So to Super cab or Crewcab

[todpod]

Talking about trading the PT Cruiser in the spring for a Pickup. It will probably be a full size not overly concerned about about engine size because its a second vehicle and won't get driven a ton (I walk to work). We are mainly gonna use it to tow our camping supply trailer and haul lumber for the house. I want to get something that I can haul the kiddies in the back seat. I am wondering if a super cab has the room I haven't really been in on recently.The kids are 13,11,5. The 5 year old is in a booster seat. I don't really have a brand preference, but probably would go Ford, Chevy, Dodge. Probably look at something about a 2005. A Toyota would be an option but I really doubt I would find anything in my price range> Any thoughts

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Every man needs a truck.

Crewcab for your situation. I have one and have no problem hauling anything. If no kids and need a long bed than I'd say super. It would get really annoying sacrificing cab space for a longer bed just for the few times a month you actually need a truck.

 

[3chordcharlie]

You probably want a crew cab for three kids that age (and growing). Which is fine, since most of the used market 2005+ is crew cab anyway.

Hauling lumber in a 5.5ft bed sucks though as 8ft sheet stuff overhangs the open tailgate. Crew cab with regular 6.5ft shortbox is a really long vehicle. If your main purpose is camping though, 3 people in the back of a supercab is pretty cramped for trips over 30min or so.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

You probably want a crew cab for three kids that age (and growing). Which is fine, since most of the used market 2005+ is crew cab anyway.

Hauling lumber in a 5.5ft bed sucks though as 8ft sheet stuff overhangs the open tailgate. Crew cab with regular 6.5ft shortbox is a really long vehicle. If your main purpose is camping though, 3 people in the back of a supercab is pretty cramped for trips over 30min or so.

In my '11 f150 Crewcab 5.5ft bed a 4X8 piece of drywall/plywood fits right between the wheel wells and does not overhang the open tailgate. It's a perfect fit. I'm sure ford engineered it that way. I was surprised how perfectly a sheet of 4X8 fit in there.

 

[Sluggo]

My last truck was an ext. cab, the new one is a crew cab. For my use I would go back to an ext. cab, just for the bed space, but I don't haul around people beside my wife and myself, and for the most part I am by myself. The extra room inside, and regular doors of a crewcab are nice, but again for me, I would rather have the bad space.

For your use it sounds like you would really enjoy a crewcab.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Go with the crewcab. You'll appreciate the extra space in the cab.

 

[3chordcharlie]

In my '11 f150 Crewcab 5.5ft bed a 4X8 piece of drywall/plywood fits right between the wheel wells and does not overhang the open tailgate. It's a perfect fit. I'm sure ford engineered it that way. I was surprised how perfectly a sheet of 4X8 fit in there.

I'm pretty sure that 4x8 sheet fits like that in a 6.5ft box - is the tailgate 30"high? I mean maybe it is, I don't have a 5.5ft box, I just did math based on the regular short-box. Definitely the space between the wheel wells is 49-50" rather than 47-48" on purpose, so sheet good fit, even after installing a bedliner.

 

[redgtxdi]

I will say that the Tundra's extra cab is ridiculously roomy for a Scab. It's arguably as roomy as most crews!!

 

[todpod]

The only objection to a crew is the $$ they seem somewhat pricer then a supercab. Can find some deal on 2wd models which would be fine except it would be tough to get it out the driveway in the winter. Some a little shorter would be better as well i don't have a lot of room to maneuver in my driveway

 

[redgtxdi]

The only objection to a crew is the $$ they seem somewhat pricer then a supercab.

I agree with this also. The price is what kept me from buying crew when I bought my F150 Scab but if I had to buy today, I'd probably do the Tundra Scab after having ridden in the back of one vs any crew unless I just didn't care about the money, then I'd have to do some serious R & D.

Another serious thought is..........USED!!! Trucks lose value like the stock market when Obama opens his mouth. Especially if you still want the dealer experience because you're into masochism 😉 I'd definitely consider used & maybe get a $30+K truck for something in the high teens/low 20's.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Resale will suffer with a Supercab. Everyone wants a supercrew and rightfully so.

Here's the backseat of my screw. I fit all my crap back here for a trip I took in the summer. Even had a big ice chest so my wife could hand me ice cold soda and water on the drive.

 

[todpod]

It will be used probably around a 2005, looking at around $15000 for the truck. this no way i am buying new, I don't know were people get the money for those. A new one is about what my house cost (ok so its a crappy house).

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

It will be used probably around a 2005, looking at around $15000 for the truck. this no way i am buying new, I don't know were people get the money for those. A new one is about what my house cost (ok so its a crappy house).

15k? Hmm... I bet you could probably get a new supercab v6 f150 for 22k or maybe even less? I'm recommending supercrew but if the budget is tight you could probably do with a Supercab. I'd go check em out and look on f150 forum and ask those guys what the bottom dollar they paid for a similar setup. I'd really be surprised if you couldn't get a new truck for slightly more than what you're willing to spend.

 

[todpod]

Just been check out autotrader there seems to be a but load in eastern Ohio and a lot fewer in western pa, there were a lot of 2004-2005 btw 11-and 14k, only 2 Toyotas and 1 Nissian Titan, just not much of those in that price range.

