Silverado - Extended or regular cab?

I went from a regular cab and 8 foot box to an extended cab, short box, in 2001. I'm still driving the extended cab. I think I could count on two hands the times that someone sat in the back.
It is a nice place to haul groceries, but it can become a "junk drawer" of sorts.
I haul firewood from time to time and wish I had the 8 foot box. I have a pickup camper that is 8 feet long. It sits over the tailgate (not on). If your family goes camping, consider the 8 foot box and camper. I think it's legal to haul the kids in the camper and they might like that better than sitting behind some high backed bucket seats.

I forget how much more the extended cab cost, but when you consider that extra over the 5 or 6 years most trucks last, its probably cheaper to get a cab for the few times you need the extra seats.

But I can still remember the wonderful feeling sitting in a new extended cab Silverado after having nothing but standard cabs for the previous 25 years.
As you go down the highway, look at all the people that are the lone occupant in an extended cab pickup truck.

Good advice here. I have a single cab 2003 GMC 2500HD longbed and a 1987 F-250 extended cab with the long bed and 6.9 liter IDI diesel, both 4x4. I find I need the long beds and wouldnt have a short bed but everyone has different needs. I have tool boxs on the back of both trucks and we just put the groceries in there which works for us.

The extended cab on the F-250 is only good for collecting junk, hauling the dogs or midgets and as has already been mentioned, I need a 4 lane freeway to turn around in. We just hauled our 1948 Allis Chalmers tractor with the F-250 from Minnesota to Missouri (13 hours with only stops for fuel) with the bed loaded with equipment and that 23 year old truck did just fine. The GMC has the towing package and we use it to haul the quipment trailer, firewood, the Kubota tractor, etc.

When we bought the GMC new in 2003, the V6 shortbed that was on the lot was about 4K cheaper and I didnt have the towing and hauling needs I have now, I sure am glad we went for the bigger truck and I didnt have to buy another one when our needs changed.

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If you have kids get the extended cab because if the other vehicle breaks down those kids are stuck at home till its fixed. Our vehicle was down all winter and we didnt have anything for a family of four so me and the kids...6 months stuck at home!!!!!
Now we have 2 running vehicles we all can go in. Thats the best bet for a family.

We have a dodge extended, full bed, 8 cylinder. Love it. We haul a large round bail in the bed and the whole family too!

For comfort riding we have a big old car.

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My site.

This is a no-brainer.

Extended cab. Period.

Reasons:

1. The Chevy V6 is the best V6 in a pick-up. It's got more torque and sips gas compared to others. But...it ain't a V8. When you tie onto something like a tractor on a trailer, or a trailer load of lumber or firewood, you're gonna want that V8. If this was a one-man truck and you were rarely going to tow anything, yeah, the six would do.

2. Room. Ford has room behind the seat in a single cab. In a Dodge, you can stack 5-gallon buckets. In a Chevy, unless you have a 24" inseam, you can't hardly set a grocery bag behind the seat...forget about a good-sized toolbox, or the average working detritus that tends to accumulate in the cab.

And about that extended cab room...awfully nice to be able to load everyone in the pickup at the same time. Maybe to go to town, maybe just to haul everyone to the job site.

3. Bed. An 8-foot bed is nice, but I've run 6-foot beds for years. I have rarely found anything I wanted to haul in an 8, I couldn't haul in a 6. If stuff is really too long for a 6', say a dozen 12' 2x6's...hey, that's what trailers are for. Or overhead racks.


The only reason I would consider the truck you are currently looking at, is if the deal is so good you could make money on the truck if it turned out to be not what you wanted.

I didn't think I'd need an extended cab since it's "just me," but the truck I liked happened to have one. The extra space has come in handy more times than I can count. I wouldn't be without one now!

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When my sister and BIL retired they bought a goosenect travel trailer. They absolutely love their Silverado V8 with crew cab. They would often have grandkids with them so there was plenty of room for them. When they are alone, extended cab provides a great temporary storage area.

They have talked about once they roaming days are over they may buy a small compact for local usage.

Mine-as-well chime-in since we're talking about trucks!

First, you have kids, unless you are NEVER going to need to haul them around, I think the answer is clear enough right there. Reg-cab is out, I don't know why they even make them anymore. Every reg-cab I have owned or even driven for a short time, I have wished I had the extra leg room, storage room, or something.

When I went from a reg-cab w/ 8ft bed to an ext-cab w/6.5 ft bed, maybe once in a blue moon I would think it would be nice to just set something inside the bed and not need the gate down. But with all the things I have hauled around, the short beds have worked out just fine.

