Looks like next year ford will be behind GM even with their fabricated pick up truck sales. I see more and more fords on the GM used cars section of GM dealerships. They just ar so inferior. Ford girlies are really crying now!

@ Lou, Running at 8/10ths down desert roads, the Raptor is an E-ticket through the landscape: the faster you go, the better it is. However, the inverse is also true: the slower you go, the less compliance the shocks offer, which results in a sometimes jarring and rough ride at regular speeds through the dirt. Unlike the linearity of the Power Wagon suspension, you can almost feel a stepped sensation to the bypass zones of the Fox shocks at average speeds. We were left to wonder, who would be driving this nearly $50,000 and uncaged truck at 60 to 70mph through the desert where these shocks truly shine? We'd gladly trade high-speed capability for some low-speed compliance.

By contrast, the Power Wagon features Bilstein monotube shocks that are tuned so well that we can't imagine being able to wring much more out of them. The Bilsteins are the key to the Power Wagon's civilized ride on pavement and are surprisingly good on the trail, allowing the Power Wagon to carry some astounding speed in the dirt, while offering the better ride at low to moderate speeds.

Read more: http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredvehicles/129_1012_2010_ford_f150_raptor_vs_2010_ram_power_wagon/viewall.html#ixzz2H6Ox6e00

@Carilloskis, The Raptor’s only weakness was revealed in the rock garden, where its relatively low clearance and wide track had it occasionally kissing boulders. While it may be a bit wide and low for really technical trails.

Read more: http://www.fourwheeler.com/roadtests/129_1301_the_ultimate_factory_4x4_shootout/viewall.html#ixzz2H6TcJXP7

@carilloskis, Clearly, the rock garden was where the Power Wagon was most agreeable. With plenty of ground clearance, the Power Wagon might as well have been traveling on a dirt road. This was the one pickup that never stressed the driver in the rocks. Despite crawling during a downpour, we completed the rock garden without ever turning on the lockers. The Power Wagon always has the traction it needs, and if you want more, at the push of a button you can lock it up. Clearly, the rock garden was where the Power Wagon was most agreeable. With plenty of ground clearance, the Power Wagon might as well have been traveling on a dirt road. This was the one pickup that never stressed the driver in the rocks. Despite crawling during a downpour, we completed the rock garden without ever turning on the lockers. The Power Wagon always has the traction it needs, and if you want more, at the push of a button you can lock both axles.

Read more: http://www.fourwheeler.com/roadtests/129_1301_the_ultimate_factory_4x4_shootout/viewall.html#ixzz2H6ZeQqaw

2012 Ford Raptor
Thirsty V-8, it’s really wide, most expensive vehicle in the test.

MY NEXT TRUCK. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qktAhQdA8I

Without a doubt. The most off road capable 3/4 ton you can buy from the factory. What truck is going to be able to take you further on the trail? With a 12,000 lb winch, solid front axle, front and rear locker, and plenty of ground clearance. The smoothest riding 3/4 ton truck. Ram Power Wagon. Lock your shovels, tow straps, hi lift jack, Rifles, fishing poles, in the Ram box. Tow your R.V. to camp before you hit the trail. The power wagon is not a one trick pony. The Ram Continues To Be The Jack Of All Trades. For my hard earned money and needs. No doubt I am buying the one and only. Power Wagon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx_l0bWu3og

Nissan needs to get back to the basics when it comes to trucks. They need to scrap the Titan and come out with a true compact truck similiar to what they had in the 80s but with all the safety features of today. With the Ranger gone from the market and the dwindling number of remaining Colorados/Canyons this would be the perfect time for Nissan to make this move. It is doubtful that the Titan will ever be a serious contender in the fullsize market even if it is a good solid truck. At the very least they could scrap the Titan, continue the Frontier for a while, and come out with a compact truck about the size of their hardbodies of the mid 80s. Those Nissans were great trucks and sold well. Nissan should not even try to compete with GM, Ford, and Ram.

