Why are Americans So Obsessed with Trucks?

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If you drive across the United States, you’ll encounter a wide variety of vehicles. However, the pickup truck is by far the most common type of vehicle. So, why are trucks so popular in the United States? They’re huge, gas-guzzling monsters. But they’re also the ideal representation of American values, a blend of work, fun, and helping others.

There’s a good reason why huge pickup trucks are so popular in the United States, despite the fact that many of us on the other side of the picture like to make fun of our neighbors who own trucks. In fact, trucks are not common in the US because of their size but rather because of their critical role in the country’s growth.

How Trucks Invaded the American Heart?

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Source: ideabug/Getty Images

Back in the early nineteenth century, around the time Thomas Jefferson was sworn in as the third President of the United States in 1801, about 95 percent of Americans lived on farms. Although they were considered enormous farms by many during the agricultural industry at that time, they would be considered tiny family farms by today’s standards.

These businesses, which were spread over the countryside, used one-horse carts to communicate, trade, and deliver nearly everything.

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Over a century later, approximately a third of all Americans were still reliant on farming for their primary food source. Even as the country became more urbanized, most farms still relied on one- or two-horse carts. There were thousands of small towns and communities without public transportation and few paved roads. Most of the economy still depended on the surrounding ranches and farmland.

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The introduction of the Ford 1925 Model T truck marked a significant shift in the way the United States worked and lived. Now, travels that used to take all day were completed in a matter of minutes. There was a significant increase in the weight capacity of the vehicles. Now that we have headlights, the working day might continue into the night.

Roads Introduction

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The construction of roads became the obvious next step after every farm had a truck available. As compared to Europe, where tiny cobblestone and brick roads already existed, America had the opportunity to build a new transportation infrastructure for a new period.

Wide, straight highways with beautifully flat roads were constructed to let people travel the wide-open countryside. Vegetables no longer spoil when being transported by truck at high speeds.

Why are Trucks Still Popular in the US?

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Despite the fact that the number of farmers has reduced, the pickup truck has remained popular. A multi-purpose vehicle is still highly valued in the eyes of many people in the United States. 

Today, you’ll find corporate branding on many pickup trucks, from landscapers to electricians. Even though they’re still used, they’re no longer considered just for farming purposes.

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Source: Associated Press/LM Otero

In the 1990s, truck and SUV manufacturers began sprinkling their vehicles with high-end features. The premium truck and SUV market surged while petrol prices were low. Driving a truck rather than a car was never seen as a big deal in the US. For a period, trucks were seen as status symbols in the early years of the 21st century.

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Almost all pickup trucks on the market now have four doors, making them ideal for families. The car no longer has any benefits over pickup trucks.

There is a pickup truck for everyone now, from the modest farmer to the car enthusiast who wants his truck to breathe full hellfire for performance and terrify many specialized sports cars.

Was a Dream and Still a Dream

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While just one percent of Americans are farmers and the Declaration of Independence was signed 240 years ago, pickup trucks have reshaped America. A V8-powered pickup truck is, in many ways, a symbol of America.

Pickups appeal to Americans because they combine two of the most important values: usefulness and independence. With a complete bed and a trailer hitch, you may start your own company or move your entire house. Heck, you can even camp in your truck with a tent set up in the bed.

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Source: designboom

In the United States, only roughly 3.1 million people (one in every 100 people) are farmers. Farmer’s horses were replaced by pickup trucks that have created the everlasting American-Truck Dream!

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