The Best Pickup Trucks Have Low Bed Heights: COTD
The pickup truck has become a ubiquitous vehicle in America, serving as workhorses, family cars, and even luxury vehicles. While modern trucks boast impressive capabilities, one aspect often gets overlooked: bed height. As trucks have grown, so too have their beds, making them less practical for everyday tasks.
Every time I test a new truck, I assess how easy it is to load cargo. Often, the bedsides reach my shoulders, and the bed floor is at stomach level—not ideal for actually using a truck as a truck. Lifting heavy items like generators or motorcycles becomes a challenge.
Inspired by a recent car-spotting experience featuring older trucks with lower bed heights, the sentiment expressed by A. Barth resonates: “…mini trucks still abound, and are often used for hard labor…” The key is simple: Low. Load. Height.
This quest for more accessible truck beds is fueled by the desire to find practical functionality.
COTD Nomination
Today’s top COTD nomination stems from a comment about an imaginary Ford V10 van-truck. Isis humorously asked if they were the only person had to Google “onanism?” I also love that this is becoming a thing.
Comments of the Day:
- VanGuy: Wonders if higher bed heights are purely aesthetic, or if they improve suspension capacity.
- Shannon Porter: Praises the Toyota T100 with its low bed height, and how a long plank makes loading motorcycles effortless.
- A. Barth: “I can’t imagine trying to use a current model pickup for truck things. Mostly what I picture is the extremely precarious situation of trying to roll a motorcycle or lawn mower up the steep ramp that those high beds require. Ugh. 😐”
- GoesLikeHell: Agrees, as a 3/4 ton pickup owner, that a trailer is a necessity when needing to haul anything on wheels.
- Laurence Rogers: Notes that working Utes/Pickup trucks in Australia use a drop-side /Table top design for loading at closer to the magical 36″ height.
The preference for lower bed heights underscores a desire for practical functionality, making the argument for a return to more accessible truck designs. The convenience will appeal to the consumer looking for work trucks. The modern market has focused on looks, but low height beds are designed for serious work.