Imagine if F series owners held onto their trucks the way the GM guys do. OR, what if the GM guys had to replace their trucks as often as the Fords?

Its funny that the Ford guys think that yearly sales figures equate to what is the best truck out there. (They must need the reassurance or something)

I drive a Dodge and am OK knowing that Dodge will never catch Ford...or Chevy for that matter. It's still an awesome truck, I like it, and I'm not a sheep.

"Unbelievable that GM with a 12 year old design stayed right on fords butt"

12 years old? Put down the crack pipe son. Current GM's 900 series date back to 2007. They've been out roughly 6 years. That's nothing. The current F-150 in all reality dates back to 2004. That's 9 years. The current F-250 Super Duty in all reality dates back to 1999. That's 14 years. If anything, Ford has the oldest trucks on the market. Chevrolet's are fairly new by comparison. The problem is, they got beat with an ugly stick from the word go and are cheap as hell built to boot. Chevrolet's reputation for trucks is in the toilet. The looks are completely gone from their glory days and so is their build quality. One more dud and someone can flush them down for good.

Jeff S.,

Nissan is coming out with an all new Titan in 2014/2015. Nissan doesn't try to compete with Ford and GM on sales numbers, they know they will never sell what Ford does, but they do offer a nich truck that has been profitable for them so their is no reason to stop making something that is profitable. I personally love my 05 Titan, I am really considering buying another one even if it hasn't changed much.

@ RonK.... Not sure who is smoking the crack pipe here... GM trucks are not in the toilet, even with the 7 year old truck it is selling well. As far as looks, that is subjective, i like the look, its a truck and looks like one. If it is not your style then buy what you think looks good. I see the 2013 GM HD won the 2013 Truck King challenge , a completely independant study, doing real world tow haul tests. Even though the GM was not the favorite interior, it was the most comfortable interior, and for what it was built for, to haul big loads and tow large trailers it did better than the Ram or Ford in steering, more stable when loaded ect. The Ford edged out GM in fuel economy by a few tenths, the Ram was distant third place in everything but interior design. GM may not have the neweset, best looking body panels, but it gets the job done the best. The new Ram HD is going to be a better platform with the upgraded chassis and will give GM some stout competition. The Ford HD is also as ugly as dirt(IMO), but sells the best, so others must be liking the look.

GM's numbers are quite good when you consider they have the oldest half-tons on the market...people will like the new GM trucks, they will gain back some marketshare with the next gen trucks, how much will they gain back?We shall see.

@Lou,
"Canadians own more pickups per capita and seem to like high mpg subcompacts more than their USA brethren. I read somewhere that Vancouver BC also had an extremely high proportion of convertibles."
Australians own more Pickups per capita as well, plus a lot of SUV's. Yes we have a lot of high mileage subcompacts too. We do not have convertibles but we do have Sportswagons.
http://www.crashzone.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/hsv-e2-clubsport-wagon.jpg

http://images.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2007/09/18/18CMazda6_m_m.jpg

http://supercarsview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Hyundai-i40-02.jpg

Yeah, but the problem with the Power Wagon is that it comes with that crappy little hemi.

Posted by: CUMMINS I6 | Jan 4, 2013 10:18:45 PM

@CUMMINS, GET A CLUE!
Another common complaint we hear about the Power Wagon is the lack of a diesel option. In the real world where this truck is designed to work well, a diesel as we know it would be a hindrance. The 6.7L Cummins is nearly twice as heavy as the 5.7L Hemi currently found in the Power Wagon. The added weight would simply ruin the off-road performance at any kind of speed. You would have to dump the 4.56 gears to keep the low-revving diesel happy. Plus the addition of a diesel engine would require an intercooler. Unfortunately the intercooler wants to sit in the same place as the winch and possibly the electronic disconnecting sway bar. So at the end of the day a diesel Power Wagon would have less off-road content. You’d probably only have a tire and wheel package, skidplates, shocks, front and rear lockers, a few stickers, and an estimated base price close to the $60,000 mark. No thanks! We’ll take the Hemi Power Wagon.

