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 have too many vehicles but I daily a 2016 F250 Regular Cab with a 6.7 Powerstroke. Mercedes speaks truth about the joy of a regular cab truck.
I know prices have gone up, I know inflation is a thing, I’m aware of supply and demand, I get all that, but my god I can’t get past the base price of the regular cab being almost $60k.
My problem with new trucks remains that they’re just too damn tall and they are actively made less useful and less safe (at least for pedestrians) because of it. Even being 6’3″, I struggle to throw stuff into the bed of a fullsize truck made in the last 10 years or so, and even getting into the cab almost necessitates a running board and a grab handle. I don’t know how regular people use these as daily drivers. If a 1-ton truck was made the same size as they used to be 20+ years ago but had all the safety equipment needed today, it would be a much more useable and safer vehicle. And all that safety equipment would still fit, in the same way it all fits in a compact sedan today. I understand wanting a “commanding view of the road” but do you need it so much that you can’t see a 5-foot tall person in front of you without the use of cameras and sensors that make the truck cost even more? Plus that giant, flat front end can’t be doing any favors in the aerodynamics department. Trucks today are getting worse fuel economy than they used to, and I would bet that a not-insignificant part of that is because of the wall of a front end.
I have a crew cab long bed and it just doesn’t fit in any parking spaces. But I learned to drive in a ’86 F150 standard cab step side short bed. It taught me how to steer with the throttle.
I saw someone with an extended-cab pickup try to turn the corner in my town, and the wheelbase was so long that the middle of the truck clipped the car parked at the corner.
That’s too long, in my opinion.
Learning how to drive would be another option
Sir, this is America.
I feel the biggest takeaway here is that every truck should offer a front bench as an option on every trim level.
The center console sunk into the back of the seat is PLENTY big in any modern flip bench.
Despite a regular cab not working for family reasons, as you mentioned, one of THE biggest perks to a regular cab is how quickly they warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Less air space means rapid temp adjustment.
A front bench as an option would be fine, but if I was driving, anyone riding with me would be all cramped up because I’d have it scooted all the way forward. At 5’6″ on a good day, I prefer the bucket seat.
The Ford pictured above has the center seat independent of both sides.
Yeah, Not really a bench at all. I think it’s pretty cool.
I wouldn’t touch a current diesel truck these days. They are simply not reliable anymore. Unless you redline these frequently on the freeway they WILL eventually have issues with carbon deposit buildup in either the intake, EGR, or exhaust system.
…Plus its a Ford so you’ll not only have the usual modern diesel problems but probably a slew of Ford problems too.
Strong disagree. My last job got a brand spankin’ new ’18 F250 regular cab that I got to frequently drive. It road like complete garbage, the regular cab meant I didn’t have much lockable space for when I went into shady neighborhoods. One of my destinations was a factory in a horrible neighborhood and I’d literally have to bring all my tools into the factory out of fear of them being stolen. Had it been a crew cab, I could have kept most of them in the cab instead.
You had to climb in the damn thing (I’m 5’10”, so having to climb for an average person sucks) and it got horrible fuel economy.
I hated it.
I have some similar complaints about most half-ton regular cabs, but the ride was notably worse than any of those.
with an 8 foot bed, a locking tool box is usually install as the space under it still allow a full 8 foot sheet of plywood with the gate close and locked. 3/4 ton and worse 1 ton suspension is made to be comfortable when loaded down. outside of maybe the 2500 Ram Air suspension equipped trucks, this is just part of owning a big truck.
Diesel fuel economy is sadly not what it used to be. 20 plus in the early aughts was not uncommon. until the EGR and regen stuff started getting installed and reduced the overall economy as a result.
My other company car was an also new ’18 Transit. That was my preferred ride by a long shot. It held far more sheets of plywood, that were far easier to load. It drove better (though, slower) got similar fuel economy, took cheaper fuel (not that I was paying) and rode a hell of a lot better. It couldn’t do the winter plowing and salting duty though.
Unless you need to do heavy-duty shit, I don’t know why people buy heavy-duty trucks. Even then, if you only need it once or twice a year, I’d far rather rent one.
