New graphic reveals differences between trucks in Texas and Colorado

(March 11, 2019) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A new graphic compares the unique characteristics of trucks driven in Colorado versus trucks driven in Texas. The team at GMPartsCenter.net took a look at the Silverado, Colorado, and Avalanche trucks driven by pickup enthusiasts in these two states to create the graphic. While this isn’t a complete list, it does touch on specific truck features preferred by drivers in each state.

“Based on where we ship parts, we know there are lots of trucks in both Texas and Colorado,” says Matt Mylan, director at GMPartsCenter.net.

“But just how similar are the trucks driven in these states and how alike are the actual drivers? We decided to have some fun with those questions and build this comparison.”

Both states have outdoor and adventure-ready truck drivers. In Colorado, trucks are handy for traveling in snow, hauling outdoor activity gear or towing a camping trailer to the mountains. Another common Colorado truck accessory is a fly-fishing case.

Texans have longer fishing seasons and boats in tow to the Gulf, lakes and swamps. Although both states also have some avid hunters, it's more likely to see a gun rack on a Texas truck than a Colorado pickup. Still, hunters in each state need those trucks. You just can’t put a buck in a hatchback.

Here are some of the differences:

    • Most Colorado-owned pickups are 4x4s. City snow and mountain driving are the likely explanations for this choice. While it is possible to get around with a 2WD truck in Colorado, it requires putting sandbags in the bed, steep hill avoidance, winter tires, and lots of practice driving in the snow.

    • According to Cars.com, only 61% of trucks in the Lone Star State have 4WD. Texas has approximately 240,000 farms, and 2WD trucks can haul hay and pull horse trailers just fine.

    • Popular truck accessories vary by state. Attaching bull horns to your truck with lag bolts or by other means is popular on some Texas trucks and isn't limited to ranchers and University of Texas students.

    • Some Colorado trucks are geared up with LED off-road lighting. Adding an LED bar, bumper LED lights or more is common on Colorado trucks, whether or not the truck actually travels off-road.

    • Texas trucks have ample headroom for a driver in a Stetson and a cowboy hat bumper sticker on the rear. With the recent influx of people moving to Colorado, the "Native" sticker is a badge of honor seen on some Colorado bumpers.

"We did notice Texans order more parts for the flex fuel truck models than Colorado customers," Mylan says. "We looked into it and found Texas has more than 11,000 stations to accommodate those trucks, but there weren't even 2000 flex fuel stations in Colorado. It does make me wonder if flex fuel will grow in popularity around the country, stay focused in certain states, or just die off."

Of course, trucks and truck drivers across America have many similarities. For instance, both states have Home Depot and Lowes. Both Colorado and Texas truck owners have most likely spent a Saturday or two hauling appliances, lumber and other home improvement materials back home.