 

[Greenman]

Three men fit in the back of my supercab. It's tight, but not unpleasant for an hour drive. I've often done two hour trips with 3 kids back there.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Do you intend to need a full 8 ft. bed at the same time you take the kids aorund? What about a Chevrolet Avalanche? Full Crew Cab when you're carrying kids or a full 8ft. bed when you really need it. Plus the bed comes with a built-in cover which is nice when you want to keep things dry. Can get 2004-2005 with between 80k and 110k miles on them in the 15K price range.

 

[herm0016]

I have a extended cab 2009 GMC. For me and one other or a short trip with 4 total adults it is fine, but would probably want a crew cab with a 6.5 box if I had a family. Which is rumored to be avail with the next gen gm truck. I find the 5.5 box nearly useless as I have a n old slide in camper and a canoe and do haul thing somewhat regularly.

 

[Pulsar]

Absolutely no doubt, you'll need a supercrew. I have 3 kids and a wife, and we went looking. I originally wanted the super cab, but after she got in the back with 2 of our kids we quickly realized that the supercrew is just a necessity.

 

[todpod]

When we camp its about an hour and a half away. I can make do with whatever bed size. Most of the camping gear will be in the trailer. I am just trying to haul everything in one car. We had taken both our cars (pacifica and cruiser) camping last year and they were stuffed with stuff. Since we are going to replace the crusier, it makes sense to get down to one car for the trip. We were going to put a hitch on the pacifica and it would have towed the trailer fine, but this will make it alot easier.

 

[todpod]

Found a 2005 Tundra crewcab with 190,000 for 10k, This would really temp if i was buying right now. I should be able to hit my price point I have found several decent trucks between 10 and 15k, Its just gonna be how years i want to trade for miles.

 

[WackyDan]

I've just gone through this exercise and sign the papers on the build of an F-150 tomorrow.

The quad cab on the Rams is too small. Nice to have the four doors, but not when the back seats are so close to the fronts. In the Ram the only way to go is crew cab... which on the Ram is almost too much room. The problem with the crew is that your bed shrinks to 5'7"... and if you are coming off another truck with a longer bed like I am, that hurts.

The F-150 super crew is really your only four door option on the Ford and you can still get a 6.5 foot bed.

I've shopped used and found the prices on used are just too high right now, hence why I'm buying new.... if you can wait a year - if the economy picks up, the prices on used may come back to earth.

Most of my research focused on Dodge and Ford, as I have an 05 GM car and the quality has been terrible so I avoided GM. Toyotas had some issues in the older Tundras before this last redesign and the Toyota motor is lack luster compared to the new Ford engines and the Dodge Hemi.

Have fun. Spend wisely.

 

[mmntech]

Crew cabs do have good resale, if you can deal with the short box. I like the F-150s a lot. Fuel efficient (as V8s go), handles well, rides well. Nice looking too. It's a white hat truck through and through.

I've driven a lot of Sierra/Silverados in my time. It's a work truck, pure and simple. Rides okay, roomy, but meant for yellow hat labourers. They take a beating well though.

The RAMs are really nice. We had a 5.7L HEMI at work last year. Drank gas like crazy. Nice inside, same touch screen infotainment system as the Caravans, handled well, boatloads of power. Went like stink. They used to have terrible transmissions in them though. Still do AFAIK.

 

[Doppel]

Somebody has to tell you to get a minivan and put the difference in gas into the kids 529 and that person is me. Anyway, don't forget you can always get a hard shell carrier on roof to increase capacity when it is needed, on any non truck vehicle. You can also cart lumber around on a utility trailer, the couple times a year you will actually do it.

 

[todpod]

Somebody has to tell you to get a minivan and put the difference in gas into the kids 529 and that person is me. Anyway, don't forget you can always get a hard shell carrier on roof to increase capacity when it is needed, on any non truck vehicle. You can also cart lumber around on a utility trailer, the couple times a year you will actually do it.

We actually have a Chrysler Pacifica which is just a glorified minivan, and we were going to just put a hitch on that and go. It has 245,000 miles and the Cruiser is getting kinda crappy so we were gonna replace that. The truck will basically be mine to drive and I walk to work 99% of the time so a I won't save alot in gas by having the truck. I think the truck will making camping that much more enjoyable because not have stuff stuffed in the cars.

Then in a couple of years when we replace the Pacifica it would probably be with a Subaru, I used to have a forester and it was pretty cool, we maybe not cool but i liked it.

 

[mvbighead]

I would say it honestly depends on how far you are going on your camping trips.

To me, if you aren't going terribly far, you could easily just drive two cars. Then you have a truck loaded with camp fire wood and whatever else you need, and a car (in your case a Pacifica) loaded with dry goods, clothes, etc. If you're traveling really far, your needs change, and you should insist on the larger cab.

For me, too many people try to fit all their eggs in one basket in a vehicle, when its primary purpose is something altogether different. If 90% of that truck is lumber and towing, you could just get a truck that would reasonably accommodate your family.

As for me, I've taken many 1 hour road trips with my dad in a 2002 Quad Cab Ram pickup. Some in the back seat, some in the front seat depending on how many hunters/dogs are going. At 6'3", I fit well enough in both spots, so long as the guy in front or behind me is not of similar height and has similar leg room needs. Since the average height seems to be under 6'0", I would say a guy, his wife, and three kids should fit just fine in any ordinary quad cab pickup.

If you're only going to have kids in there 3-4 times a year, why would you insist on having ample interior space when the cargo/bed space is likely to be used to a greater extent?