One of my coworkers owns an HD Silverado, and as far as I’m aware, it gets used to pull a motorcycle trailer a few times a year. I told him my Outback could do that, and then he made a comment about lesbians.
was it a T350? They make the transit in diesel and with dual rear wheels. SO it can in theory do quite a lot as well. I don’t know that the dual wheel or 1 ton transit ride much better unloaded, but they certainly can do a lot more work securely, outside of maybe towing a house.
Try being 5 ft 7″ and getting into these things. I grew up with trucks and we used and abused the things by hauling rocks, junk, firewood and lawnmowers. The problem with height isn’t just the cab. Its the bed too. Whereas older trucks were lower and you could easily throw things in the bed, the new ones are so tall the beds are now at head level. You have to lower the tail gate and then lob things. It defeats the whole reason for having a truck.
But going down the freeway these days and seeing these huge trucks that are a lot cleaner and squeaky clean/perfect with ridiculous lifted kits to make them even less usable tells me a lot of people do not care at all about that and instead are more interested in impressing other guys… with giant oversized trucks.
As someone who is also 5’7″, the bed height of my F150 was annoying enough that I retrofitted a tailgate with a step in it.
I’m currently eyeing a $950 ’93 Ford Fuckin’ Ranger as a beater truck because it’s the perfect size for me. I can justify it because it barely takes any driveway space.
That is why I have a 1996 Tacoma. The smaller one. Feels like it was made for me. Plus its very easy to work on and after 300,000 miles has been stupid reliable. They no longer make new trucks like these anymore. Every time I go to Home Depot a lot of the Hispanic guys ask if its for sale.
At 5’6″, my Maverick is annoying to throw stuff into the bed.
FFR for the win, EVERY TIME! (I’ve got a ’93 extended cab. Does 95% of the truck stuff I need.)
I’ve got a ’65 Suburban that I’ve got lowered a tad. It fits full sheets of plywood, and the low floor makes loading a breeze. Just two weeks ago I went and got 6 sheets of 3/4″ (well, 23/32″) was as easy as pushing the cart up to the open rear doors, and then just pushing the whole stack of sheets in, sliding them off the cart. All 6 sheets were loaded by just myself, in less than 20 seconds.
Had it been any modern pick-up (or any 4WD pickup) it likely would have required picking up each sheet individually and lifting them into the bed.
My parent’s greater neighborhood has a very large percentage of 65+ year old residents. Watching them try to get in and out of their lifted trucks at the restaurants is painful.
That’s why I would love to see a regular cab Platinum Plus or something along those lines. Running boards, a better suspension, a lot more luxury. Granted, I’m not sure how to solve your tool problem without a lockbox on the bed or something.
Also, I’m pretty sure a regular cab Platinum Plus would sell like 10 units. LOL
Yup. Anyone who’s had to work out of a regular cab truck for years in a mix of weather knows the struggle. Not worth it.
I don’t need a pickup at all, but I do appreciate the return to basics. In my area, the cheapest one available at the moment is listed for $46k. This initially seems like a lot for a basic vehicle, but compared to what’s “normal” in a truck that actually seems pretty good, and damn near affordable.
Right on, Mercedes!
For the last 35 years, I’ve always had at least one pickup truck in the driveway. All of them have been regular-cab pickups. (they’ve also been manual-transmission 2wd trucks with crank windows) My first one had a wooden flat-bed with stake sides, but after 8 years I found a steel box for it so I got rid of the flat-bed. Once I had a real box, I found a full-height topper for it. A regular-cab truck with a topper is all I need.
Some people have families, and space for only one vehicle, so they might need a truck with a rear seat, but that is not my case. It’s just me & the wife. For me, all my trucks have had:
1 row of seats.
2 doors.
3 pedals.
Plus, 4-door trucks just don’t look right to me.
