Pickup truck

A pickup is a special kind of truck.

It has a place to sit inside. It also has a back part for carrying things. This back part has three low walls.

In the past, people used them for farm work. Now, many people use them for fun.

Some trucks have four doors for more people. These trucks are very popular in the United States. It is fun to see them drive by!

A pickup truck is a type of vehicle with two main parts.

First, it has an enclosed cabin for people to sit in. Second, it has a cargo bed in the back. This bed has three low walls but no roof.

Some people add a cover to the bed to keep things dry.

In the early days, trucks were mostly for work. Farmers used them to carry heavy loads. In the 1950s, people began buying them for fun.

Today, most owners use them for daily life. They use them to go shopping or for pleasure driving.

Trucks come in different sizes. A regular cab has only one row of seats. An extended cab has extra space behind the front seats. A crew cab, or double cab, has four full doors. This lets five or six people ride inside.

Some trucks are also called "duallies." These have four wheels in the back to carry more weight.

A pickup truck is a special kind of vehicle. It is built for both people and cargo.

The truck has an enclosed cabin where passengers sit. Behind the cabin is a cargo bed. This bed has three low walls but no roof.

Some people add a tailgate or a cover to the bed. In Australia and New Zealand, people call these "utes." In South Africa, they are called "bakkies." These names help describe how the vehicle acts like a container.

How a pickup works depends on its design. Some trucks use a "cab-over" design. This means the cabin sits above the front axle.

This setup allows for a longer cargo bed. Other trucks are built with different cab sizes. A regular cab has one row of seats. An extended cab adds a small space behind the front seats.

A crew cab has four full doors for more people. Some heavy trucks are called "duallies." These have four wheels in the back to carry more weight.

The history of the pickup is very long. In the early 1900s, companies sold only the chassis.

Other companies then added the bodies on top. The Rapid Motor Vehicle Company built one-ton trucks in 1902. In 1913, the Galion Allsteel Body Company put hauling boxes on Ford Model T frames. Dodge introduced a wooden pickup in 1924. Ford released a steel-bodied version in 1925. This truck was called the Ford Model T Runabout with Pickup Body. It was a big success with 34,000 units built.

Many famous names helped shape the truck we see today. General Motors introduced light-duty pickups in 1931. They used the Chevrolet Master as a base. Ford updated its line to the F-Series in 1948. In 1957, the International Travelette brought four-door crew cabs to America.

By the 1990s, pickups were changing. Less than 15 percent of owners used them mainly for work. Today, they are often used for shopping or pleasure. In the United States, the Ford F-150 has been a top seller since 1982.

Pickups connect to many parts of our daily lives. They are not just tools for farmers anymore. In North America, pickups make up about 18 percent of all vehicles sold. They are very important for companies like Ford and General Motors.

Even though they are huge, they are used for errands. Most owners use them for shopping or driving for fun. In Europe, they are much rarer than in America. This is because many European cities have narrow roads. High fuel prices also make them less common there.

A pickup truck is a light or medium-duty vehicle designed for versatility. It features an enclosed cabin for passengers and a rear cargo bed. This bed is defined by three low walls and lacks a roof. Some models include a tailgate or a removable covering to secure items. While often viewed as work tools, they serve many roles today. In Australia and New Zealand, these vehicles are known as utes. In South Africa, they are called bakkies, a term meaning a bowl or container.

The design of a pickup varies based on how it is used. A regular cab provides a single row of seats and one set of doors. Extended cabs add extra space behind the front seats for storage or small jump seats. Chrysler introduced the first American extended cab, the Club Cab, in 1973. Crew cabs, or double cabs, offer more room with four full-sized doors. These can seat five or six people. Some heavy-duty trucks are called "duallies" because they have four wheels on the rear axle. This extra width helps them carry more weight.

Engineers also use different layouts to change the truck's capacity. A cab-over or cab-forward design places the cabin above the front axle. This allows for a longer cargo bed without making the whole vehicle longer. The Volkswagen Transporter used this style in 1952. In North America, different cab sizes have changed the truck's proportions. A 1960s Ford F-100 was mostly bed, with the cab making up only 36 percent of its length. By 2023, an F-150 was mostly cab, with the bed making up only 37 percent.

The history of the pickup began with basic chassis sales. In the early 1900s, manufacturers sold only the frame. Third parties then added custom bodies on top. The Rapid Motor Vehicle Company built one-ton trucks in 1902. In 1913, the Galion Allsteel Body Company added hauling boxes to Ford Model T frames. Dodge introduced a wooden-bodied pickup in 1924. Ford followed in 1925 with a steel-bodied half-ton model. This version featured an adjustable tailgate and heavy-duty rear springs.

Major companies eventually moved toward specialized truck platforms. General Motors introduced light-duty pickups for GMC and Chevrolet in 1931. These were based on the Chevrolet Master. In 1940, GM created the AK series, a dedicated light-truck platform. Dodge also moved from using passenger car frames to dedicated truck frames in 1936. Ford updated its lineup to the F-Series in 1948. The 1950s saw a shift toward comfort and style. New models like the Chevrolet Fleetside and Ford Styleside featured smoother sides and fewer fenders.

Economic factors and laws have shaped the modern market. In 1963, the United States "chicken tax" limited imported light trucks like the Volkswagen Type 2. This helped American manufacturers grow. Later, the 1973 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) policy created different rules for cars and trucks. This led to the rise of minivans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Additionally, the 1978 gas guzzler tax exempted pickup trucks. This encouraged people to buy trucks instead of fuel-inefficient cars.

Today, the pickup truck is largely a lifestyle vehicle. By the 1990s, less than 15 percent of owners used them primarily for work. In the United States, they account for about 18 percent of all vehicle sales. The Ford F-150 has been a top seller since 1982. Recent surveys show that 87 percent of F-150 owners use them for shopping or errands. Only 7 percent use them frequently for towing. These vehicles are highly profitable for companies like Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. They can account for over two-thirds of their global pre-tax earnings.