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I can't understand the deal with the electric F150 or almost any other modern pickup. They all have full sized 4 door interiors now, so as the truck has gotten

I can't understand the deal with the electric F150 or almost any other modern pickup. They all have full sized 4 door interiors now, so as the truck has gotten bigger, the truck bed (the actually useful part that distinguishes a truck from a car) has gotten smaller. They are usually under 5.5 feet now, so there's many types of furniture you can't really move in them, which you could move in older, smaller pickups. Any idea? It kills the electric F150's attraction as far as I'm concerned. A 2-door model with those little vestigial jump seats behind the main seats and a longer bed would be a lot more useful.

seoaeu 5y ago
I think there is a reasonable argument to make that (many) pickup trucks are purchased for aesthetics and the "usefulness" of them as trucks is largely irrelevant. As one friend pointed out, a work truck should be expected to be dirty and any truck that isn't dirty is just meant for show
jcims 5y ago
Useful as a truck, yes, but now you have to buy a second vehicle to haul the family. Crew cab pickups are basically minivans in that they aren’t great at anything but acceptable for alot of things. I have a 2018 F150 crew with the longer bed, I’ve towed trailers, hauled furniture and equipment for friends and family, taken it out for a nice meal and gotten it muddy as hell off road. If I’m intentional about it i can get low 20’s mpg but rarely drive it more than 50 miles. I haven’t commuted for work in four years.
dylan604 5y ago
That's why you're seeing things like the extended bed options of the new tailgate designs. Also, most people don't need to carry 6'+ items. They do need to take the ankle biters along and maybe haul some stuff in the back. The trade off seems to be accepted going by number of units sold. If you keep the 6' bed plus the comfy backseats as you've mentioned, it no longer fits in standard garages.
- throwaway81523 5y ago
  > hey do need to take the ankle biters along and maybe haul some stuff in the back. But, that is why they have SUV's and minivans I thought. It is only now sort of sinking in that pickups are no longer used much as work vehicles. Yes I agree about the excessive length keeping the crew cab and long bed. In fact I think the current F150 is already too big. So that's why I miss the old 2-door style with the long bed. I mean what is next, a Miata-like sportster with 3 rows of bench seats?
  - bradlys 5y ago
    > I mean what is next, a Miata-like sportster with 3 rows of bench seats? That is essentially what most CUVs are wishing they were these days. Outside of a Porsche Macan - most don’t really make it work.
  - dylan604 5y ago
    Smaller truck bed still allows for carrying/hauling things larger than the truck compared to an enclosed SUV. Besides, when it's time to move, do you call your friend with an SUV/crossover, or do you call the friend with a truck?

seoaeu 5y ago

I think there is a reasonable argument to make that (many) pickup trucks are purchased for aesthetics and the "usefulness" of them as trucks is largely irrelevant. As one friend pointed out, a work truck should be expected to be dirty and any truck that isn't dirty is just meant for show

jcims 5y ago

Useful as a truck, yes, but now you have to buy a second vehicle to haul the family. Crew cab pickups are basically minivans in that they aren’t great at anything but acceptable for alot of things. I have a 2018 F150 crew with the longer bed, I’ve towed trailers, hauled furniture and equipment for friends and family, taken it out for a nice meal and gotten it muddy as hell off road. If I’m intentional about it i can get low 20’s mpg but rarely drive it more than 50 miles. I haven’t commuted for work in four years.

dylan604 5y ago

That's why you're seeing things like the extended bed options of the new tailgate designs. Also, most people don't need to carry 6'+ items. They do need to take the ankle biters along and maybe haul some stuff in the back. The trade off seems to be accepted going by number of units sold. If you keep the 6' bed plus the comfy backseats as you've mentioned, it no longer fits in standard garages.

throwaway81523 5y ago
> hey do need to take the ankle biters along and maybe haul some stuff in the back. But, that is why they have SUV's and minivans I thought. It is only now sort of sinking in that pickups are no longer used much as work vehicles. Yes I agree about the excessive length keeping the crew cab and long bed. In fact I think the current F150 is already too big. So that's why I miss the old 2-door style with the long bed. I mean what is next, a Miata-like sportster with 3 rows of bench seats?
- bradlys 5y ago
  > I mean what is next, a Miata-like sportster with 3 rows of bench seats? That is essentially what most CUVs are wishing they were these days. Outside of a Porsche Macan - most don’t really make it work.
- dylan604 5y ago
  Smaller truck bed still allows for carrying/hauling things larger than the truck compared to an enclosed SUV. Besides, when it's time to move, do you call your friend with an SUV/crossover, or do you call the friend with a truck?