They used to look awkward because trucks were less often designed for 4 doors. These days it is almost the opposite. Hell it is almost getting impossible to find a clamshell super cab which is kind of the sweet spot to me. I think the massive front end on the modern trucks is what spoils the lines on 2 door 8 foot bed truck for me. https://thebadwrap.com/cdn/shop/products/3102_2019_RAM_3500_Tradesman_Reg_Cab_LB_Driver.jpg?v=1559666454&width=2048
Mercedes… Did you actually attempt to pull any tree stumps with it?
At least you seem to be admitting a full size regular cab pickup is not about functionality, it is about image, especially with diesel added.
Like taking the back seat out of a coupe to save 50 pounds to show what a racer one is.
A short bed 150/1500 crew cab pickup could do everything pictured, including towing an MG TF no sag and fitting in a regular parking spot, while also holding 5-6 people when needed. For way less money (they are also available in WT grade although my “Custom” was actually cheaper with discounts than a WT). Which is why they put up the real sales numbers. Not just with families but with commercial buyers doing the kind of real work people fantasizing about the “good old days” of regular cab pickups fantasize about doing.
I’m currently borrowing a 2006 Ford Courier 2WD turbo diesel single cab ute with a proper work tray on the back, and it’s the best ute at just being a ute. The tray sides fold down and it’s low enough to make it easy to load and unload, it’ll carry a tonne of whatever, the tray is bare aluminum so you can just huck bricks or whatever in there without caring about it, it’s peak ute. Anything else that tries to be nicer or more luxo or whatever it just worse at being a ute.
Where’s that? They haven’t sold Couriers here in the US since the 70’s. You said ” Ute” That mean Australia?
Yep, in the downunderverse.
If I was going to spend $50K plus on a regular cab truck it would be a Chassis Cab with a flatbed on the back.
The only way I would spend over $50K on a regular cab pickup is if it was a short bed with a blown 5.0, but I’m sure before I put down the money I would either realize how stupid that is compared to a Mustang or go all the way with 6-speed SRT10 Ram.
SRT10 Rams are old enough and not desirable enough to pay 50K for. you could probably buy 2 of them for 50k these days.
I think what he is saying is he would pay the 41K for the basest of base model XL 5.0 with locking 3.73 gears. and then opt for the warranty covered Whipple kit for another 10K. though I imagine the install on that would put it closer to 60K out the door. https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6066-F150SCA
Nope. I’m saying if I’m was going to buy a new truck it is going to be a real work truck with a flat bed on the back. The Chassis cab also comes standard with the 7.3L V8 and dual rear wheels.
If I need don’t need that kind of towing I’m buying a cargo van before any light duty truck.
Hard to pull an excavator with a Mustang. Trucks are for work.
Never pulled an excavator with my Mustang, but have gotten a few sideways looks at the hitch ball sticking out behind the bumper! (occasionally pull a small utility trailer or a teardrop camper)
Actually, it’s pretty damn cool compared to a Mustang. It has about an equally usable back seat, and does a lot better job towing a trailer. It was under 40K new. Just the Coyote currently, but the FP700 kit is just a checkbook away…
In my eye, an extended cab is the ideal. I don’t need a second row, but having just enough space behind the seats to store all the things you want to keep dry and locked up is perfect. Yes, you could have a locking tonneau cover but that gets in the way of using it for truck stuff and from my experience isn’t 100% water/dust proof.
I agree with you. Extended cabs 4 life!
I like this article a lot! I think the McFly Toyota truck from Back to the Future is an extended cab. But it wasn’t extended very much. How tastes change!
I believe they called it Xtra Cab. As opposed to Nissan’s King Cab. Dad had a couple of them with the sideways jump seats that I used to love when I was 11.
Valid points, for sure. I find regular cab trucks on long trips to become very tiring due to the additional sun coming into the cab. Any sort of extended cab or even a cap makes a huge difference.
Having driven 3 generations of Dodge pickups, in 3 cab/bed configurations let me tell you something:
Single cab longbed is easy to drive but sucks to daily drive. If you need space out of the elements, you need a toolbox and now you’ve just functionally made yourself into a short bed. Sure you could get a topper, but then you don’t have the coveted “look”.
