America has a pickup truck fever, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Pickup trucks account for about a fifth of auto sales in America, and of those trucks, more than four-fifths are equipped with four doors. Americans adore crew cab pickups, but I think the prime truck is more old-school than that. Here’s why regular cab diesel pickup trucks are still the best kind of truck.
I’ve had the privilege of driving all kinds of trucks throughout my life. I’ve driven everything from gargantuan GMC C6500 box trucks to old Ford F-700s. I’ve gotten to take a spin in an International DuraStar and used to own a vintage International 3800 school bus. Of course, I’ve also commanded a slew of pickup trucks, from every generation of the humble Ford Ranger to a mighty Ford F-450 dually.
One type of truck has long stood out as my absolute favorite. Regardless of whether I’m working or having fun, I have a great time with regular cab pickup trucks. It sounds silly because, let’s be honest, the majority of regular cab buyers today are fleets. Some folks are even questioning how successful the Slate truck is going to be because it’s a regular cab design. But I think it’s time to revisit the regular cab and consider what makes these trucks so great outside of fleet use.
Back To Basics
Early this summer, I tested the flagship of the Ford Super Duty lineup, a $111,310 F-350 Platinum Plus filled with leather, Alcantara, and the best seats I’ve experienced in any pickup truck. The Platinum Plus felt like a German luxury sedan with a bed on the back, dually rears, and a V8 turbodiesel engine strapped to the front. This was a truck for the person who wants to haul tens of thousands of pounds, but also wants a back massage while doing it.
Now, I just tested the exact opposite of the Platinum Plus. The F-250 Super Duty XL doesn’t have an ounce of leather in sight, and its stereo doesn’t Bang or Olufsen. You won’t find a dash of chrome, alloy wheels, or soft-touch anything in this truck. Even the steering wheel is a basic urethane affair. Don’t expect to find power seats or even a height-adjustable seat here. Oh, and carpet? Try rubber mats. If the Platinum Plus is like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the XL is like the last U-Haul truck you rented.
The XL is delightfully and unapologetically basic. The door panels are masses of hard plastic, the paint is plain white, and you don’t even get running boards. The grille? That’s matte black. The XL is so old-school that it has regular halogen lights, with only auxiliary lights like the clearance lights being LED. I even love how the instrument cluster has physical dials and there isn’t a fancy cruise control here, either, but one that just drives a speed and that’s it. Shoot, the truck even has a physical key. You’re not going to lose this key on I-70 in Maryland!
Yet, beneath all of the basics is actually some pretty decent kit. This truck still has Ford’s suite of towing aids and perimeter cameras, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, driving modes, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Even cooler: what was under the hood.
This is Ford’s standard output 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel, which pumps out 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb-ft of torque compared to the 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque of the High Output model. That’s still more than enough power for smoky burnouts and to haul a tractor up Mount Everest. My truck also sported the XL Off-Road package, a $995 option that piles on chunky 33-inch off-road tires, a locking rear differential, water fording vents, and skid plates. My truck also had a slick winch.
My loaner was more or less a work truck with just a few extras for fun off-roading. This is the kind of truck that you might see doing work with your local utility company or plowing parking lots. This is the kind of truck that, by 100,000 miles, it would normally have all kinds of scrapes and bumps from a hard life of getting the job done. Yet, I loved it.
What’s Great About Regular Cabs
Some of the benefits of a regular cab rig were pretty immediate to me. Heavy-duty pickup trucks can sometimes be a challenge as daily drivers because they don’t really fit in standard parking spaces. These trucks, especially dually crew cab trucks, spill out into the driving lane and make entry and exit harder for the vehicles that you park next to. That really wasn’t an issue here. Sure, the F-250 is a heavy-duty pickup with a big body and an eight-foot bed, but the two-door regular cab means that it mostly fits into a parking space. It’s also just narrow enough that everyone can get in and out of their vehicles without much fuss.
The truck’s smaller size also meant that it largely maneuvered like a half-ton pickup. Yes, I towered over pretty much anyone not in a lifted half-ton or in another heavy-duty pickup, but when it came to navigating parking lots or tighter areas, I was able to scoot the truck by.
