I feel the same as you. In the US things are quite spread out like they are there in Australia. It just doesn't feel feasible to me right now. I think if you lived in a big city and you never ventured too far from there, then it might be one thing, but for the rest of us in Middle America, it just doesn't work. I need to be able to tow my travel trailer and that requires a 3/4 ton pickup truck. I tried doing it with a 1/2 ton for several years and it was dangerous. Dangerous for me and dangerous for everyone else on the road, it was too much trailer for that truck. I am interested in the hybrid technology. Something between a gas vehicle and a full EV might be worth looking into. Unfortunately as you said, they seem to be leaning fully EV or bust!
I'm not surprised you say this and I agree, and have similar needs. My truck has a 3500kg towing capacity and a range (on dinosaur juice) of 1000km, which is only just acceptable for what I need; I'll put in a long range tank for an extra 700km eventually. An EV just won't cut it.
Maybe one day I guess, but not this day huh?
No, not at all. My old truck had a tow capacity of about 3500kg, but our newer travel trailer weighed about 2700kg alone, then when you add all our gear it was pretty close to the limit. I felt more like the trailer was pushing me versus me pulling it. Lots of white knuckle driving. My new truck can handle about 5900kg and it's like night and day. You hardly know it's back there sometimes!
Yep, it's important to have the right capacities for sure. We get all the same tracks as you guys (maybe not the full range, but the basics) and there's some who need the increased capacity; I don't so I don't spend the money on them as they are vastly more expensive. As it is mine cost me $100,000 AUD to buy and I've spent another $20,000 on accessories. That's ample...way too much really! 🙄
I've never owned a brand new vehicle, so I saved some money there. I think my truck had maybe 60k miles on it and it was $30,000 USD, so still pretty expensive for being used. She's a beast though and I love her.