Pickup trucks they remain the best sellers in various markets around the world due to their carrying power and towing capacity. But unlike the classic trucks of the 1900s, modern pickup trucks serve a variety of roles, from hauling farm and household items to towing travel trailers for weekend recreation. As consumer needs evolve, automakers introduce new trucks equipped with revolutionary features and accessories. The truck’s best features cater to the driver’s needs; they are easy to use for navigating extreme off-road conditions or for towing heavy loads. Even the simplest features, such as infotainment systems, can make a big difference in the day-to-day use of the truck. However, not all truck features currently available are useful. Let’s take a look at five useless pickup truck features and five that every truck should have.
10 Worthless function: Auto Start-Stop
The auto stop/start function shuts off the engine when the car is idling to improve fuel efficiency. While we understand that even pickup truck manufacturers want to offer fuel-efficient trucks to their customers, many people find the auto-start feature a bit intrusive. And while this feature has improved in recent years, the inconvenience it causes isn’t worth the miniscule fuel savings achieved in a pickup truck: about 0.04 gallons per tank, according to pickuptrucktalk. When the truck engine shuts off, the HVAC system also shuts down, meaning on a hot day, the air conditioning shuts off as well. In some cheaper cars with auto start-stop, the car often shuts off when the engine shuts off with a screeching sound, making you feel like you’ve accidentally stopped. But the worst problem is the lag time experienced between the engine off and the ignition process. Although most car manufacturers claim that the process takes only milliseconds from when you lift your foot off the brake pedal until the engine starts, the truth is that it’s more like 2-3 seconds. So if you have a turbo truck it will take a few seconds to get full power. Fortunately, most vehicles have a button to disable this feature. Still, you can avoid this altogether by buying a hybrid or full electric truck, as the electric motor provides instant torque when needed.
9 Must-have feature: all-wheel drive
A 2WD pickup truck like the Ford Maverick may be cheaper and more fuel efficient, but ask anyone around and they’ll tell you they prefer a pickup truck that sends power to all four wheels. After all, the advantages of a four-wheel drive pickup truck outweigh its disadvantages. A pickup truck with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive has better traction in dangerous snowy, icy, muddy, rocky, or wet driving conditions. This makes them more suitable for off-road driving than 2WD pickup trucks. In addition, the additional weight of the four/all-wheel drive train helps provide better grip on the road. This means that a 4×4 truck performs better than a 2WD, so automakers should equip all trucks with four or all-wheel drive.
8 Worthless Feature: Tank Spin feature
Rivian lit up the auto segment in 2019 when it did demonstrated the Tank Turn feature and he said he would go down to the R1S SUV and the R1T truck. Mercedes also showed its Tank Turn version in the EQG concept car. Ford is the latest car manufacturer to file a patent for its electric cars to perform this maneuver. The Tank Turn feature is an innovative feature, but is it useful? According to Kelley Blue Book’s Micah Muzio, “Tank Turn is a dazzling innovation, but its usefulness is questionable. The occasions when a driver would want to turn within the length of their vehicle and be able to do so safely are very small. talking to Rivian engineers, they have the same concern, which explains why the feature hasn’t been implemented.” To add salt to injury, Muzio said, “Something like Ford’s brake-based Trail Turn Assist is much more useful, allowing drivers to make tight turns with ease off-road.”
7 Must-have feature: Track control
Owning a pickup truck means going off-road from time to time or driving in sand, mud, rocks and icy conditions. These conditions require precise steering inputs, tire placement, brake control and throttle touch from the driver. Many automakers understand this and have equipped their trucks with low-range trail tracking features to help experts and novices alike become better drivers on rough terrain. These “set it and forget it” systems take control of the throttle. and braking tasks, which allow the driver to focus on tire placement and avoiding obstacles. Toyota is one of the leading automakers with the Traction Control feature available on the Tacoma and Tundra TRD Pro.
6 Useless feature: automatic drop tailgate
Power liftgates and tailgates have become so common in recent years that you’ll find them in every car, from hatchbacks and sedans to minivans and SUVs. Today, automakers even offer a version of this technology in the tailgates of pickup trucks. Like a power liftgate, an automatic drop tailgate opens or lowers electronically by holding down or pressing a button on the key fob or dashboard. Trucks equipped with this feature include the Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500 and Ford F-150. While this feature adds convenience in other cars with heavy liftgates, it doesn’t make much sense in a pickup truck. Let’s face it, how hard is it to drop or close the truck door with one hand? Once again, automakers are forced to use lightweight material like aluminum to compensate for the extra weight added by the power-operated latches and motor, which means the tailgate isn’t strong enough.
5 Essential feature: Trailer sway control
One of the perks of owning a pickup truck is hooking up a travel trailer and going on a cross-country adventure. Sounds interesting, right? Well, it’s all fun and games until Mother Nature comes in with gusts of wind that toss your trailer left and right. Improper weight distribution and excessive speed can also influence side-to-side towing, which becomes dangerous if not managed, leading to accidents. To help keep the trailer stable, major truck manufacturers such as Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Toyota and Nissan equip their trucks with brake-based trailer sway control features that reduce engine power when necessary. While hardcore rigs prefer hitch-based roll control systems, these factory roll control features help novice drivers stay calm whenever they encounter wind gusts, which is why all trucks should have trailer sway control function.
4 Worthless Feature: Trunk and Storage
In the early 2010s, the Honda Ridgeline introduced trunk storage cut under the truck’s cargo floor. This is a seven-cubic-foot lockable, waterproof compartment accessible in the rear of the truck bed. Frankly, this feature only makes sense in a unibody pickup like the Ridgeline. Plus, the truck bed has more than enough storage space, so you won’t need the trunk for extra storage. Another nearly identical feature is RamBox storage in the Ram bed. It consists of lockable storage cabins that, unlike the Honda trunk, run the length of each side of the truck bed. The problem with this feature is that these boxes eat up substantial inches of the usable width of the truck bed.
3 Must-have feature: adjustable suspension systems
The suspension system is one of the most important components of the truck. Automakers design the truck’s suspension system to handle expected and unexpected driving conditions. But unlike traditional trucks that came with rigid suspension systems, modern trucks are no longer single-purpose vehicles; they also serve as day-to-day family carriers. Although there are various suspension systems installed on trucks today, an adjustable suspension system is undoubtedly the best overall. It can handle rough terrain during off-road driving, absorb shocks, maintain stability and even provide smooth and comfortable rides on paved roads. In other words, you can customize your suspension based on the terrain. Currently, only a few high-end trucks have adjustable air suspension, but hopefully more will follow.
2 Useless Feature: Sunroof
A sunroof or moonroof is a standard feature on luxury cars and has made its way to pickup trucks in recent years. It allows more light inside the truck cab and gives the occupants a chance to gaze at the sky or stars while the truck is cruising down the road. However, a pickup truck is not a luxury car, and a sunroof, which is more of an accessory, does not add any value to the practicality of the truck. Also, the additional total weight of a sunroof makes the truck less fuel efficient. Other disadvantages include reduced headroom and is more prone to leaks and vehicle ingress.
1 Must-have feature: skid plates and undercarriage protection
When you’re driving off-road, the suspension and body aren’t the only parts of your truck that take some serious beating. Underneath, rocks and trees like to crush crucial parts like the control arms and oil pan, which can cause serious problems for your truck. That’s why undercarriage protection like skid plates is essential to getting your truck off the road. Automakers like Toyota understand this, which is why the TRD Tacoma came equipped with factory skid plates. Sources: Pickup Truck Talk, Top Gear, Kelley Blue Book, Consumer Reports and Cars