Read more: http://www.fourwheeler.com/roadtests/129_1301_2012_ram_power_wagon_long_term_report_part_1/#ixzz2H8Jpz5Kp

Avalanche looks like it took away sales from sibling EXT. Both history after 2013.
Could it be that painting the black vinyl pieces the same as EXT made Avalanche look more upscale for less $$?

@Rich--I don't have any doubts to the quality of the Titan, just that the volume is not enough to be profitable. Nissan has always made a good truck and at one time they had the number 1 compact truck. There is a market for a good compact truck and Nissan has the expertise to make it.

@sandman - GMC does have a good HD but they seem to have lost their way in the 1/2 ton ranks. Chevy alone without being combined with GM used to easily outsell Ford F150. Ford now sells more 1/2 tons then Chevrolet and still sells considerably more HD's. Looks are subjective as you have pointed out. I also think the snout of the Ford HD is ugly. I like the interiors of the Fords better and the bodies of the Ford and Dodge seem to hold up better. When it comes to gasser engines and drivetrains, they all seem to hold up well. I've heard of guys complain about Ford 6.0 diesels but no complaints for anything newer other than really poor mpg out of the 6.4.

@hemiV8 - I personally would not buy a Raptor or PowerWagon as they both are too expensive to buy in Canada. I'd rather get a standard 3/4 ton and add what I need (if I wanted or needed a 3/4 ton). Trails around here grow over and get dammed hard on the bodies of even small trucks. I'd rather haul my toys for the bush work. A Raptor suspension in a cheaper option package would be nice. Gravel back roads with a Raptor suspension could shorten travel time to a favorite fishing hole by a large amount. I can travel more safely at a higher speed on gravel roads with my long wheel base F150 than with shorter and smaller trucks I've owned.

@AJ - that is one of the most asinine comments ever made. If GMC sells less because they are more reliable, that means GMC trucks were complete pieces of sh-t before 2009. Any honest truck guy will admit that GMC's sales leadership was lost with the GMT 900's, but sales most likely started downhill with the GMT800's.
Many will swear that the C/K trucks were the most reliable GMC trucks ever made. That is when they outsold Ford.
Are you related to Greg or TJ. They, like you, are full of low IQ comments.

when it comes to all full-size trucks are there more gas powered trucks or diesel

@Allen - I have heard that 80% of Ram HD trucks are sold with the Cummins engine.
I can't find GMC statistics but they just announced building their 1.5 millionth Duramax over 14 years. In 14 years GMC sold over 11 million pickups. Since 20% of their 2011 sales were HD's we can surmise that they have sold close to 2.5 million HD's in 14 years if the ratio of LD/HD is constant. That would indicate 75% of their trucks are diesel. In reality, That figure will be lower since they put Duramax diesels into Hummer H1's, and 4500 and larger trucks. I'm thinking maybe 60% of their trucks have diesels.
I can't find any stats on Ford PowerStroke engines other than the interesting tidbit that there are still 2 million 7.3 litre Power Stroke diesels still in service in Ford F series HD's.

I can easily believe that the majority of the HD Rams have a Cummins engine.

I am just wondering how all those Cummins owners that are in logging, mining, construction, etc., are able to get to work everyday without a lightweight, peaky, thirsty, POS hemi?

And once they get to work, how are they able to function with all of those diesel powered tractors, trucks, and machinery? Don't they know that they need a gas engine to go offroad?

And how are companies like Smittybilt, Warn, etc, able to put bumpers/winches on diesel powered vehicles but the factory can't?

Sounds like someone accepts anything they read that they want to believe but ignores things that they don't want to.

