death of regular cab pickups

[troverman]

That's not true where I live, "used" extended cab pu's are all over the place! Thing is, they now have "shortened" forward facing doors instead of suicide doors with no post.

The reason GM added the post, is to get a MUCH higher rating in a roll over crash, as that post supports the roof MUCH better.

You see them as a crew cab, but that's an even longer animal.

SR

I'd like to point out that it was Dodge, not GM, that invented the "extended cab" with the smaller rear doors and a full B pillar. GM didn't begin using the smaller but normal rear doors until 2014; Dodge was doing it at least as far back as 2008.

Furthermore, if you compare a 2016 GM 1500 "double cab" (with the normal rear doors) to a 2016 Ford F-150 extended cab (which still has the clamshell rear-hinged doors), both are rated as "Good" for roof crush integrity.

 

[Hay Dude]

Still like a reg cab for snowplowing driveways.

 

[jyoutz]

I'd like to point out that it was Dodge, not GM, that invented the "extended cab" with the smaller rear doors and a full B pillar. GM didn't begin using the smaller but normal rear doors until 2014; Dodge was doing it at least as far back as 2008.

Furthermore, if you compare a 2016 GM 1500 "double cab" (with the normal rear doors) to a 2016 Ford F-150 extended cab (which still has the clamshell rear-hinged doors), both are rated as "Good" for roof crush integrity.

I have a 2007 Dodge 2500 with the smaller rear doors and full b pillar.

 

[civilian]

Brother likes his regular short box Ford. Not sure of year. Jon

 

[civilian]

I have a 2007 Dodge 2500 with the smaller rear doors and full b pillar.

My 2007 Tundra had that style door also. Jon

 

[two_bit_score]

Other than occasionally manuevering it in parking garages (really hate that I knocked that motorcycle over that one time) I have really enjoyed my 2500 crew cab with 8' bed. I will always have one as long as I can. I drive my 1995 1500 extend cab short bed a lot though and hope to do so for much longer.

If I was to buy another truck, kinda-sorta in the market, I would prefer a 1 ton regular cab with a flat bed.

 

[CliffordK]

I'd like to point out that it was Dodge, not GM, that invented the "extended cab" with the smaller rear doors and a full B pillar. GM didn't begin using the smaller but normal rear doors until 2014; Dodge was doing it at least as far back as 2008.

Furthermore, if you compare a 2016 GM 1500 "double cab" (with the normal rear doors) to a 2016 Ford F-150 extended cab (which still has the clamshell rear-hinged doors), both are rated as "Good" for roof crush integrity.

There is a long history of crew cabs and extended cabs. At least back into the 1960's, perhaps even into the 1950's. There have been changes to the B pillar and arrangements of the rear compartment.

My 1999 Ford F150 has suicide rear doors, and a rather short rear passenger area. Some brands have even used fold down sideways sitting jump seats.

The Subaru Brat was a basic 2-door pickup with a reasonable sized bed for a mini pickup.
It was replaced by the Baja in 2002 with 4 doors and a micro bed.

Then, of course, there was the Chevy Avalanche in 2001. Oh, what an avalanche of emasculation of the pickup market it led to.

 

[big bubba]

there are numerous examples abroad in Europe & Asia of single cab pickups with extended beds, specialized utility trucks, etc. really unfortunate they are outlawed & unavailable in US

i personally feel the US domestic truck market is homogenized & very limited to what's cosmetically in vogue. plus it almost takes a 2nd mortgage to purchase one.

sure glad i'm not on the market & do well w/my old school 4x4 4cyl banger. but then again, i'm at late life stage. don't envy new truck purchasers in the least.
(& the new Jeep pickups are really quite comical to see on the road) Tonka toy

 

[Oaktree]

I was looking for a used extended cab pickup and they turned out to be rather rare. Almost the entire used pickup market now is the four door sedan with an open air trunk that is labeled a "crew cab"....

That's not true where I live, "used" extended cab pu's are all over the place! Thing is, they now have "shortened" forward facing doors instead of suicide doors with no post.

The reason GM added the post, is to get a MUCH higher rating in a roll over crash, as that post supports the roof MUCH better.

I get that, but it makes getting stuff into and out of the back part much harder than with the suicide doors.

My experience is similar to CaseyR's, with used extended cab trucks few and far between. And in the midsized truck category, the double cabs seem to hit the worst of both worlds...a back seat only suitable for children and a so small as to be almost worthless bed.
I really don't miss regular cabs very much, I like the behind-the-seat storage as well as the slightly better legroom of an extended cab.

 

[jyoutz]

there are numerous examples abroad in Europe & Asia of single cab pickups with extended beds, specialized utility trucks, etc. really unfortunate they are outlawed & unavailable in US

i personally feel the US domestic truck market is homogenized & very limited to what's cosmetically in vogue. plus it almost takes a 2nd mortgage to purchase one.

sure glad i'm not on the market & do well w/my old school 4x4 4cyl banger. but then again, i'm at late life stage. don't envy new truck purchasers in the least.
(& the new Jeep pickups are really quite comical to see on the road) Tonka toy

I have a 2500 Dodge and no need for another truck. But the Jeep Gladiator trucks are awesome for their intended purpose. They are outdoor recreational vehicles, not work trucks, and are perfect for off road and jeep trail hunting access and retrieving a deer or elk from the backcountry. Or simply backcountry camping. Maybe towing a small camping trailer on woods roads.

