Bloomberg news service recently reported that $4 a gallon gas could be just around the corner. What does this mean to you? Will you get a smaller vehicle if this happens? What do you think this means to the truck enthusiast hobby?  

Not that you're trying to sensationalize anything Ed, since you're just asking for our opinions, but I think a lot of people will jump to the conclusion that this will bring the hobby to a screeching halt.  They are wrong.  It seems like every possible setback to the hobby is touted as the death knell.  I don't know why everyone likes to be so dramatic, but it happens all the time.  Maybe being pessimistic just gets more press, but it's getting old.  Remember when OBD-2 was supposed to bring the end of performance cars and tuning?  Before that it was unleaded gasoline (yes, I am old enough to remember leaded gas, barely) that was blamed for killing muscle cars.  Yes, some segments of the aftermarket might have to shift the direction of their products, but the market, and consumers, will adapt and higher fuel prices might actually be a windfall for companies that make EFI systems for older vehicles as well as those that build overdrive transmissions.  It might also mean more late-model, fuel-injected engines under the hoods of older vehicles.  I don't mind seeing 4.6L Mustang motors and LS2s in vintage Fords and Chevys.  

If, by this time next year, there are no custom trucks for me to shoot at shows either because nobody is building them, or nobody is bothering to drive to shows, then I'll eat my words.  

I think that it may impact how often people will be willing to drive across multiple state lines to go to a truck show, and it may even relegate larger trucks and SUVs to the secondary, rather than primary, mode of daily transportation. But enthusiasts will still fix up their trucks and SUVs and show them off.  

P-Town, I'm not suggesting that high gas is going to "kill" the hobby. I'm just wondering if this means people who were driving their trucks every day might get a compact for a commuter, and save their big hoss trucks for the weekend or shows.

On a related note, do you think this may bode well for half-ton diesels once they show up in the next year or two?  

....forget that, i'll stick to my mini truck...  

My commuter's a little econobox, and my commute is only 8 miles each way. I guess I'm pretty lucky. Even if it went up to $5 a gallon, I don't know if it would affect my driving habits all that much.  

i believe that as gas prices rise, people will still drive large trucks and SUV's.  The hike in the gas prices will actually benefit the automotive aftermarket because people will be more susceptable to purchasing products that will help achieve performance and better fuel economy.  Also, since people will be spending more on fuel alone, they will be much more willing to purchase aftermarket accessories to make their expensive fuel drinking vehicles more comfortable to drive.  This hike in fuel also means that it is time for the automotive consumer to be willing to try different fuel alternatives.
I myself would not trade my truck for anything. my truck is my freedom to go anywhere and no matter what gas prices are, nothing can stop me from driving it.
what this means to the hobby of truck building is that the people in the industry just  need to be a open minded and think out side of the box. One day there was no trucks, and now there are 1000 hp trucks sitting on the ground. so if people are open minded, one day there will be a mass produced truck running off of some type of enviromental friendly fuel, other than gasoline, that will be available to the masses.  

I have a 96 dodge ram 2500 with a cummins diesel, and i put at least $150 of fuel a week. its unbeleivable that the fuel market is coming to this. I am considering converting to boidiesel this summer as a project so that it is cheaper and more economic.  

I have always been a fan of the old saying "no replacement for displacement".  If it has eight cylinders and can be bolted, welded, taped or glued to anything with four wheels I am game.  With the skyrocketing gas prices it is definately putting a dent in my pocketbook.  I guess I can't really complain working in the oil and gas industry, the only thing that really pisses me off, is if I am paying higher prices at the pump why am i not bringing home more bacon?  The government is taxing us dry.  I live in canada, and 35-40% of my hard earned money goes to taxes anyways, so why do they need to tax the *** outta me at the pumps?  

I hear what 01YukonRollin is saying. Here in Vancouver the gas is $1.32 per liter now which converted into gallons and in US$ is $4.90 US a gallon so just be glad that you have cheap gas. In response to this we bought an 07 Expedition but there are a lot more Hybrids running around now  

I honestly think you cant beat the gas prices by getting a more fuel efficient vehicle. You'll still be paying.

I just recently got into this hobby and got a full size Chevy truck and it takes 70 dollars to fill it. My blazer takes 40 to fill it.

Ive thought about getting rid of my blazer for a more econimical car, but then if I get something newer, my insurance goes up, and so does my car payments. There is no winning. Drive less and stop making petty stops at the ice cream parlor when you dont have to. Changing your driving habits is going to be the ultimate key to saving on gas. As soon as people realize running out for milk at 8pm on a Sunday night when that can wait until Monday on your way home from work will save on gas, we may come out of this okay. Personal opinions only though.  

my suburban takes over $100 dollars to fill up!!!!  

well i have a 2000 Camaro Z28 and a 2001 Dodge Ram, far as I am concern I am going to continue to drive V8s, I will just have to cut other things out. My Camaro takes about 40, and I can run about 2 weeks, an my dodge takes about 70, and it runs about a week. But both are due for tune ups, and the camaro needs an oil change.  

Cheap!!
Currently, gas price here is €1.30/liter, so around $6.59/gallon.  

Stop complaining guys, you're still far away of that price.  

Gas is dropping in price as of right now it is 1.02/litre.  Roughly 4 bucks a gallon.  I dont see it going much cheaper anytime in the near future.  The government, in canada anyways, makes around 30% off fuel tax.  Meaning for every dollar you spend the governemtn takes 30 cents.  Think about how many billions of dollars that equals?  everyday the government is gettting richer and richer so they can drive their mecedes' around the city while we are getting screwed.  Basically what I am trying to get at is the fact that the government is making waaaayyyy to much money off of fuel to let it drop below $1/litre.  In canada when they introduced G.S.T. (goods and services tax) it was supposed to be for a short period of time, the government couldnt pass up the 7% tax and we still have it today.  Yes they did drop it to 6% wow, big deal, if they couldnt remove the tax all together how are they going to let fuel prices drop and miss out on billions of dollars?  Who's going to stop them you ask?  Nobody, the oil companies, the oil company i work with, for example, made the most money out of any business in canada last year.  Take a second and let this sink in...  So you would assume that they are paying us poor blue collar joes more money to refine there precious oil.  WRONG!  We recently lost our long term incentives, which was basically a pile of stocks if we stuck around with the company. That just shows you that if they can make an extra dime but screwing over the litte guy, aka you and me, then git r done.  You might be wondering why i bring this up.  Big oil companies run the country.  Look at the lengths pres. bush is willing to go to for oil.  War in Iraq ring a bell anyone?  Oil literally is black gold.  With all the money seemingly coming from the ground the oil companies have bought into all sorts of things, Ford, GMC, Crysler, not to mention varies political parties.  It is the big oil that is running everything around you.