@Lou--I have yet to see a Raptor off road where I live. I think most of them are bought for the looks and the coolness factor. It has little to do with the capability and more to do with spending a lot of money for something that could be messed up. Your assessment is correct. Usually the trucks used for off roading are older and are modified for off roading. I am not an off roader but this is my observations from where I live. Most guys cannot afford to wreck an expensive toy and like you they usually use them to haul their ATVs. Even when a lot of guys hunt they use their ATVs to get to the harder areas to reach.

@Jeff S - I've seen 2 Raptors that looked like they were run offroad. One was pretty beat up. The driver looked to be around 20. The other had a lot of bush rash in the paint but body wise looked okay. The same can be said for Power Wagons. I've seen a few that obviously had seen some hard offroad use. I've seen 1 Raptor as a worktruck and 2 PowerWagons. The 1 Power Wagon looked overloaded with what would be okay for a standard 3/4 ton or 1 ton. Most bush trucks around Central and Northern BC that are used in logging are 1 ton crewcab trucks. Most guys do not carry crews but the length adds stability and the back seat area adds room for storage. When you are packing fuel tanks, cases of oil, parts, tools etc in the box what you put back there will smell like diesel and oil.
My brother likes crew cab trucks for the same reasons. He does ocassionally have to carry a crew of men but mostly, the back is for messy supplies and the cab is for "clean" supplies and survey maps, documents, and plans.
Small to mid sized contractors, or personal work trucks are usually diesels. Fleet or multi-driver trucks are usually gassers. One cannot get enough life out of a diesel pickup to get a return on investment, especially with fleet work.
My brother's company has gone to mostly 1/2 tons to save money and they are dying much faster than the HD's. That lends credence to Big Al from Oz's comments that our 1/2 tons are basically SUV's with a box. For those who think mpg doesn't matter, my brother's company is trying some V6 3.7 Ford 1/2 tons because they have found they are better on fuel than what GMC or Ram had at the time. To you and I, 100 - 200 a year savings isn't much but if you multiply that by 200 pickups - that adds up to a lot of money. I suspect that they will slowly go back to 3/4 ton trucks. If they don't they will buy what is the cheepest.
Their new and younger employees are really hard on equiupment. My brother was saying that they are short staffed so it is hard to fire idiots who wreck stuff because they can't be replaced.
Here is an example - He had to go searching for 2 guys who missed their check in time. They were in a remote area out of VHF range. Cells also don't work. He found them down a trail. They went playing around looking for good hunting spots pre-hunting season and had gotten both 1/2 ton trucks stuck. One was up against a tree with the door all caved in and the other had minor damage and was stuck too. He pulled them out and filed a report but nothing ever came of it. The previous summer, 2 pickups were completely destroyed. Nothing came of those incidents either.
I'll add for Oxi's sake that I don't see too many Tacoma's used for hardcore offroad use either. Same can be said for Jeep Wrangler Rubicons. Minor body damage can easily turn out to be a 3K repair bill. I can see Raptor's being popular in the desert areas of the USA since it is more wide open and body damage is less likely.

I see Power Wagons when I go out to Imperial dunes, Dumont dunes, Oceano dunes. They have to get out in the dunes to help when people get hurt and need to be medivacked out of the dunes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ByzRO3oLsk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxmbpieoV2k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoOT1n9z_3E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qpSzDEuLzc

Ford stays on top in Canada; Chrysler passes GM as No. 2

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20130103/RETAIL01/130109974#ixzz2HEeneVMR