 

[jyoutz]

I get that, but it makes getting stuff into and out of the back part much harder than with the suicide doors.

My experience is similar to CaseyR's, with used extended cab trucks few and far between. And in the midsized truck category, the double cabs seem to hit the worst of both worlds...a back seat only suitable for children and a so small as to be almost worthless bed.
I really don't miss regular cabs very much, I like the behind-the-seat storage as well as the slightly better legroom of an extended cab.

Yeah, I remember the gas tank behind the bench seat of the regular cab. About all you could fit behind the seat was maybe a jacket, rifle, or shotgun. Nothing more. Everything else either went in the bed or bed toolbox if you had one. I don’t miss those trucks.

 

[big bubba]

you could well be right. i have no personal experience with one. at the time i purchased my '92 beater, i considered Jeep pick up (predecessor to current).
i wasn't sure about the uniframe design, & so glad i went with toyota.

having said that, i'd sure love one of those earlier vintage Jeep pickups, or even IH had a beast
The only domestic US vehicle i've owned was a '70 Scout. wonderful 304 v8 truck engine, under engineered chassis design...

guess my point of starting this thread is i miss those old warriors, still driving one @ 321k original engine. best regards

 

[jyoutz]

you could well be right. i have no personal experience with one. at the time i purchased my '92 beater, i considered Jeep pick up (predecessor to current).
i wasn't sure about the uniframe design, & so glad i went with toyota.

having said that, i'd sure love one of those earlier vintage Jeep pickups, or even IH had a beast
The only domestic US vehicle i've owned was a '70 Scout. wonderful 304v8 truck engine, under engineered chassis design...

guess my point of starting this thread is i miss those old warriors, still driving one @ 321k original engine. best regards

Neither the Gladiator or Wranglers are uniframe. They are both body on frame straight axle vehicles. Some of the last. And they ride like it too (I have a Wrangler).

 

[RB5]

My 2013 F150 has those rear folding doors. They are great for when I am working out in the field and need to get things in and out of the back seat. I would probably have a hard time getting used to the full size doors if I bought a super crew. Also the hauling capacity due to the additional cab weight would force me to buy a trailer. I don't want a 5.5' bed. I can't even lay a rod and reel down in it. To me that is almost useless.

 

[big bubba]

jyoutz​

ok that reveals my ignorance. the Jeep pu model i considered in '92 was unibody, & had the solid axle.
i do dirt roads (utility not re) & the stout independent suspension is a good match.
for those that go off roading, rocks, etc i understand the solid axle is preferred.
anyway, hopefully we all can find the right match in an expensive investment

 

[ericm979]

there are numerous examples abroad in Europe & Asia of single cab pickups with extended beds, specialized utility trucks, etc. really unfortunate they are outlawed & unavailable in US

There's still manufacturers offering single cab pickups in the US. They're not outlawed or unavailable. Ford, Chevy and Ram/Fiat all offer single cab 3/4 ton trucks. You might need to find a dealer that sells fleet trucks to businesses instead of just the fancy expensive trucks. I see them pretty often in the west, usually as company trucks.

 

[big bubba]

good point, glad it can still be looked up on market. i probably make over generalizations on what i see. still would like to see more foreign utility truck diversity avail on US markets...i know, our regs make it complicated, regards

 

[jyoutz]

jyoutz​

ok that reveals my ignorance. the Jeep pu model i considered in '92 was unibody, & had the solid axle.
i do dirt roads (utility not re) & the stout independent suspension is a good match.
for those that go off roading, rocks, etc i understand the solid axle is preferred.
anyway, hopefully we all can find the right match in an expensive investment

I agree. For most uses the independent front axle is better. My Wrangler’s solid front axle does reflect in the ride and it’s a quirky but fun vehicle overall. My truck is much more practical. But driving the Wrangler is a hoot and makes me smile whenever I climb aboard. An old guy’s toy.

 

[CliffordK]

The crew cab pickups with 8 foot beds are absolute monsters, and not designed to fit into a single parking lot. I'm OK with them being left out of the half ton market.

I've done pretty well overall with people not messing with stuff in the back of my pickup, but I lost a toolbox at a junk yard in Missouri. And, I had two chainsaws stolen out of the back of my pickup when I did a brief stop at Harbor Freight, during the recent storm cleanup.

The thing is that the aggravation of these petty thefts is far greater than the actual dollar loss. I'd imagine on the black market, the saws would have been worth $25 to $50 each, if that. Nonetheless, it is good to be able to get some stuff locked up inside the pickup.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yeaa, those toyotas are great, at least they are designed to break in a "nice" way... lol lol