4 door long bed: (the one I drove was a dually, full disclaimer). This this is a beast and is horrible to park due to it’s sheer size. The 4 door is nice to seat people and having 2 benches is awesome for friends/kids, but still it’s just unwieldy except for in the conveniently gargantuan spaces at Costco.
Extended cab short bed: goldilocks truck. Still has effectively a bench in the front (basically configured like the modern Ford) but also has a bench in the back, so you can toss groceries back there, or pack it with friends for short drives. The length is the same as the single/long configuration, which is nice for parking but also makes maneuvering trailers in tight spaces way easier than the 4d/long configuration. On occasion I wish I had a long bed, but I never wish I had a 4 door, or less space in the cab.
Tall people are looking for more space behind them.
The cab-and-a-bit so you can toss a lunchbox behind you is vastly superior.
Both the Ford trucks I bought new were specced like yours, I started with the basic XL and paid for just the options I really wanted.
Fond memories riding in the bed of various pickups over the years…
The best thing about regular cabs is when your kid’s school is asking how many students can you carry on a field trip, you can say “two”. And if they still need you to drive, those two kids will be your own and one of your kid’s friends who you already know isn’t a monster.
I’m going to lock in this tidbit of knowledge for future use.
Make it a Miata and you’ll only carry your kid.
> basic work truck
> $72k + $24k in options
I’m getting old.
My dad dropped 16k for a loaded lariat in 89. Helps it was a std cab as the crew cab wasn’t a cheap option.
A 4X2 would be much more basic. Adding a dually rear axle to it would be very cool.
All trucks should have vinyl flooring. My mind cannot be changed.
Any utility vehicle, really. The carpeting in the back of my Jeep is great for tailgating but has proven to be problematic when I’m hauling cargo or throwing muddy gear in the back.
All vehicles should have vinyl flooring.
But it’s nice to take off your shoes on a long drive and feel carpet. I’ll note I have deep rubber floor mats in all 4 of my cars, but on a long drive I take them out and put carpeted ones in.
I’m fine with putting my bare feet on my weathertech liners. In some older vehicles I’ve pulled the carpet and just sprayed the floor with bed liner.
Carpets make no sense to me – inside a car or house.
The floor of my Jeep gets really hot with no carpet.
I guess Jeep should have installed some insulation then.
Plenty of vinyl floors in vehicles have insulation under them – my Chevy Express does.
Yep… My bare-bones basic ’83 F150 had the wall-to-wall rubber floor mat, with insulation under it. Not really for sound deadening, but more to keep the heat from the catalytic converter at bay.
My Express has the 6.6L Duramax with a particulate filter. I don’t notice any heat even when it regens.
All vinyl flooring should have vehicles.
Yes, I’m not a fan of vinyl in houses. They should have wood or tile floors.
I’m a pretty big fan of some homes I’ve seen in SE Europe that have the entire house tiled.
It’s great until there is a puddle you slip on.
Why would I have puddles in my house? If I spill something I clean it up – which is much easier to do with a hard floor instead of carpet.
I haven’t had any carpet in a house for 22 years. Zero slip and falls to date.
My grandparents in FL had partial tile, bathroom and pool entrance area were sometimes dangerous.
Worth noting that in the Ford lineup, the XL has no carpet by default (it can be optioned with it) and the XLT has an option for carpet delete. I would bet money that GM offers similar. My truck is an XLT and was optioned with heated seats and carpet delete which seems super weird, but is pretty nice!
All levels have an option for carpet delete, or did.
My King Ranch has vinyl floors.
I did not realize that. All that supple leather and then vinyl floors. Crazy. Also cool.
Yeah, my feet don’t care how comfy the furnishings are, so get me something easy to clean, and a comfy seat to sit in. I had to special order it that way, but it has turned out to be a great combo.
Vinyl floor was an option for the 2nd gen Colorado. So I’ve got a ’22 ZR2 diesel, extended cab, vinyl floors.
Agreed. Dad bought a full-size Bronco in 1988. He wanted the entry-level “Custom” trim, a front bench, vinyl floor, and the 5.0L V8. Nearly every dealer thought he was crazy… “don’t you want the Eddie Bauer?”… except the dealer who listen to him and got the sale.