The cab itself was also pretty dreamy. Typically, most of the trucks I drive have handy center consoles with drink holders and caverns deep enough to swallow whole motorcycle helmets. But this XL has Ford’s 40/20/40 bench seat, which is really two bucket seats plus a center seat that’s also a center console.
Fold the seat forward and you get two cupholders and an adjustable desk to eat lunch on or to do work on. Flip it back and the cab now carries a third person. My wife preferred to have the center seat flipped back so she could sit directly next to me when I drove the truck. This is how we used to roll around in my old Ford Ranger and her old Dodge Dakota, both of which had true benches.
In a way, the XL regular cab was a time machine like that. This truck felt like a continuation of the trucks from earlier in our lives. This truck reminded us of how trucks used to be, when regular cabs were the default and, if you lived in the country, a date with your love might have been driving the pickup out to the field so you two could hop in the bed and stare at the stars.
Don’t get me wrong here, I understand why crew cabs are dominating the truck market. Today’s trucks can carry the whole family or crew plus their big dog, all of their tools, and a colossal fifth wheel camper for the ride. The F-150 of today is the American equivalent of the family wagon from the 1970s, and heavy-duty trucks are designed to be the one vehicle you might ever need.
Yet, it was refreshing to go the opposite direction, ditching an entire row of seats and having a truck that couldn’t carry a whole family. The F-250 was business in the rear with a trailer hitch and a huge bed, and fun at the front with the still raucous Power Stroke. Perhaps my view of the world is skewed because I don’t have children. I’m responsible for two cute birds, a fleet of cars, and a loving wife, and that’s it. As of right now, the rear seats in my Japanese Kei cars, my SUVs, and my wagons gather more dust than butts. For me, a regular cab truck is all I want.
I also adore the look of regular cab trucks. I keep imagining the F-250 with a lower suspension, stylish wheels, and painted in something like Antimatter Blue. Toss in some mild window tint, and that right there is a great diesel street truck. This is part of why my dream truck remains the F-150 FP700. Yes, the 700 HP of that truck is addictive, but just look at it.
I even love the rare combination of a regular cab and a short bed, which gives off a real sporty look to go with the heavy hauling. Think of some of the most iconic trucks in history. Remember Marty McFly’s Toyota from the Back To The Future trilogy?
That slick brick of hotness was a single cab. So are your favorite classic Squarebody Chevy trucks, Old Body Style Fords, and the iconic Bigfoot monster truck. Regular cabs might not be the most popular, but it’s hard to deny how cool they look.
It’s not even just the simplicity of it all. I mean, the simplicity was great, but if given the choice and the income, I would totally buy a Platinum Plus dually with a regular cab. Give me all of the leather and other trimmings, but hold the extra seats. However, I know that I would be perhaps one of maybe dozens of buyers for a luxury regular cab truck.
Going with the regular cab can also save you some dough. My test truck here was $72,580 after destination, but it did have a whopping $24,490 in options. Still, that’s $40,000 cheaper than a Platinum Plus. The cheapest possible diesel truck from Ford is the F-250 XL regular cab with the standard output 6.7 Power Stroke diesel ($10,995) and no other option for $58,865 after a $2,195 destination fee.
Perfect For Backroad Stargazing
Don’t worry, if you were looking for a review on how this truck is to live with and how well a base model F-250 hauls across the country, that story is coming. For now, I just wanted to give some love to the regular cab.
I will repeat myself here: I get why crew cabs rule. They’re insanely versatile, great for families, and still get tons of work done. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a crew cab! My second favorite new truck is a crew cab.
But to my eye, the ultimate truck is still a regular cab, preferably with a diesel. A regular cab truck is a nod to the past while also looking awesome today. It’s a truck that’s all about work and play. Sure, you won’t feel like the queen of the road, but you won’t care when you flip back that bench seat, wrap an arm around your love, and roll down those country roads chasing the horizon.
I also much prefer the look of regular cab trucks, and like Mercedes, I don’t really have much use for back seats in any of my cars (they’re always folded down or removed for as long as I own the car). This is a nice truck (I dig diesels too, having owned a pre-dieselgate TDI for 23 years) and I love its relative simplicity/practicality, but it’s still an awful lot of cash, even w/o $24K (! how?) in options. If I needed it for work, sure, but a $70K truck just to go to Trader Joe’s etc… seems like an awful lot of overkill (to me).
