The Battle of the Single Cab Trucks

Ask any child to draw you a picture of a pickup truck, and chances are what you will be able to discern from the image is a 4-door vehicle with the cab longer than the bed. That has become the default pickup truck, particularly in residential areas where pickups are expected to double as family vehicles and ensure everyone is comfortable in their own space in the cab, and the relatively small bed is back there when you need it. However, not all pickup trucks perform this double duty. Many pickup owners still need just the basics for themselves, a passenger or two, and plenty of bed in the back to transport plenty of whatever from one place to another or carry all the equipment necessary for the owner to ply their trade.

In short, these are work trucks. They are categorized now as “Single Cab” or “Regular Cab” trucks. They used to be the standard, but now they are a niche. However, it is an important niche for anyone who needs a truck simply to do work. The three primary single-cab trucks are the Ford F-150 Regular Cab, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab, and the Chevy’s twin, the GMC Sierra Regular Cab. Dick Smith Ford offers this comparison of the three.

Similarities

All three Regular Cab trucks are only available in their most basic trim. For the Ford, that would be the XL. For the Chevrolet, it is the WT (Work Truck) grade, and it is a Pro for GMC. All have a bench seat split 40/20/40, in which the “20” folds down to become a console when unoccupied by a 3^rd passenger. The two GM models feature a vinyl seat. The standard seat in the Ford is cloth with vinyl as available. The nice thing about single-cab trucks is that less cabin leaves more room for the bed so that you won’t see any 5-foot beds here. With the regular cabs, all three models offer a choice of a 6.5-or 8-foot bed.

Powertrain Choices

The standard engine in the Ford F-150 Regular Cab depends on your choice of bed size. With the 6.5-foot bed, your engine is the 5.0-liter V8, rated at 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. It is connected to a 10-speed automatic and is available in 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains. Choose the 8-foot bed; the standard engine is the turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, rated at 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 5.0-liter engine is an available option, as is the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which is rated at 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. All three engines are connected to Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission.

When configured with the 6.5-foot bed, GMC and Chevrolet also come standard with a turbocharged 2.7-liter engine; in this case, it has four rather than six cylinders. Called the TurboMax, it is rated at 310 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque and is connected to an 8-speed transmission. If the 8-foot bed is selected, an optional engine is the 5.3-liter V8. It is rated at 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. It is connected to the same 10-speed transmission that is standard on the Ford, which GM and Ford developed together.

Ford Has the Greatest Capability

On the whole, Ford’s engines are more powerful, and this is manifested in their relative capacities. The Ford F-150 Regular cab outperforms the GM models with a maximum payload of 3,315 pounds compared to 2,260 and 2,240 pounds for the Chevy and GMC trucks, respectively. At the same time, Ford’s maximum towing capacity soars beyond the GM models at 11,000 pounds compared to 9,900 pounds for the Silverado and 9,800 pounds for the Sierra.

Ford does not charge extra for its extra capability. With a starting MSRP of $36,965 for the V8 and short bed, the Ford is just $165 over the Silverado with the short bed at $36,800. The GMC is almost a grand more at $37,700.

If you are looking for a truck that works hard, the hardest-working single cab is the Ford F150. Come see one now at Dick Smith Ford in Columbia.