Did you know there’s a King of the Hill reboot in the works? There is, and it’s pretty exciting for those of us who were taken by the simple, rational charms of a man who sold propane and propane accessories and the people around him in his fictional, animated Texas town, shown weekly from 1997 to 2009. I think it was weekly? I sometimes forget how Old Television worked. There were rabbit ears, that I remember. Anyway, with the show making a comeback, I think it’s time to note an important fact about the original that I feel like doesn’t get as much recognition as it should: Hank’s choice of a Ford Ranger as his truck.
Yes, I realize that later in the series Hank “upgraded” to an F-250, but for most of the series Hank drove Ford Rangers, first a 1986 one, and then later a 1993. Both at the time, and ever since, there has been a lot of talk and controversy in the animated characters’ car community about this decision, with many loud and influential factions suggesting that Hank really should have been driving a Ford F-150. I maintain that an F-150 would have been wrong for a number of important, if subtle reasons, and the choice of a Ranger remains the right choice for the character.
It’s worth pointing out that the very first scene of the very first episode of King of the Hill actually was quite literally focused on Hank’s Ranger. It’s the focus of four of the main characters, Boomhauer, Hank, Dale, and Bill, as they all stare at what appears to be the truck’s exposed 2.3-liter inline-four engine, with pauses to drink beer and say “yup.”
There’s also Dale’s wonderful assertion that Ford stands for “Fix It Again, Tony,” which is, of course, the derogatory acronym for Fiat, of which I suspect Arlen, Texas had very few. Maybe someone had an X1/9 on blocks in their backyard. I think Dale was conflating that with “Fix Or Repair Daily,” but that’s a lot less funny than the Tony thing.
Sure, the series fudges with some timelines in order to make certain plots happen, so things don’t always line up, but eventually it was settled that Hank had a red 1986 Ford Ranger SuperCab truck, as you can see here:
King of the Hill always tended to render their their cars quite realistically, and this ’86 Ranger is no exception. It’s a very rational truck, a no-bullshit compact pickup with a good-sized bed and a robust drivetrain with adequate power. Hank’s is a five-speed manual, and we know he had a great deal of affection for the truck. There was a whole episode about him having to get rid of the truck called Chasing Bobby, and the depth of his affection for the Ranger was made clear.
That episode retconned the truck Hank was shown to be driving previously, a 1993 Ford Ranger, in order to square the timeline with the plot. It was sort of sloppy, but these things happen on fictional shows and we all manage to survive, somehow. It’s quite forgivable as conceptually I think a ’93 Ranger fits the character as well as the ’86, really.
Now, let’s get to the big question here: why does Hank not drive a Ford F-150, the best-selling truck, something slightly larger and more capable than a Ranger, something that perhaps someone of Hank’s general demographic would consider more of a “real” truck? An F-150 would have been the easy, expected choice. No one would have faulted Mike Judge or the writing team for putting Hank in an F-150; it would have made sense. So why didn’t they?
I think the reason has to do with an understanding of Hank’s character that goes beyond a surface level. Yes, Hank is a Texan, a conservative, traditional man with fairly rigid ideas about what he feels is right and wrong, what it means to be an American, what it means to be a man in the modern world. All of that is true. But there is a little more there; Hank also has a significant streak of something that’s not exactly humbleness, but something that almost glorifies struggle and deprivation, to some degree. Remember, this is a man who finds the delaying of gratification gratifying in its own right, which does create a bit of a paradox. Still the man likes delayed gratification, as he tells us:
@bobbyj.hill
Hank also is extremely concerned with authenticity; the idea of pretending to be something you’re not is anathema to his nature, as was shown in that episode where he had to entertain a client who was obsessed with the stereotypical trappings of Texas and cowboys and big steaks and other silliness. That episode also mentioned a strip club with the amazing name of “Jugstore Cowboys”:
The point I’m getting at here is that deep down, Hank understands he doesn’t need an F-150. He sells propane and propane accessories, and that work, plus whatever he does around his home, lawn, whatever, can all be more than served by the generous capabilities of a Ranger. An F-150 would be, really, overkill, and Hank understands that on a gut level, and he’d feel like an impostor or a pretender if he drove around an F-150 just to haul some propane tanks or a bed full of mulch. Fundamentally, and F-150 is the wrong tool for the job of Hank’s life, and the wrong tool for the job is simply something Hank cannot abide.
