Are you planning to purchase a new truck and scratch your head trying to learn the difference between crew cab vs extended cab? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover on this topic.
- Truck Cab?
- Cab Types
- Extended Pros & Cons
- Crew Pros & Cons
- Which One To Get?
- Crew vs Regular?
- Conclusion
- F.A.Q
Doing the proper research before you purchase a truck is a smart idea. You don’t want to spend a ton of money unnecessarily. You need to understand your needs first and then see what’s there on the market and make a proper decision. Especially now when prices of cars and trucks are really high and break boundaries every day.
For example, if you don’t drive more than two people in your truck, you don’t really need a big cab for many passengers. And frankly, you could save a ton of money while doing so since cabs make a really big difference when purchasing a truck. But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to help you out.
First, we are going to learn what is a truck cab in general and understand the different types of cabs that are offered on the market. Then we will cover the pros and cons of both crew cab vs extended cab and then we will compare the two. After that, we will discuss a few more cab comparisons. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
What Is A Truck Cab?
Now before we compare crew cab vs extended cab, let’s first discuss more what is a cab in general. I bet that there are people who are reading this and are not into trucks and want to learn some of the basics. So, this chapter is dedicated to them. If you want, you can jump to the types of cabs or the chapter where we compare the two.
So, what is a cab? Well, a cab is a trucking term that is used to refer to the inside space of a truck. It doesn’t matter if we are talking about a light-duty pickup truck or a big semi truck. Both have cabs.
Even though a lot of people have misconceptions when it comes to the light-duty trucks and people often put them in the SUV category and compare them with SUVs. Something which is totally wrong.
Mainly because an SUV is a passenger vehicle, and a light-duty truck is a work truck. So, even though they are in most cases based on the same platform, they are a completely different category of vehicles.
Nevertheless, the cab is the place where the driver and their passengers spend their time when driving from one to another location.
Back in the day, cabs were really small and could only fit two or three people if you had a bench seat. But nowadays cabs are so roomy that you could fit so much into a truck.
And here come the different types of cabs that exist out there. Depending on your needs, you pick the cabin that fits you best. But what about crew cab vs extended cab? Well, more on that we will cover in a bit.
Types Of Cab
Now before we dive into the comparison of crew cab vs extended cab. Let’s learn more about the types of cabs that are out there.
Knowing all of the types will make your life easier and you will be able to find the thing you are looking for. Even though car manufacturers use fancy names for some of their cabs like king cab, mega cab, crewmax, and quad cab, the cabs are simply separated into three categories.
And these are the regular, extended, and crew cab. And that’s what we are going to discuss in the following two chapters where we will learn more about these types of cabs before we dive into the comparison of crew cab vs extended cab. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
Regular Cab
The first type of cab that we are going to discuss before we cover the crew cab vs extended cab is the regular cab. So, why do we cover the regular cab? Well, because you need to be aware that this type of cab also exists and you might find it suitable for your needs as well. So, what is a regular cab?
Well, a regular cab is the shortest of the three main types of cabs. The regular cab simply ends on the B pillar which is located right next to the driver’s seat.
So, a regular cab is any cab that only has two doors and can seat up to two or three passengers. These types of cabs are often used by construction companies across the country.
What is good about these types of cabs is that you can get an 8 feet bed with them and have a ton of space in the rear to load stuff.
So, if you are a construction worker and you need a bigger bed, this type of cab will be the most suitable for your needs since it has a very large bed.
One of the downsides of these types of cabs is that it doesn’t have much interior space. So, you cannot store sensitive stuff inside. And if you put something sensitive in the rear, it could get wet or even get damaged. So, it really depends on what are your needs when purchasing a work truck. But what about crew cab vs extended cab? Well, more on that in a bit.
The important thing for you to know is that regular cabs are probably the cheapest options available on the market and if you want to save some money, they are the way to go.
Extended Cab
Now before we cover the crew cab vs extended cab. Let’s learn what an extended cab is in general. What makes an extended cab?
Well, an extended cab in general is a cab design that takes a regular cab and stretches it out. Since the cab is stretched, you get more room inside of the cab.
But the downside is that the bed gets shorter. So, if you have an 8 ft bed with a regular cab. With an extended cab, this space will be reduced to 6.5 ft maximum. And this is one of the compromises that you have to make with these bigger cabs.
This is why you need to put your priorities straight before you purchase a truck and see what you really need when it comes to the truck and if you need this extra space or not.
Even though a lot of new trucks don’t even come with a regular cab anymore, they just include an extended cab as a standard cab type.
What is worth noting is that even though this cab is extended, it is not the longest cab out there, there are still longer ones. Like the crew cab for example.