Chrysler Australia sales boosted Posted on January 6th, 2013 • by David Zatz “Hemi 265” wrote that Chrysler’s 2012 sales in Australia rose 79% over 2011, reaching 21,401 units across Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge — and making Fiat-Chrysler the fastest-growing automaker in Australia. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was the hottest seller, with 8,373 sold in 2012, more than double 2011’s sales. According to Hemi 265, the Chrysler brand was restricted to Voyagers until late summer, when the 300 arrived; and Dodge only had the Journey. Most of the sales reported by the Chrysler brands were Jeeps. Chrysler had a substantial presence in Australia starting with domestic production of the Valiant in early 1962, though sales numbers were never especially high; the hot Valiant AP5, for example, saw 49,440 sales over 22 months. The Valiant VE sold 68,688 cars in 1967, 1968, and early 1969. The company boasted a 13.7% market share in Australia in 1969, with around 53,000 sales. In 1980, following declining sales, Chrysler sold 99% of the equity in Chrysler Australia to Mitsubishi. The last Chrysler/Valiant branded car made in Australia was produced in August 1981. (Also see: Chrysler in Australia at valiant.org; an interview with Australia’s Chief Engineer).

Read more at: http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2013/01/chrysler-australia-sales-boosted?fb_source=pubv1
Text copyright © Allpar, LLC, publishers of the massive Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and other Mopar site allpar.com

@Lou--Interesting. N KY terrain has hills, creeks, and lots of trees and vegetation. A lot of the contractors where I live drive 3/4 tons that are mostly diesels and drive them for years, just like what you said you cannot get enough life out of them. My handyman has a 2004 F-250 crew cab Powerstroke with about 200k miles and he has fixed the rust, replaced the injectors, and is putting new ball joints and tie rods on it and says he will run it either until he retires or there is nothing left. One of the guys that does landscaping for me has about a 91 to a 96 F-250 crew cab.

Many of the farmers around here have gone to HDs because they haul trailers and heavy equipment like tractors and combines. Yes there are farmers and contractors that drive half tons but many have gone to 3/4s and heavy duty because of the capabilities of those trucks. That's why I think that if the current 1/2 tons are eventually downsized and are given smaller engines that many more of these guys that use them for work will go to HD trucks. There will always be trucks available for heavier use.

If I ever see a Raptor being used for off road use I will let you know. I see a gal running around my neighborhood in an orange extended cab Raptor in nice shape. I have also seen a blue and a black Raptors cruising the streets. Those are the only Raptors I have seen but I have seen lots of late model crew cab F-150 loaded that appear to be used as commuter vehicles.

Trucks are still popular but I am seeing more compact cars. I have seen more guys driving nice trucks taking the bus at my park and ride. They don't want to give up their trucks but they will ride the bus to save money on fuel. I park my truck alongside their trucks and the Hondas and Toyotas. I agree with Big Al's assessment of the truck market but I do see a continuing market for the 3/4 ton trucks. Most of the rest of us in truth can adapt to a smaller truck especially if it is the size of a global Ranger, but as with everything it takes time for people to adapt. I don't see pickups disappearing, just changing.

@Lou and Jeff S
I do think HD's will be around for a while, but as diesels get better over the next decade the engines will down size in capactiy.

One thing I noticed in NYC this weekend was the lack of pickups. I saw no more than half a dozen. Most every truck was like one of our LDT's and MDTs (Mitsubishi's and Izuzu's). This surprised me. Because where my family lives in South Jersey there are quite a few pickups, but there is still a number of LDT's.

When the US gets the cab chassis Transits I think some HD sales will be lost to them as they are more refined than the LDT's. I see quite a few Mercedes and Iveco vans.

Also most HD's I see aren't used as load carrying trucks but tow vehicles. This is the difference between our trucks of similar capacity (LDT's). We don't tow as much and use trucks to carry loads. We have dump truck LDT's that tow Bobcats etc.

Your 1/2 ton trucks have evolved to be less work truck and more a family truckster. As as good as they look the half ton pickups have morphed into versitile "man" toys. Yes I do know they are also used for work, but to gain as big a market share as they can they have had to "soften" them just like our utes are softening.

As Jeff S stated there will always be some kind of "truck" for the general populace.

@Hemi V8
Yes, its good to see how Fiat/Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge are going down here.

Since Fiat has controlled Chrysler they have improved quality, marketing and design. But from a quality perspective, more improvement will give them a much bigger share. Chrysler products have a bad name down here. Because as recently as 5 years ago they sold poor quality vehicles.