That’s why I have issues with Hank getting an F-250 in the show. It’s just the wrong vehicle for Hank, and I feel its one of the few missteps in what is otherwise a very carefully-written show. The F-250 is a real, heavy-duty work truck. I would expect that Hank pronounces the words “heavy duty” with a certain near-ecclesiastical reverence, and his use of such a machine to commute to work and do the chores and projects he does would feel wasteful and undignified for such a truck.
Hank is a realist; Hank doesn’t need to prove himself to anyone, and the F-250, in the context of a suburban propane salesman, feels like overcompensation in a manner that does not fit who Hank Hill actually is. Hank is a Ranger man, and he should be proud to be one.
I don’t know what truck they’ll be putting Hank in for this reboot. It’ll be a truck, definitely, but I hope it’s not an F-250. I could even see him in a Maverick over an F-250. Honestly, he should just be back in a newish Ranger. That’s his natural habitat, and trying to shoehorn him into anything else is just perverse.
It’s like butane that way. A bastard gas.
I’m hoping Hank did such a good job with the propane facilities over in Saudi Arabia, one of the Sheiks surprises him upon arrival back home with a Dartz Prombron. He’ll of course be mortified by the ungainly thing (you can imagine his face when he finds out what the leather is made of), but decide maybe a change is in order and trade it for a Jeep Gladiator instead of going the usual Ford route.
Dale will then borrow the Jeep for his mayoral victory parade, take the doors off and lose them. This will actually annoy the animators even more than Hank for the rest of the season if they go for any sort of continuity.
I’ve never watched this show – not even one episode – I think because it’s not Beavis and Butthead. If Mike Judge applies his creative genius to anything that is not Beavis and Butthead (or Office Space or Idiocracy), it just feels wrong to me. Like these represent Beavis and Butthead episodes that could have been.
You are missing out. I loved B&BH back in the day, but man its hard to watch now. Not sure why. But all those other Mike Judge things you mention have stood the test of time in a big way. Every one of them is still relevant and fun to watch.
You’ve already made 2 exceptions so you might as well watch King of The Hill and Silicon Valley. Everything Mike Judge touches is gold.
It’s been said King of the Hill is a cartoon that doesn’t know it’s a cartoon. It’s basically an animated, real-world-situated and -plotted sitcom; there’s very little in it that uses the fantasy power that animation enables. That odd juxtaposition (Bob’s Burgers offers similar) is the special sauce that, as Hank would say, allows you to taste the meat, not the heat.
This is the good stuff, Torch. You encapsulated the mindset of everyone who ascribes to “just-enoughism.” Hank is my spirit animal, which probably makes me a pretty dull guy, but you succinctly captured the reason why. I generally eschew luxuries and excess, even convenience (in ways that David does), because I don’t see the point in having or using more than I need. Although I could have afforded a full size truck, I decided to get a new (gasp) Jeep Gladiator, but it was the basest of base, with the only options being mud flaps, the hard top, and towing package. Manual locks? Check. Crank Windows? Got ’em. Manual sliding rear window? Mmhm. There’s very little to go wrong and I bought it for a song, while being enough truck for what I plan to do with it.
“Hank also has a significant streak of something that’s not exactly humbleness, but something that almost glorifies struggle and deprivation, to some degree.”
This, in particular struck home. In my example above, I don’t mind manual locks and windows. In fact, it gives me a sense of satisfaction to know that it cost Stellantis extra to install those components, allowing me to drive a modern anachronism at their expense. I find those features/non-features charming and enjoyable to use. In the same way, I could’ve hired someone to replace my hot water heater or remodel my home, but I’m fortunate to have the skillset to put myself through the duress of doing it myself to see if I can do it myself and save the money. Theodore Roosevelt called it the “Strenuous Life” philosophy.
