What happened to pickups??

[Russ from MN]

I have to laugh when I see someone at Home Depot trying to haul a 12-foot roll of carpet in the box of a modern pickup, with the carpet nearly dragging on the pavement! We bought a new F150 extended cab in 23 and it works well for us, I have trailers for hauling longer items. an 8-foot box extended cab just wouldn't fit in our garage, and we never park outside. I like the extended cab, a little extra room, and not the big 4 doors, but we don't have grandchildren or a dog! And this Ford gets incredible mileage, 2.7 v6, over 20 pulling a boat, over 25 not towing!

 

[centralilbaler]

I'm starting to search for little newer pickup.
My 2013 runs good but is showing more rust than I like
I want a Chevy/GMC 2500, 4X4, gas -STANDARD CAB 8' bed.
Have been looking at several auction sites.
They're like unicorns.
What happened to them. Have looked at a hundred or more online and found only 3 or 4 with a STANDARD CAB and 8' bed
WTH ?
Do all you guys have extended cab trucks?
I would be happy with the plainest Jane, low mile pickup -from a no rust zone.
It has me wondering what people use an extended cab, short bed 3/4 ton for.
Done whining now...
By the way, I've seen a couple in the Washington DC/MD/VA area. How much snow/salt/rust do they get there?
Photo shows a 2018 that I would be happy with.

I hear you. Currently, I have a unicorn (2015 GMC 2500HD, 4X4 , single cab, 8' bed) with 51,000 miles on it. That i pull my gooseneck with. Bought it new in 2015, that the GMC dealer has called several times wanting to buy. But for my daily driver, I have a Canyon with extended cab. I've just been curiously looking for another full sized, single cab. You can special order a new single cab, 8' bed. (but wait time is 2-3 months). think i'll stick with what i have

 

[Texasmark]

I'm starting to search for little newer pickup.
My 2013 runs good but is showing more rust than I like
I want a Chevy/GMC 2500, 4X4, gas -STANDARD CAB 8' bed.
Have been looking at several auction sites.
They're like unicorns.
What happened to them. Have looked at a hundred or more online and found only 3 or 4 with a STANDARD CAB and 8' bed
WTH ?
Do all you guys have extended cab trucks?
I would be happy with the plainest Jane, low mile pickup -from a no rust zone.
It has me wondering what people use an extended cab, short bed 3/4 ton for.
Done whining now...
By the way, I've seen a couple in the Washington DC/MD/VA area. How much snow/salt/rust do they get there?
Photo shows a 2018 that I would be happy with.

I had been (and still do) running double cab or extended cab trucks since 1998. About 10 years ago I was in a Dodge dealer and there was this regular cab, short bed, HEMI engined, plum colored truck with flashy wheels sitting in the lot in plain view.

I had to have it and bought it. Big mistake for 2 reasons. No place to put things when you go shopping at multiple stores, and when launching my boat, the front door isn't far enough up the ramp to keep from getting your shoes wet.

Other than International trucks, when the rest of the variety of truck suppliers started producing stretch cab models, I resisted.....like everything else....I wasn't used to looking at them and since I didn't own one initially, I didn't think about the two things I mentioned above.

Apparently the purchasing public has had the same reaction and mfgrs. make things that sell!

 

[Blackhole49]

Can't help with the truck, but for rust, get whatever undercoated. My 08 Silverado lived its life from new (undercoated new) in the rust belt and still has 0 rust with a 160,000 miles. I brought my 05 Ranger home from Stockton CA in 2016 with 100,000 miles. I put fluid film on it and 10 years and 60,000 miles later, 0 rust.

 

[scootergmc]

If you want new, find a dealer with a good fleet department or just special order what you want. If you want used, your best chance is scouring the surplus auction sites that deal with a lot of government and construction vehicles, and even still, the industry trend over the past decade has been a shift to xtra (not full four door) cabs in fleet vehicles to maintain 8' beds.

 

[Butch(OH)]

I'm looking for same standard cab 8' bed, dealers around here call them plow trucks, 98,% are plain jane white and are snow plow contractor in trade ins. When a nicer non snow plow truck turns up it sells quickly.
.
I use Auto trader. You can specify what exactly your looking for and limit the area. Cuts out the million short bed extended cab and four door trucks your not interested in.