I do think Fiat will eventually become a very large player on the global scene.

Ram's would find a niche market in Austrlaia but a few changes are required. Strengthen the chassis/suspension and only sell them as a V6 Diesel. I don't think the Hemi would take off as the diesel is the better engine for our market.

@Lou...My comments in CAPS.

that is one of the most asinine comments ever made. If GMC sells less because they are more reliable, that means GMC trucks were complete pieces of sh-t before 2009. NOW *THAT* IS AN "ASININE" STATEMENT. (YOU FEEL GOOD USING THAT WORD...DON'T YA?!...I CAN TELL.)

Any honest truck guy will admit that GMC's sales leadership was lost with the GMT 900's, but sales most likely started downhill with the GMT800's. I AGREE LOU. "HONEST"! KEEP READING ON...

Many will swear that the C/K trucks were the most reliable GMC trucks ever made. That is when they outsold Ford. THANK YOU. A STATEMENT LIKE THIS SUPPORTS MY ORIGINAL COMMENT REGARDING GM'S RELIABILITY CONTRIBUTING TO A DECREASE IN SALES OF 2007+ TRUCKS. THOSE C/K TRUCKS, AS WELL AS, 99-02 TRUCKS WERE SOME OF THE BEST EVER MADE AND ARE *STILL* ON THE ROAD TODAY AND THE REASON WHY SO MANY GM GUYS AREN'T BUYING GMT900'S. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE SPECIFIED...OR MAYBE YOU NEED TO BRUSH UP ON YOUR READING COMPREHENSION?

Are you related to Greg or TJ. WHO ARE THEY? I DON'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME HERE TO KNOW PEOPLE WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENTS. I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU.

They, like you, are full of low IQ comments. OH. OK. WELL, YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER, MR. "AUTHORITY"!

@JeffS, Big Al - my brother's company switched to 1/2 tons because they are cheeper to buy than 3/4 tons but they do not hold up well. When he started out as a Forester 30 years ago, he was low man on the totem pole and got all of the 1/2 ton trucks. He had nothing but problems with them. A 3/4 ton might survive 3 years in his hands but a 1/2 ton won't. He is lucky because of his seniority and the fact that he is a top producer, they give him what he wants. The first 3/4 ton crewcab he had, he refered to it as his "bitch" truck. Not because of the crewcab capacity or who he was packing in it, but because everyone else "bitched and moaned" about the fact that he had one. Only the guys hauling crews of men we supposed to be allowed to have one.

@Big Al, Your 1/2 ton trucks have evolved to be less work truck and more a family truckster. As as good as they look the half ton pickups have morphed into versitile "man" toys. Yes I do know they are also used for work, but to gain as big a market share as they can they have had to "soften" them just like our utes are softening. Posted by: Big Al from Oz | Jan 6, 2013 8:59:32 PM

I am not sure what you mean? Softening 1/2 Ton trucks are in 3/4 ton territory in capability a few years ago. Towing more and hauling more then ever. The enteriors are nicer.
Four-Wheel Drive
The 5.4-liter V-8 engine is available as an option on all 2000 Ford F-150s with four-wheel drive. The maximum towing capacity of these pickups ranges from 7,900 to 8,400 pounds.

2013 Ford 4x4 F150 towing cap 11,300
http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/towing/

Read more: The Tow Capacity of a 2000 Ford F-150 5.4L | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7706462_tow-2000-ford-f150-54l.html#ixzz2HGKG1o7T

I m not sur hwmani trux r sold 2 u driver ev yer, but i do no tha trux r not is good as gm and the chev. only the dum by trux not from the gm and chev fur sur.

@Hemi you pointed out something that intrest me you said that the rapotor had a worse departure than the f150 crew cab, whcis is not posible since they are usignnthe same frame and rear bumper with the exeption of the fenders the same bed so it definatly with the extra tire size and stance should have a better angle.