I feel the same way. For me, it’s a distillation of Aristotle’s belief that moderation is the primary virtue. Even the later stoics and epicureans, competing fiercely with each other at the time, seem to be offering different perspectives on the same basic idea – that wisdom is understanding what is truly enough. Easy to say but hard to do, sure, but the challenge alone is worthwhile.
The ancient Greeks in general were very big on the idea of “know yourself”.
I think Hank does.
It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one in that camp. Cheers.
I’m similar in that philosophy, as well. I mostly don’t like luxury. I feel like that stuff is for soft people and I prefer the control of manual operation over something doing it for me (that’s almost certainly programmed to guess completely wrong, anyway). I love when a feature costs more and they make less money as it means to me that I got better value for dollar (this is why I like buying close to base models of cars with platforms that are used for models well above the price range I’m looking at and with few options—options, besides usually being luxury crap I likely don’t want, are profit makers, meaning I’m getting worse value, which to me, is adjacent to being willfully ripped off). There are limits, of course, I don’t sleep on a bed of nails, I will reluctantly use AC when it’s too damn hot, I like showers because I hate being filthy and smelly, and I have a bidet toilet, though I could argue that saves trees.
One of the things I minor-key enjoy about my Mustang (an ’02 GT) is that she has zero options.
I considered the Bullitt/torque thrust D style wheels, but to get them, I’d have had to get the premium interior package with the leather and the high end stereo; nope, not what I wanted.
She’s got exactly what I need to be happy. Hell, one replaced window motor later, I’d have been satisfied with crank windows.
I liked cranks when my cars were small enough to relatively easily reach all the arms from my seat, but now the reach is too awkward or too far in today’s larger, more restrictive interiors. I’ve never personally had a power window issue other than maybe slow operation, though I did have some crank arms break. Most problems I’ve seen are from cable regulators (one reason I liked Subarus was the scissor regulators) and those could be manual or power. The window anachronism I’d like back is vent windows (manual, of course). I know they’re gone forever and now standard AC barely impacts mileage or power anymore so there’s no reason not to use it, but I liked the way they allowed one to manage the airflow.
I’d kill for actual outside air vents. I hate when the weather’s just perfect, but you can’t get that way it in the car b/c it’s pulling it through the engine compartment.
I will agree here. I have a 2014 Ecodiesel work truck, crank windows, no power locks, no power mirrors, 2wd, single cab and 8ft bed. If I was going to change anything, it would first be power windows. I’m a big guy with gorilla arms, and even I can’t reach the passenger door…
I’m fortunate that I have a pretty long wingspan and the Gladiator is fairly narrow and unobstructed if I want to reach over to open or close the front passenger window. But there’s definitely no way I’m doing anything with the rear windows.
Last car I could do that with was my ’83 Subaru GL, though it was pretty impressive how easy it was and I could even do two diagonally opposed windows at the same time while maintaining a good eye on a traffic light. Now, even my GR86 would be a reach at 6 inches wider (it could be more than that as the measurement I found for the GL might have included the mirrors), bolstered seats, deeper dash, and a fairly large center console to reach past. The other thing is that car doors are so thick now that seat areas are constrained and it would be difficult to place a crank arm where it wouldn’t be a potential striker for someone’s legs.
One nitpick though, Hank absolutely does do overkill when it provides an excuse to get what he wants
He has a tiny, postage stamp-sized lawn that he mows with a lawn tractor, when a cheap push mower could get it done in 25 minutes, and he rents a tractor trailer to move a very small amount of furniture to Arizona for his mom, when probably the smallest U-Haul box van would have carried it all easily
If he wanted an F-150, he’d have had it, unless it was a budget issue at the time he was shopping, or he just liked the smaller, more maneuverable truck
I hope hes still driving it- maybe a bit faded, more worn. Been sitting a while since Hank was in Saudi Arabia for a few years.
My question is- What about Peggys Sebring convertible?
Hank also rented a semi truck to haul a couple pieces of furniture later in the show (great episode though). So he’s not above using an overkill tool for the job.
