Since the front grilles of large pickups are so loud & chromed these days, the tailgate has to keep up somehow. Also, there’s not much else designers can do to distinguish the rear profile from competing models.
My first thought is that Chrysler must have got a killer deal on that shade of red, my minivan is that color and seems like 1/4 of all Mopars in the past 15 years are as well.
Second thought is that pickup bed sides are just about up to the roof of a minivan. I know what I’d rather haul stuff in…
Are the trucks bed sides really that high, or does it just look that way because the truck is closer to the camera than the van? If the photographer zoomed in when taking the photo that can mess with the perspective as well, making the background and foreground appear closer together than they really are.
They are that high, but that’s a Rebel, the lifted off-road 4×4 model. Regular Rams (4×2 or 4×4) sit at a much more manageable height. Now, the HD trucks sit very high, even in 4×2.
You see, that’s why they changed the brand name of the pickups from “Dodge” to “RAM”. When there are only 3 letters to fit on the tailgate, you can make them really huge.
I still think Dodge should have become all of the trucks, SUVs, and Commercial Vans like what Ram is these days while Plymouth should have sold passenger vehicles and sports cars.
Anyway, I actually like tailgates with the name stamped on them like the current Tacoma, but these adhesive letters are quite tacky. Everytime I visit South Carolina there is a decent Mopar presence and I assume that is where this photo is from despite the Ram’s South Dakota plate.
I doubt it would have worked. The Dodge dealership network ‘owns’ Chrysler, and it was only an inevitability that they would force the Plymouth division to close up. It really got bad during the belt-tightening Iacocca years. The low-rent Plymouth division just wasn’t his style and I doubt he had much interest in keeping it going, so Plymouth was virtually badge-engineered to death, especially when the Dodge versions of the same car were priced identically. Who would buy a grungy Plymouth when they could get a perceived more upscale, identical Dodge for the exact same money?
As to tailgates with self-adhesive lettering, the only thing worse is when someone ‘customizes’ their bro-dozer by removing the lettering, leaving a huge, flat, empty expanse.
Thank you for the input. If I recall correctly my folks did not like the extra features on the 1995 Dodge Caravan nor the front fascia so they went with a Voyager instead that was fairly basic.
Ultimately pickup truck tailgates will be constructed entirely of plastic letters… GMC, RAM and Ford will have the best aero, Chevrolet has the most rigid tailgate of all.
This is actually a touching tribute to the late Indian film personality Ram Mohan. The crossover appeal of large pickup trucks and Bollywood entertainment is well known.
I’m not going to say that I’m a judgy old queen that thinks the lettering is a ridiculous attempt at overcompensation by people way too insecure for their own or society’s own good. Just gonna say that I’d be a bit suspicious if I saw a date ride up in one of these.
It was just a truck, Officer. There were no other identifying marks on it.
“Why did you intentionally run your car into the back of that pickup?”
“I was just following the instructions on the tailgate, officer.”
For an aging population? I used to be able to read much smaller tailgate print.
Maybe it is because it would look silly with 3 small letters marooned in the expanse of sheetmetal?
Personally, I’d prefer the clean look of that expanse of sheet metal, with the three letters at the lower left or lower right.
Since the front grilles of large pickups are so loud & chromed these days, the tailgate has to keep up somehow. Also, there’s not much else designers can do to distinguish the rear profile from competing models.
At least the minivan can haul 8 foot lumber with the tailgate shut.
Zing! I think you just won the comments for today.
+1
…And is less likely to be driven by a 5’2″ woman.
One reason why I bought one.
My first thought is that Chrysler must have got a killer deal on that shade of red, my minivan is that color and seems like 1/4 of all Mopars in the past 15 years are as well.
Second thought is that pickup bed sides are just about up to the roof of a minivan. I know what I’d rather haul stuff in…
Are the trucks bed sides really that high, or does it just look that way because the truck is closer to the camera than the van? If the photographer zoomed in when taking the photo that can mess with the perspective as well, making the background and foreground appear closer together than they really are.
They’re really that high. That’s actually my son’s van, and I own a RAM 2500 4×4 (which sits even higher).
They are that high, but that’s a Rebel, the lifted off-road 4×4 model. Regular Rams (4×2 or 4×4) sit at a much more manageable height. Now, the HD trucks sit very high, even in 4×2.
You see, that’s why they changed the brand name of the pickups from “Dodge” to “RAM”. When there are only 3 letters to fit on the tailgate, you can make them really huge.
That font is called ‘Tailgate Sans Bold Extended.’
Would the Studebaker be Tailgate Sans Light Narrow?
That truck really needs some side decals so people can figure out what on earth it is:
Wouldn’t this make a perfect belt buckle?
I still think Dodge should have become all of the trucks, SUVs, and Commercial Vans like what Ram is these days while Plymouth should have sold passenger vehicles and sports cars.
Anyway, I actually like tailgates with the name stamped on them like the current Tacoma, but these adhesive letters are quite tacky. Everytime I visit South Carolina there is a decent Mopar presence and I assume that is where this photo is from despite the Ram’s South Dakota plate.
I doubt it would have worked. The Dodge dealership network ‘owns’ Chrysler, and it was only an inevitability that they would force the Plymouth division to close up. It really got bad during the belt-tightening Iacocca years. The low-rent Plymouth division just wasn’t his style and I doubt he had much interest in keeping it going, so Plymouth was virtually badge-engineered to death, especially when the Dodge versions of the same car were priced identically. Who would buy a grungy Plymouth when they could get a perceived more upscale, identical Dodge for the exact same money?
As to tailgates with self-adhesive lettering, the only thing worse is when someone ‘customizes’ their bro-dozer by removing the lettering, leaving a huge, flat, empty expanse.
Thank you for the input. If I recall correctly my folks did not like the extra features on the 1995 Dodge Caravan nor the front fascia so they went with a Voyager instead that was fairly basic.
Honestly I think I’d prefer the expanse.
Can’t wait until the letter start to peel off. Not many good letter combinations from just RAM though.
Relatedly, I saw a Hyundai “SO-A-A” in traffic yesterday.
“SO-A-A”: pronounced with two glottal stops…
Exactly!
Ultimately pickup truck tailgates will be constructed entirely of plastic letters… GMC, RAM and Ford will have the best aero, Chevrolet has the most rigid tailgate of all.
My favorite thing to ask people who drive these trucks when I get a chance to catch them in person is, “is that a ram?”
I posted this on the Cohort a while back with the title “I think it’s a Ford.” Maybe this is the next step for truck makers?
It’s definitely either a Ford or a clever ruse.
It clearly has ways to go still.
Wow!
What’s the vehicle on the left, though?
This is actually a touching tribute to the late Indian film personality Ram Mohan. The crossover appeal of large pickup trucks and Bollywood entertainment is well known.
I’m not going to say that I’m a judgy old queen that thinks the lettering is a ridiculous attempt at overcompensation by people way too insecure for their own or society’s own good. Just gonna say that I’d be a bit suspicious if I saw a date ride up in one of these.
The Gaint letters look tacky and like someone got them at pep boys. The grill is hideous with the nostrils. That needs to be replaced