The truck I just sold off was an 09 Titan crew-cab, short-bed. I don't have kids, but I can't tell you how much use that back storage (seats fold-up) / seating area got. The dogs had a place of their own (not on our laps) when they were wet / muddy. I had places to put tools that I didn't want left out while stopping at the store.

Hauled plywood, lumber, etc and never thought twice about just strapping it across the back. I had to open the gate to load it and unload it, so what's the big deal if the gate's up or down while driving?

Even as a single guy, I will do my best to never buy another reg-cab again and if at all possible it will be a crew-cab.

As a friend of mine says about his Ford Excursion, which by the way, can fit full sheets of plywood inside. He's always telling me, "if you know you are going to be moving something that big, then you'll know in time to go pick up the trailer."

I think that's a good point, if you have a trailer, and you know you are going to be moving something that, 1) is so big it won't fit safely into a 6.5 bed, then it would be safer to move it on a trailer. 2) if you are going to move something so big that it's not going to fit on the bed, then there's a good chance it weighs a lot and it would be better to put the wear and tear on a trailer then on the Pick-up. If the trailer breaks down on the road, you un-hook, drive to the shop, get parts and come back. Truck breaks down, you're thumbing it.

As for V6 vs V8. My Titan got 21 mpg's all day long, hwy or local, empty or full of gear. Unless I was loaded with 30 sheets of 3/4 plywood OR I was getting into the gas like when I first bought the 5.6 ltr, then it still got 19.8 mpg's. Now I have spoke with many other owners who pull big trailers or boats and then it's down from anywhere as low as 9 mpg to 15 mpg's.

For a long time I was wishing for a F350 crew-cab, but last summer I had a good long debate with a car nut friend of mind and he got me looking hard at used Dodge pick-ups w/ the Cummins diesel. Two points that got me, 1) Every time I hear someone talking about fuel mileage on Ford vs Dodge lately, the dodge has been getting over 20 almost every time, the Fords, and I just said I wanted one in a bad way, they were in the teens.

2) I can't remember the option off the top of my head, but the Dodge has an over-drive system that lets that truck cruse on the highway at very low rpm's and gets great mileage. My friend and I both drive about 25,000 miles a summer chasing hail so something like that meant a lot of savings.

So to make a long post, well, longer, I think most of the time you will say that the V6 isn't all that bad, but then there's going to be those days. It's just like needing 4WD, most of the time you don't need it, but you sure are happy when you do.

As for the long wheel-base / over all length. I never noticed anything so bad that I blamed it on that extra 1.5 feet. For my life, if a truck is going to fit, it fits. I also like parking at the far end of Wally-world, so sticking a crew cab, even a dually into a spot is not that big of a deal. It's not like I needed to parallel park the thing in down-town Chicago.

Plus, just to through something out there. I'm big into all the alternative energy stuff and even though Diesel isn't all that clean, I like the idea that if someone wanted to save money on fuel, they could add a vegetable-oil system and make friends with your local deep-fried food restaurants to pickup their used oil.

Anyway, I wish you luck with your shopping, I think it will be easier for me to find the right piece of land, then to find two people who agree on a truck. LOL

i own a 2500hd with the 6.0.
wish i had a 4 door diesel./
no kids, just a dog.
to me buying a v6 full sized truck is like buying a v6 "muscle car" whats the point?
if you have 2 kids that extra back seat will make a world of difference.
towing your tractor with a v6 wont be fun.
if you get the v6 single cab you will wish you hadn't. especially living on a farm or large property/

I have a Dodge Ram 3500 crew cab diesel dually...of course it has a long bed...you learn how to maneuver it! Obviously I don't drive to places that I think I will have trouble parking at. That mostly just eliminates city places so it doesn't bother me a bit Good excuse actually! "Oh I am sorry I'd love to go but I won't be able to park my truck." LOL

In my opinion buying a truck that can't haul your family is a bit silly. You never know when you might need it! Good deals are out there you just need to do a bit more hunting!

I have an exteded cab, had it for 9 years now, and I would NEVER EVER buy a regular cab again. Mine has a 6 cyl and and thats the only thing I don't like about my truck. if I had it to do all over again I would have gotten an 8 cyl. The 6 is ok empty but it just doesn't have enough power when hauling a load.

Oh and I've never had any problem with parking anywhere.

Just an aside. I was in a store in town when the power went out. Got talking to the owner, who I know, and they mentioned when they were younger, and had 5-6 kids at home, power went out during a winter storm. No heat. They put all 7-8 in the cab of what was then the size pickup and drove to her mother's house where they stayed for about a week, with everyone sleeping around a stove. He said the kids were stacked about three deep in the cab.

I have an 84 standard Ranger and an 88 extended cab. Really appreciate that extra room behind the seats. Two jump seats, but suitable only for small people.