 

[paul]

I found one on a lot in 2010.

They are even more rare now.

Trying to nurse mine along, the electrical gremlins are starting….

Paul

 

[Ray(MO)]

I'm starting to search for little newer pickup.
My 2013 runs good but is showing more rust than I like
I want a Chevy/GMC 2500, 4X4, gas -STANDARD CAB 8' bed.
Have been looking at several auction sites.
They're like unicorns.
What happened to them. Have looked at a hundred or more online and found only 3 or 4 with a STANDARD CAB and 8' bed
WTH ?
Do all you guys have extended cab trucks?
I would be happy with the plainest Jane, low mile pickup -from a no rust zone.
It has me wondering what people use an extended cab, short bed 3/4 ton for.
Done whining now...
By the way, I've seen a couple in the Washington DC/MD/VA area. How much snow/salt/rust do they get there?
Photo shows a 2018 that I would be happy with.

 

[Ray(MO)]

I'm starting to search for little newer pickup.
My 2013 runs good but is showing more rust than I like
I want a Chevy/GMC 2500, 4X4, gas -STANDARD CAB 8' bed.
Have been looking at several auction sites.
They're like unicorns.
What happened to them. Have looked at a hundred or more online and found only 3 or 4 with a STANDARD CAB and 8' bed
WTH ?
Do all you guys have extended cab trucks?
I would be happy with the plainest Jane, low mile pickup -from a no rust zone.
It has me wondering what people use an extended cab, short bed 3/4 ton for.
Done whining now...
By the way, I've seen a couple in the Washington DC/MD/VA area. How much snow/salt/rust do they get there?
Photo shows a 2018 that I would be happy with.

A real pickup to me has a standard cab.

 

[Vito]

Becoming unicorns. Most trucks aren't used as trucks anymore. At their current prices they are more a status symbol for guys going to their office jobs.

Vito

 

[Texasmark]

Becoming unicorns. Most trucks aren't used as trucks anymore. At their current prices they are more a status symbol for guys going to their office jobs.

Vito

I'm long time retired but when I go where parking could be close, I drive my Honda Element. Tired of parking lot dings on my otherwise pristine, garage kept 2011 Silverado with 48k miles.

 

[GChief]

Becoming unicorns. Most trucks aren't used as trucks anymore. At their current prices they are more a status symbol for guys going to their office jobs.

Vito

Not really, as mentioned they are just the new 4 door sedan in this country. No different than people driving a big a Buick, Oldsmobile or inset other brands here sedans "back in the day".

We will buying something new next year, it will not be a status symbol in any way shape or form, its just what's avaible new.

But your right about not being used as a truck, but that just becasue of my point above

 

[moresmoke]

Becoming unicorns. Most trucks aren't used as trucks anymore. At their current prices they are more a status symbol for guys going to their office jobs.

Vito

That four door pickup will pull a boat or camper to the lake on the weekend. Used to be a big old V8 station wagon for the job, but those don’t exist anymore. And a crossover is not going to cut it.

 

[NDIHC]

I did a quick search for Silverado/Sierra 2500 single cab 8 foot box for sale and came with exactly 1 advertised for sale in the state of ND. That was a new, 2026 GMC in Jamestown ND at the GM dealer there. That's not saying there aren't others that didn't show up in ads, but that was the only one that showed up in my search. This topic shows up every so often. The answer is that there is such small demand for that pickup that there are few sold in the first place. Just like those who want a small pickup or a plane Jane pickup with no options. The demand for bigger or higher end pickups far outweighs the demand for small or plain ones. The manufacturers are building what sells. Even company pickups are trending more and more to double cab or crew cab pickups to keep tools and equipment inside and out of the elements. I personally like an extended cab with the 6 or 6.5 foot box. I don't care much for the 5 foot or slightly longer box.

 

[B. White]

I had a 2001 F150 I retired (sold to my son) when it was about 20 years old. Was overall the most dependable I've ever owned. Didn't like a lot of the options to replace it. I ended up with a low miles F250 extended cab and long bed that had been in a fleet lease deal, since at the time I paid way, way less than what a new or newer suburban commuter pickup was selling for. Seems nobody wants a long bed and I agree it does not make for easy parking, but when I need to haul something or have a comfortable ride on a trip it is nice.

