What is the cab size of a pickup truck?
Normal (standard) cabin
A standard cab is exactly what it sounds like: a regular truck cab with a bench seat for 2-3 people. This is the classic pickup truck cab where you and your friend (or maybe you and your girlfriend) can sit next to each other while driving down the road.
For example, a crew cab with an 8-foot bed doesn’t have enough space, so a standard cab size allows for a long cargo area in the back. This is also the cab option that is usually offered on less expensive versions of trucks. So, if you want a Ford F150 with a standard 6-foot bed, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive, it’s probably going to be a standard cab.
Or, if you want a 1990 Toyota Tacoma with the shortest wheelbase 4×4, a 6-foot bed, you can get a standard cab, and that’s great. A shorter wheelbase is better because it makes the truck easier to turn and avoid obstacles. Plus, it’s usually lighter and looks cooler.
Extended Cabin
Extended cabs are like standard cabs, only “extended”. They usually have automatic doors behind the standard doors and come with a small seat that a child can sit comfortably in, but might be a bit narrow for their adult friends.
Usually, this is a good way to get a little extra space in an emergency, but they’re still pretty comfortable for daily driving, even if you’re sitting alone in the front seat, because it doesn’t lengthen the wheelbase of the car too much.
They’re not so short that they can only carry two people like the standard taxi above, but they’re also not so long that you’ll have trouble parking it in the city.
Double Cabin
A crew cab is a cab with two complete sets of doors, or two doors that open and close like normal doors, and maybe the two rear doors are slightly smaller than the two front doors. This type of cab usually comes with a 5-foot or 6-foot bed to accommodate the extra length of the cab. This option is great if you want a truck with room for your family, but don’t want to add any extra length to the overall length of the truck.
Notable trucks that offer this configuration include the Toyota Tacoma, Ford F150/F250/F350, Nissan Titan, Nissan Pathfinder, Dodge Dakota, Chevrolet Colorado, and Ford Ranger.
Double Cabin
The crew cab is what most manufacturers consider to be the largest cab offering. It provides maximum comfort for five full-size adults and is the most easily available cab size if you choose the short bed. With a crew cab, you either compromise on the length of the cargo bed at the back of the truck or the car is so long that it’s a bit difficult to drive in city areas.
If you only need to carry a few coolers, maybe some outdoor gear, some clothes for tailgating, or some luggage for your in-laws, the crew cab is the way to go. Your occupants will be comfortable while still having the cargo space to store all your gear. Crew cab pickups are becoming more popular among families as an alternative to large SUVs.
Mega Cab
Dodge recently introduced a new cab type for 2019 called the Mega Cab. This limits the bed length to 6 feet, but gives passengers a little more legroom, more living space, and an overall more luxurious interior. This is definitely a design that the marketing team came up with and doesn’t really improve the crew cab, but Dodge truck customers seem to be snapping up these models.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I never thought there’d be so many options when choosing a pickup truck, but I guess that’s kind of why these trucks are the most bought and sold (at least in the US).