Truck Cabin Sizes Explained

While trucks continue to garner increasing popularity, manufacturers must exercise a strategic approach to body style, trim level, and bed size configurations. Notably, RAM, Toyota, and Nissan have foregone the production of regular cab versions for their light-duty trucks. Moreover, the limited availability of trim levels characterizes manufacturers who do produce such variants; a prime illustration is Chevrolet, wherein a regular cab Silverado is exclusively offered in the utilitarian WT form. Analogously, the two-door F-150 provides solely the XL and XLT trim options. Conversely, the Ford Raptor and RAM 1500 TRX exclusively feature four full-size doors.


The selection of a specific cab style inherently dictates the dimensions of the corresponding cargo bed. For instance, the GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab exclusively pairs with an eight-foot-two-inch bed. While the F-150 SuperCrew can be configured with either a 5.5-foot or 6.5-foot bed, the pairing of the most spacious cabin with an eight-foot bed remains unattainable. Choosing the SuperCab necessitates foregoing the shortest bed option.


It is worth considering that accessing the rear passenger area in certain extended-cab trucks requires a certain adjustment, which could potentially pose challenges in confined parking spaces. For instance, gaining entry to the back row of the Titan King Cab and F-150 SuperCab involves a sequential process of opening the front doors and then manipulating a handle on the rear half doors, which swing outward in a counterintuitive manner, toward the bed of the truck. The augmented interior space within crew cab trucks corresponds to a greater external length, thereby warranting heightened caution when maneuvering in parking scenarios.


Before committing to a specific cab size, it is prudent to contemplate the intended utility of your forthcoming truck. Should your aspirations involve constructing a high-performance street truck, a regular cab pickup equipped with a potent engine—such as the F-150 with the 400-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine—paired with the shortest available bed, constitutes an auspicious starting point. The two-door configuration is also apt for those seeking a basic truck with ample room for one or two additional passengers, as well as occasional materials for home improvement projects.


Extended-cab models augment enclosed cargo space or provide adequate accommodation for young passengers, who may derive amusement from the act of opening the rear half doors. When the need arises for maximum passenger space, peak cargo capacity, or a fusion of both, crew cab trucks emerge as the preferred choice. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the shorter bed options available for crew cabs entail reduced cargo capacity compared to the elongated beds featured in regular and extended cab models.


In conclusion, irrespective of your specific requirements, it is important to avail yourself of a test drive at your local AutoNation dealership. Seeing and experiencing the true sizes of each brand's cabin size is usually best, although the basic guidelines discussed above can be used to help narrow down your search. If you have any questions about truck cabin sizes, or any of the models we carry please contact us.