A deer decided to commit suicide in front of a little commuter car I had a couple of years later and I replaced it with a 2004 Tacoma. It is extra cab, but no rear doors. Best of both worlds, something small when I want or something bigger when I need it and both combined less than a new one would have been. Insurance is my only complaint.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I got away from standard cabs years ago. I like the space of an extended or crew cab for storing things such as jackets, extra clothes, tools I dont want exposed to weather or eyes, and occasionally people.

I did as well. It was nice to have the 8 feet but I like the extended cab with the flatbed way better you can put stuff in crossways and have more room. Carry a sweep auger sideways. Keep fence posts their rack sideways. If you build the flatbed yourself you aren’t limited to 6 and a half feet mine is 7 and a half length to the “tailgate”. Sideways a 12 foot 2x4 rides well enough to get home with a flag. The extended cab lets you lock something in like an impact or computer or similar things expensive things in because a flatbed is pretty open unless the toolbox is along it works out pretty well. My last 8 foot bed left 10 years ago it was a ford with the double cab as well I don’t miss turning that thing at Walmart. Or the manual hubs. Or the 7.3 $$$ parts pit. Or the 4th transmission behind it. I do miss the seat though it rode well too even compared to my chevys. And never lacked on power I will say that.

One of the short beds even has a fuel tank in it all the time. So it’s even shorter

 

[ss55]

Avoid used vehicles from Maryland, not only salt but chloride brine. Even if you wash undercarriage after any kind of winter storm everything and every place will be covered with corrosive brine and salt.
I've got a plain jane 97 F350 with manual 5 speed, 7.3 diesel, bench seat, regular cab, crank windows, with 72000 miles sitting in the driveway with rusting out bed. I had to order it through commercial sales department at the Ford dealership. Manager wanted half down before they would order it because they didn't want to get stuck with it if I backed out

It helps to wash them again after the Spring rains have rinsed all the salt off the roads. Try to wash you wash vehicles at home with fresh water in Spring, commercial car washes will have salt in their water until a few weeks after all the salt is rinsed off the roads as they recirculate their water.

 

[Texasmark]

That four door pickup will pull a boat or camper to the lake on the weekend. Used to be a big old V8 station wagon for the job, but those don’t exist anymore. And a crossover is not going to cut it.

I bought a 2 year old 1971, or 2 (forget which) Chevy 4 door top of the line station wagon with the "EPA" detuned 400 big block POS engine. Had 4 kids, a boat and took vacations. I currently have a 2011 Silverado 4 door, 2 seat, 1500 PU and NO WAY would I prefer the former to the current......FOR ANYTHING!

 

[Lumbersawyer]

I don't know about Chevy or GMC but our local Ford dealer has several new Standard cab long box trucks in the lot. They said that they are one of the few dealers that routinely stock a standard cab long box pickup truck. I still have my 2000 F250 standard cab long box with the 7.3 poqwer stroke and six speed manual 4x4.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I did as well. It was nice to have the 8 feet but I like the extended cab with the flatbed way better you can put stuff in crossways and have more room. Carry a sweep auger sideways. Keep fence posts their rack sideways. If you build the flatbed yourself you aren’t limited to 6 and a half feet mine is 7 and a half length to the “tailgate”. Sideways a 12 foot 2x4 rides well enough to get home with a flag. The extended cab lets you lock something in like an impact or computer or similar things expensive things in because a flatbed is pretty open unless the toolbox is along it works out pretty well. My last 8 foot bed left 10 years ago it was a ford with the double cab as well I don’t miss turning that thing at Walmart. Or the manual hubs. Or the 7.3 $$$ parts pit. Or the 4th transmission behind it. I do miss the seat though it rode well too even compared to my chevys. And never lacked on power I will say that.

One of the short beds even has a fuel tank in it all the time. So it’s even shorter

I carry a Knaack gang box in mine so I only have ~ 6' already. A 6' bed just wouldn't work.
The PU only has 98K on it but is rusting out.
Maybe I'll start looking for a rust free bed somewhere south of the salt zone.
Don't much like those plastic fender flares you can buy.