We have a kid, so we've an extended cab truck. When it was just the two of us, a regular cab was just fine. But with a kid, that rear seat is darn important.

Was quite gunshy about getting that shorter 6 foot bed. Turns out, it works just fine. 4x8 sheets of plywood and such fit, extending back just to the tip of the open tailgate. Strap it down and I'm good to go.

I did buy a load extender thingie. One of those arms you mount in the receiver hitch. I use it for those long items, like 16' lumber and such. Works.

My truck has a V6, and it hauls well enough. No, I can't tow a bulldozer, but I really wasn't planning to. It does haul my race car around just fine. As well the various trailers and sundry things. Being a V6, it doesn't drink gas like a big block V8, which my wallet appreciates.

I am so glad for this thread. I wrote about looking for a pickup a couple of weeks ago. I had visions of a 2000, clean, low mileage Ford F 150 extended or super crew. Kinda hate short beds but was willing to compromise for the interior space. ((((BUT)))) the times being what they are... and with how hard my husband works to keep us afloat..and not go into debt, we bought a much older truck from a friend. This tank is just about as ugly as sin( no rust- he bondo'd it and painted the whole thing with rustoleum and a brush LOL. Now I kinda like it's character...a "shut up and work" truck. Obviously it was a what's best right now call for us. I named the 1990 Ford F 150/ V8/4x4/XLT Lariat/ "The Scourge".

I really wanted an extended cab so I can haul my working goats in the back and put my camp gear, etc inside...or haul kids, groceries etc. Oh well... it all came down to finances and need over desire and debt. I was actually mad for about five hours until we picked the ol thing up and I got to thinking about how much truck we were getting for the price ($750.00). Our friend had new tires, brakes and b.lines all redone, new battery, etc. There were many plus's and all DH did was put a little lifter "quieter fluid" in it, so now it sounds and runs smooth.

It was def NOT time to go into any debt for us. Maybe sometime in the future we'll go with a shinier vehicle...but for now I can truck around haulin' junk or my fun loving working goats or stinky dog, drive down a two-track in the woods, haul hay, go primitve backwoods camping etc...and if I make a scratch? Just touch up with a loaded brush of black Rustoleum <grin>. It is what it is, and a country gal can survive...I just wish now that I hadn't pouted over what was not really the best choice...I'm sorry honey! < sad puppy eyes>...
-scrt crk
Who flooded "Scourge" out in the field before 8am this morning...oops.

extended cab with the longest bed possible. I haul my wife and three dogs with me all the time, and more often than not, big loads of topsoil, mulch, or drywall.

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"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow the fields of those who don't."-Thomas Jefferson

I just couldn't buy a "government motors" or a Toyota right now. Mine had to be a Ford. My engineering genius brother creates for Ford, and we're a Ford family from way back...that might be extra influences...but FORD did not take the buy out $$ from you and my family.

That V6,,,, the 4.3 litter, is a great motor.
I have that in my '89 Full Sized GMC 1/2 ton PU, and at 296,000 it Still Gets 23 mpg. with a 5 speed overdrive manual tranny. And that GMC has pulled many a 2 horse trailer and hauled tons and tons of hay over that nearly 300K miles, and still does. And with very very little work on the motor or the rest of the things as far as that goes, well just 2 years ago I replaced the original Alternator~!

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Don't forget, Ford didn't take any bailout money.

Not a very practical reason for picking one truck over another, but I can't say it wasn't in the back of my mind when I picked my Ranger over a Colorado.

And as far as GM taking bail out money we ARE talking about a USED truck here not a New One, so that should not even be in the conversation, NOW, if we were talking about getting a New One, NO WAY would it be a GM product, It would be a FORD. But a 5 year old used one has nothing to do about the GM bailout program......

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I have a double cab long bed Chevy HD2500 and would not trade it for anything. I can haul lots of grands around, groceries, the dog, my GN horsetrailer, the tractor, plywood, firewood..goodness, my truck is a workhorse.

Mileage isn't that bad for the 8 cyl. I get 17-18 miles on the highway and 15-16 in the city.

I'd never go back to a regular cab or even an extended cab..I am in love with four doors and full size bed.

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I'll never own another regular cab truck. I wouldn't want a crew cab though either. The extended cab size is perfect fo rme. The 6.5 foot bed has never been an issue for me. The bed can still hold more dirt/gravel then the suspension can and it's 8 feet long with the gate down.

I actually took the rear seat out of my extended cab F150. Rarely used it for human passengers so taking it out makes more room for the dogs or for tools and gear.

I just cleaned everything out of it last night so I could drop it off at my mechanics today. Apparently 5.4 Ford motors are prone to exhaust manifold studs breaking off!