I always felt the F250 made sense in the context of that episode. Hank thought it was overkill and too much for his needs until he took the truck to find Bobby in the rain, then he appreciated all the features of it. Its like when Bobby bought the jet ski on Hank’s credit card and he decided to keep it for a bit because the depreciation already happened so they might as well enjoy it. The show lets him evolve which was part of why it was great.
Hank is gonna drive a Toyota Tacoma in the reboot. He’s gonna say something like America doesn’t build them like they used to and he had to switch after multiple breakdowns. Or maybe since his dad is dead he did it out of spite because he knew his dad would be rolling in his grave.
They do build them in San Antonio now.
Tacomas? I thought they moved production to “Mehico” a few years ago.
Yeah, Tundra/Sequoia is Texas, Tacoma is a couple Mexican plants.
I thought Tacoma was the Baja plant and San Antonio, guess that changed again.
I think they went with the times. Rangers and mini trucks used to be what people used for work and most things and maybe a station wagon or later mini van for trips or going to town or dinner. Then some shift happened and bigger trucks took over to use them for everything. Especially the extended cab 3/4 tons. Those late 99 to 07 trucks are fairly comparable in size to the current f150. I think maverick might be a good choice but something tells me Hank might be in “a truck needs a frame damguit” camp. Maybe the new ranger but would he be in “it’s a European truck” camp. Maybe that’s a few episodes in its self. Maybe the answer after having to swallow a big pill is a built in Texas tundra. Of course he is supposed to be over in the middle east in oil and gas industry so he would have gotten used to land cruisers. Maybe there is something there.
I figure that maybe when he was looking at the classified ads in the paper for a Ford work truck – manual gearbox, bed long enough for an 8×4, no fancy interior – this was the only one he found. I hope he’s still driving the same F250.
“Did you get the recall notice about the belts?”
That F-250 could still be functional at this point. Much like the Ranger in that glorious episode where it got replaced, we see Hank keeps his vehicles for as long or longer than they’re still serviceable. Yeah, the Super Duty is a bit of a step over the F-150 and an odd jump from the Ranger, but Hank might have gotten a good deal on it to justify its premium in both space, consumption, and cost. Maybe because it had serviceable (grease zergs) joints that he could putter with on the weekend?
Hank Hill always pays sticker, nothing more!
Counterpoint, one that was told to me by my BIL who bought a big new shiny Super Duty when he didn’t really need one: Customers demand it.
If he, the business owner coming to the site to quote the job, isn’t driving around that luxe shiny behemoth, it reflects poorly on his business. He clearly isn’t doing well, driving around that 10 year old full size dented up work truck which still gets the job done just fine, so he must do horrible work, they reason.
Hank, the realist salesman, would accept that, even though he doesn’t subscribe to this idea himself, people do think this way and so he does need to prove himself to them, potential customers, if he wants them to become actual customers.
Counterpoint when I see real estate agents puttering around in newish Range Rovers – I can’t help be believe they’re out there to over-sell me on something, and not sell me what I need.
Hank isn’t one to want to sell something for the sake of selling it, but that he genuinely believes he’s doing the right thing and that you needed it. And, thus, paying for a badge isn’t his real self.
Counter-counterpoint:
Thatherton!
Definitely agree. The Ranger was right. The F250 wasn’t necessary, so Hank shouldn’t have gotten it. That said, we also know he is not always savvy about things. He’s always paid sticker price for his vehicles. It’s not completely unreasonable to believe he could be convinced by the events of the episode and maybe some belief he could use the towing capability (we do see some heavy equipment rentals in the series).
I do think the proper upgrade should have simply been Ranger to F150, but maybe that’s because I think my Dad is quite a bit like Hank in some ways and know that he has no interest in upgrading beyond a half-ton pickup.
Hank is also a fairly frugal guy who takes care of things and expects them to last.
In one episode he was unhappily examining the condition of the grout in the bathroom and said something like “This was guaranteed for 20 years. What’s it been – 17? 18? Peggy, where’s that receipt?”.
IOW they said 20 years, and Hank expects them to deliver.
“Hank also has a significant streak of something that’s not exactly humbleness, but something that almost glorifies struggle and deprivation, to some degree.”