A quick question about this photo of the truck you took Mercedes: https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/IMG_20250819_075505-scaled.jpg …it looks like the cab to bed horizontal plane of the truck is bowed upwards slightly? Is this just a lens aberation, or are the frame rails actually slightly pre-stressed to offset the cargo weight when the bed is at capacity, the way that long semis are bowed upwards when empty?
Just wondering. 🙂
PS: I’ll look forward to your upcoming truck review(s). 🙂
The sweet spot for me is extended cab, short bed. I don’t need to haul long stuff (I have a trailer for that). I wouldn’t wish the back seat on my greatest enemies, but it’s perfect for the dog, a cooler, and a couple of overnight bags.
I had to occasionally take home a single cab from work for testing. It’s awful as a daily driver. Can’t fit 4 person family. Groceries have to go into uncovered and dirty truck bed storage. Literally everything about it is awful for non-work.
For work, I agree that this truck is better than the Platinum for #Real Work. For hauling a little mulch and getting the family (wife and dogs) to the park, I’ll take a crew cab all day long.
If only we could break the fever design trend of the ginormous front end snout that many of these trucks have. Its the dumbest thing and is accentuated with the shorter single cab layout.
Short Cab, Short Bed is a muscle car. Dodge knew this that’s why they did the Lil’ Red Express… All I want in the world is a mid-2000s Silverado SCSB with a manual, the rest I can do for myself
Regular cab long bed is my favorite truck configuration, something about the rear glass right behind my head. Shame regular cabs have been relegated to the lower trims- a regular cab lariat would be pretty sweet( although I can see why they don’t make high trim regular cabs nowadays). One day I’m going to buy a nice OBS Ford F-150 or GMT400 K1500 for a cruiser/ light use truck and I’d prefer to find a regular cab long bed with the Silverado or XLT trim
The Single Cab Short bed or the Pop-Pop truck. Perfect for the retiree that has another vehicle in the household. This truck actually is used for truck stuff. Home Depot runs, picking up furniture items, perfect to take fishing or hunting. Just a person and their dog, or significant other. Can’t wait to be this person.
Great article. “And its stereo doesn’t Bang or Olufsen”… outstanding.
I am completely biased as growing up with a crewcab since I was 10 (I still own it). I owned a single cab for awhile, and it was just weird. My hat kept hitting the rea window! I can’t just throw stuff into the rear seat and keep it there and lock it up.
I have said it before: I love my 2018 F150 XL single cab with 6.5 ft bed. Smallest of the bigger trucks. Oh and mine’s in white too.
Yes! Standard cab, 8ft bed. That’s a truck. 4 door, sub-6ft bed trucks are for posers.
That slick brick of hotness is an Xtra cab, not a regular cab!
They looked significantly better in past, when windscreens were more upright.
It seems today’s designs are specifically penned to favour the long cabs.
Well, yes & no. They’re designed to favor aerodynamics and safety, which leads to windshields that are more leaned back. That affects the look of regular cabs more than others, but it’s not meant to. They can (and do) move the base of the windshield forward to compensate for it, but then you end up with a dash pad that’s a foot & a half deep, and the windshield & cowl now sit halfway over the engine. No winning solution here.
Single cab short box is my favorite configuration, if for nothing more than they’re so rare on the road. I think Ford still does one but that’s it now, it’s a real shame
Ford and GM both offer half-ton, single cab, short bed trucks (like the Mustang and Camaro, Ford never stopped, and GM brought it back after a brief hiatus). Ram cut it from the Classic line a while back, and still hasn’t introduced any other body types to the new generation (which has been on sale since the 2019 model year), so I don’t think they’re going to. Toyota only offered it on pre-facelift second generation Tundras. Nissan never had a SCSB Titan.
I do love a reg cab short bed truck that will be used for offroading or performance driving. And obviously you’d have to plan to modify them to accomplish those activities with any real success. But the practicality of 4 doors will always win out. Nothing wrong with the author having her opinion and she did a good job explaining her position.
A+ this is what I am here for.
Also, you could put heated seats and steering wheel on these probably without breaking the bank going aftermarket. Add a little sound deadening on a nice sunny weekend and you’ve got a relatively “cheap” little lux workhorse.