Also, when it comes to marketing, the extended cab can be marketed under different names. For example, Chevy and GMC market this cab simply as an extended cab. On the other hand, RAM markets this cab as a Quad Cab, Ford markets this cab as Super Cab, Nissan markets this cab as King Cab, and Toyota markets this cab as Access Cab.
So, you get the point, all these car makers put different branding when it comes to their extended cab offering. But what about the crew cab vs extended cab? More on that in a bit.
Crew Cab
Now before we discuss the crew cab vs extended cab, let’s cover another type of cab which is the crew cab. So, what is a crew cab?
Well, a crew cab is basically an extended cab that was further extended. It is also known as a double cab. So, if you feel crammed in an extended cab and you feel like there is not a lot of legroom. In a crew cab, you will feel more relieved while sitting in the rear.
In this type of cab, comfort is the number one priority. If you have a big family that you often drive around or you have a business and a couple of workers, this truck cab is the perfect one for you.
The only downside is that the bed will suffer if you choose the short bed option. With a crew cab, you will only get about 5.5ft if you opt for a short bed. But if you opt for the long bed, you will be able to get a 6.5 ft long bed on this truck.
So, there are a lot of configurations that are available and you need to choose what suits you best in terms of cab size and bed size. You can go for a crew cab with a long bed and a crew cab with a short bed. But more on that in a bit where we will compare the crew cab vs extended cab. Now let’s discuss the last type of cab.
Mega Cab
Now before we compare the crew cab vs extended cab. Let’s discuss the last type of cab that there is on the market. And that is the mega cab.
The mega cab is probably the longest cab that you can purchase right now and only Dodge and Toyota are offering something like this. Mainly because there isn’t a big market for these trucks. For most people, the crew cab is just enough.
But when we discuss about the mega cab, you will have to deal with some cons, and that is the reduced bed size capacity. These trucks have about 6.5 ft beds only. The cab size simply shrinks the bed. So, beware of this. But what are the pros and cons of crew cab vs extended cab? Let’s elaborate more on that in the following chapters.
Pros And Cons Of An Extended Cab
Now before we compare the crew cab vs extended cab. Let’s learn the pros and cons of both these types of cab.
Knowing the pros and cons will really help you understand which type of cab should be perfect for your needs. So, if you want to learn more follow along.
Pros
Now before we compare the crew cab vs extended cab, let’s first discuss the pros of having an extended cab. What are the pros of this type of truck cab? Let’s explain.
Well, the first pro of running an extended cab is the space that you get in the rear. With this type of cab, you will be able to accommodate three people in the rear.
Also, extended cab trucks also have a bit longer bed than the crew cab in most cases. So, you will be able to haul a lot more stuff in the bed than with a crew cab.
In addition to this, the extended cab is quite cheaper in comparison to the crew cab. So, you will be able to save some money if you go for an extended cab for your truck. But what about the crew cab vs extended cab? More on that in a bit.
Cons
Now before we cover the crew cab vs extended cab comparison, let’s cover some of the cons of running an extended cab truck.
The biggest con is probably the leg room. The passengers in the rear will really struggle when it comes to long journeys. Especially if you try to accommodate a 6 ft tall people, leg room will be a struggle.
Overall, there are not a lot of downsides when it comes to this type of cab. You will greatly benefit from this extra space which will allow you to store stuff in the back. Something that you can’t do in a regular cab truck. But what about the crew cab vs extended cab? More on this we will cover in a bit after we learn the pros and cons of the crew cab.
Pros And Cons Of A Crew Cab
Now before we compare the crew cab vs extended cab. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the crew cab.
As you probably know, everything has its pros and cons and so is the case with the crew cab. So, what you can expect to be the pro of running a cab of this size? Let’s elaborate on this topic.
Pros
Now before we compare the crew cab vs extended cab. Let’s learn more about the pros of running a crew cab. What can you expect when it comes to this type of cab? Let’s elaborate.
The biggest pro of running this type of cab is the interior space. These cabs are very spacious. So, if you have a bigger family or you own a company and you need to carry a lot of people, this cab will be very suitable for you.
Not to mention that because of the size of the doors and the room the access to the seats is a lot easier and there are basically not a lot of compromises with this type of cab.
You can carry a lot of groceries in the rear and you will never have to worry if something will get wet. So, if you want to get a more car-like experience while owning a truck, this type of cab will be perfect for you. Still, there are some cons to having a truck of this size. And we will cover more on the cons next before we compare the crew cab vs extended cab.
Cons
Now before we discuss the crew cab vs extended cab, let’s learn more about the cons of the crew cab. As you are probably aware, everything has positives and negatives. And so is the case with the crew cab.
This cab might be longer, but if you purchase it you might be facing some issues. Namely, a shorter bed. On average, the extended cab has a 6.5 ft bed while the crew cab has a 5.5 ft bed. And one foot shorter is a lot when it comes to loading stuff in the back.