This sounds like you’re describing David.
I believe the term is “glutton for punishment”, arguably a masochist.
Yup
Mmmmhmmm
Ye-e-ep
MIZ LIZ! HOT TODDY!
Yeppers
As someone who likes the show enough to have Hank Hill’s face tattooed on my leg (making his best shocked expression), I have given this some thought. I agree that the Ranger was the best choice for him, at least starting off. I don’t think an F-150 would be a stretch though, in terms of his upgrade. Bobby is growing up, and even Hank was down with the added luxuries the F-250 offered. The fact that the truck he got was an F-250 is what doesn’t sit right with me. Hank is the sort of guy who doesn’t buy more than he needs, he says as much when talking about his house. An F-250 is overkill for someone like Hank, size, capability, and price wise.
Part of me sees Hank as the type of guy who would have a camping trailer to tow around so for that, the F250 works for me (though an F150 would have worked as well). The other part of me wants him driving a truck that can run on propane which I know certain F150s are capable of but I haven’t done my homework and figured out if F250s can.
“Propane may be a clean burning fuel, but she can also be a Dirty Girl…”
Yes, there are a number of Ford vehicles that had propane conversion kits.
But will Hank still have the original shift knob, and be disappointed by the auto-only configuration of current Fords?
I don’t remember if he bought a stick shift or automatic Super Duty, but they did offer them on that generation. They even had an available crawler gear.
I doubt that Hank would want the newest Ranger seeing as it only comes in crew cab configuration, especially with Bobby out of the house.
If the theory that he had been out of the country are true, I could certainly see them having an entire episode dedicated to Hank trying to find a new truck after coming back and being frustrated with his options. It would likely end with him choosing an older used Ranger anyway.
I really hope Boomhower is still driving his Cornet, and Cotton’s “Cadillac Car” is waiting for Hank’s younger brother Good Hank for when he’s old enough.
Seeing what Bobby drives (if anything) will be interesting. Lots of good options to fit his eccentricities.
2CV
He would drive a Saab if there were any left in Texas.
Honda Element.
No, a New Beetle.
I thought there was an episode where Cotton’s Cadillac is given to Dusty Hill from ZZ Top after he passes away, who turns it into a derby car?
I forgot about that episode! Hank’s extended family made for such good setups, like Junichiro…
robots and robot accessories.
If Junichiro came to the US, he would drive a Mazda B-Series from the era when they were rebadged Rangers.
Friends of mine have a near twin to that red Xtra Cab Ranger pictured. V6 automatic, RWD, it is all the truck a suburban homeowner just doing crap around the house needs as a useful spare vehicle on the dirt cheap (NOBODY wants a RWD truck in Maine). It has paint-matched steelies with chrome dog-dishes and looks fantastic. Drives like ass but who cares when you are only going to Lowe’s and the dump in the thing? Cheap to run, cheap to register, cheap to insure up there. I’d rather have a four with a stick like Hank but I am weird that way.
It’s a shame there is no such thing available anymore. The current Ranger is gigantic and expensive, the Maverick is a car with a missing trunk lid, not a truck. You can use a Ranger like a rented mule in a way that would soon have a Maverick screaming for mercy. The Nissan Frontier is probably the closest, but still crazy expensive for what it is, overpowered and thirsty and only available with a fairly short bed.
You might say Hank’s a propanenent of such vehicles!
I also never cared for Hank’s second truck being a Super Duty. I could actually see an episode in the new series where he goes shopping for a new truck after returning from Saudi Arabia and he complains that today’s trucks are too big (they’re all crew cabs) or too luxurious inside.
He’s been in Saudi Arabia. He’ll be surprised the trucks don’t all have six wheels and whale-penis leather.
Or he balks at the quite insane prices that ford has nowadays ($50k for a BASE MODEL F150 with no options!)
The Ranger, especially the later generations, was the GOAT. When David posted that one popping up as a trade in: Simple 2wd. I thought that thing is going QUICK.
Rumor is he was in Saudi Arabia or something, so maybe he’ll have a Hilux?