Yes, this is the truck-iest truck to ever truck.
But like… unless you make a significant income snowplowing and really need that last half-yard of space for your salter, need a very specific service body, or can guarantee you will only ever need 1-3 personal to a truck, these trucks are almost impossible to justify buying new, especially when you calculate TCO. Regular cab trucks depreciate worse than 4 doors, and are much harder to sell at the end of the ownership cycle.
As a literal business owner with a building company, I see no justification for a regular cab. Dry, lockable space is just so, so much more valuable than that extra 1.5’ of bed length. Extended cab plus 6.5” bed is the way for a F250 XL work truck, while maintaining a small footprint.
Regular cabs are for people who think carrying around 10 sheets of plywood is the ‘peak of construction’, and have never bought enough material at once to know the lumber yard will deliver it for free.
Some people really just want to pretend it’s the 1970s, or cosplay as contractors.
For any commenter who disagrees, I invite YOU to go spend $50k on a *NEW* regular cab truck.
I really want a regular cab, but I have little kids and in an emergency I need to have a seat back there to get them to the hospital. This works for older folks, or folks using this as a 3rd or 4th vehicle. In some sad way, it’s almost aspirational, ha!
It is totally aspirational! The ability to drop new-car money on a personal utility vehicle that can’t transport your family is definitely a luxury.
This guy trucks for sure.
barely, I was dragged into the truck life kicking and screaming!
I spent $38,000 on a new crew cab Silverado Custom, but only because the dealer selling them for $37,500 sold out to fleet buyers before I got there. There are a lot of internet misconceptions about “real” trucks and “real” work.
Where I live, it rains a lot, and the back seat, folded up, holds a lot of tools and supplies, and it’s easy to get stuff in and out.
Also, the headlights on the XLT are way better–they should lose the base headlights.
Yup, its almost like having a van and a truck together.
My brother removed the rear seat from his SuperCab Super Duty when he had it, made for great too storage, and centered some of the weight in the truck.
You’re right, for the vast majority of people, having more cab is a good thing. Even I will concede that it’s nice to stow some basic tools and recovery gear inside, behind the seats. However, we’ve had a half-ton crew cab for 6 years, and Suburbans for 18 years before that, and I can’t think of a single time where we have (or would have) been using it for truck stuff and hauling multiple people at the same time except for taking the family and the boat to the water.
Now that the boat’s gone, most of the family has moved away, and we’re doing more landscape work in tight spaces, a smaller, lighter (but still capable) truck would be appreciated. But you can’t really get that these days, when the smallest mid-size trucks are almost as large as full-size trucks were twenty or so years ago.
I completely agree. My 1995 F-150 XL has been a great truck for what I need. Manual windows, manual locks, 4×4 with manual hubs and manual transfer case, 6.5′ bed, bench seat, and vent windows. Rust is its only enemy these days. If/when I buy another truck I’m actually thinking of going to a Maverick instead of a new F-150. I really wish the Maverick came as regular cab, then it would be a no-brainer. I also wish we could build simple modern trucks without all the hybrid powertrains, CVT, cellular radios, and so much reliance on computers. I say this not as a luddite, I’m a computer programmer.
A true luddite is not someone who has an irrational hatred of technology, but one who understands it, and knows when it’s not doing anything but getting in the way. Welcome to the club! 🙂
I love a RCSB. So uncommon to see them out in the wild. My pickup is a RCLB, which at the time it was produced was by far the most common style. Not a fan of the enormous cab proportions modern pickups have
Ok yes, but have you tried possibly…. leave it out in a thunderstorm with the windows down, after throwing the keys into a ditch a few miles away?
I suggest we call this test the “Mercedes Gauntlet”.
PREACH!
I have a single-cab, 8 foot bed 2005 Tundra. With crank windows! It makes all other full-size trucks seem stupid. I know it is a luxury to have a truck for truck things, but I would rather daily something more fun to drive on our curvy roads.
Fully agree, 90% of people out there never need anything bigger than a first gen Tundra. Truly the perfect size truck, whether you get it in single cab, access cab, or double cab. I sold my access cab to get a hybrid Maverick because I don’t do much truck stuff anymore but there are days that I miss it for sure.