The American pickup truck started with a Dodge made by the Dodge brothers to fill an order for the Army in 1918. Some of the features of the light duty, half-ton truck included a 35 hp 4-cylinder engine and it had a maximum load of 1,000 pounds. Once Henry Ford recognized that the pickup had potential, the Model T Ford was made, sporting the body of a pickup.
Ford, Dodge and Chevy
The first Chevy truck was introduced during the same period of time as the original Dodge, although sporting only a 21.7 hp motor. Even at that time, buyers had the choice to buy the chassis and build their own truck bed, cab and truck body onto it or pay for an aftermarket cab that cost $100.
As the three brands progressed through time and became bigger, more powerful and were made with modern technology, each would often follow suit behind the others as they made the transitions into new styles.
Many drivers today drive one of the three brands of trucks and faithfully stay with that brand. While new pickup trucks have been introduced by other motor companies, including foreign competitors like Nissan and Toyota, these three remain the most popular among American buyers.
Not Just for Work Any More
Originally, the pickup was designed with work in mind. Today, many drivers enjoy the feel of driving trucks over the experience they get with a car. When repairs are needed, OEM parts are often a big expense for these vehicles. Many worry that using aftermarket parts will cause their trucks to be less efficient or that they will actually cause damage to their vehicles.
In reality, aftermarket parts for light duty trucks are significantly less expensive than OEM parts and when you purchase from a reputable seller, they will provide the quality parts needed to repair your truck. In fact, some aftermarket parts are of an even better quality than the OEM parts that come from the manufacturer.