Also, in addition to this, there will be issues with navigation on narrow roads or lanes, since these trucks are a bit larger than your standard regular or extended cab. So, keep this in mind.
And the last con is probably the price. Crew cabs usually cost $3,000+ to purchase new in comparison to the extended cab. But what is the way to go, crew cab vs extended cab? Well, more on this we are going to cover next.
Extended Cab Vs Crew Cab
Now let’s discuss more on the extended cab vs crew cab. Which one should be your top choice when it comes to purchasing? Let’s say that you need a new truck, which of these two designs to choose from? Let’s elaborate.
The first thing that you need to consider is the cost. Let’s say you have a limited budget. In this case, you don’t have another option but to deal with it and get the extended cab. Extended cabs are far cheaper than crew cabs.
The next thing you need to consider is how many passengers you carry and how often you carry people. If you carry people very often, especially tall people, I would say to go for the crew cab. This way you will get the space you need to accommodate them without any problems.
If you use your rear seats mostly for storage, I would say to go for the extended cab. Buying a crew cab in these situations is not a good idea since you don’t really need all this space.
And the last thing that you need to consider is the truck bed. With some trucks, you lose some of the bed capacity if you go for a crew cab. Especially mid-size or compact trucks. So, beware of this issue as well. So, that’s all when it comes to the crew cab vs extended cab. Now let’s discuss another thing before we conclude our article.
Crew Cab VS Regular Cab
Now as we compared crew cab vs extended cab, we think that now it is time to discuss another topic and that is the comparison between crew cab vs regular cab. What is the difference between the two?
Well, as we mentioned previously when it comes to the crew cab, you can accommodate up to 5 passengers. On the other hand, if you are having a regular cab, you can accommodate 2 people or 3 people, if you have a bench seat.
In addition to this, the regular cab offers an advantage and that is that these trucks come with an 8 ft bed. This is the longest bed size that you can get when it comes to light-duty pickup trucks. So, if you really need a big bed, the regular cab will be perfect for you.
Facts: Understanding the Different Types of Truck Cabs
- Extended cabs were created for carrying cargo and extra passengers, making them a great choice for families who don’t want an SUV or minivan.
- There are three types of truck cabs: extended cab, regular cab, and crew cab, and the choice of cab depends on what the truck will be used for.
- Extended cabs have extra seating accessible by folding the front seats forward, and some have smaller doors called “suicide doors” behind the front doors.
- Regular cabs are the smallest cab size available and can only seat up to three people, making them a great choice for work trucks.
- Crew cabs are the largest cab size, seating up to five or six people with two full rows of seating, making them ideal for families.
- Extended cabs are not only designed for transporting families but also hauling and storage, with plenty of room for extra passengers and cargo.
- Crew cabs are longer than regular cabs and have six seats, while extended cabs have two rows of three seats each.
- Extended cabs may or may not have back doors, while regular cabs do not have back doors, and crew cabs always have back doors.
- Four-door trucks are more convenient for passengers because the back doors are larger and don’t require the front seats to be folded down for passengers to exit.
- Extended cabs are generally less expensive than crew cabs and come in a variety of bed sizes, making them a more affordable and versatile choice.
Conclusion
In this article, we learned quite a bit when it comes to the different types of truck cabs. First, we learned the basics of what is a truck cab and the different types of cabs that are installed on trucks.
Then we learned the pros and cons of both crew and extended cabs and lastly, we compared the crew cab vs extended cab. We listed both their strong points and weaknesses and gave you our honest opinion on which type of cab you should go after in certain situations.
F.A.Q
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
What Is A Crew Cab
A crew cab is a type of cab found in light-duty pickup trucks. What is interesting about this type of cab is that includes a full-size rear seat. So, we can say that this is one of the most comfortable trucks to drive passengers in.
What Is A Quad Cab
A quad cab is a term used by Dodge to market their four-door cab trucks. So, when it comes to the size, we can safely assume that this is an extended cab truck.
How Long Is A Truck
Truck lengths on full-size trucks can vary significantly, they are not limited in this aspect. So, you can have a regular cab truck with a 6.5ft bed with an overall length of 209.1 inches and on the other hand, you can have a regular cab with an 8ft bed that is 227.7 inches long. Extended cab and crew trucks can be even longer.
How Wide Is A Pickup Truck
Full-size pickup trucks on average are about 6.7ft wide. The dimensions can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but on average 6.7ft is the number that you need to know.
What Does 1500 Mean On A Truck
1500 means that this is a half-a-ton truck. You basically can fit half a ton of cargo in the rear bed. 2500 represents three quarters of a ton capacity, and 3500 refers to one ton capacity.
What Does LT Stand For Chevy
The LT is a trim level that is used by Chevy. This abbreviation stands for Luxury Touring. This is a level above the standard truck that focuses on luxury and comfort.
