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4 door pickups?

D

dej(Jed)

Well-known Member
What's the point of them. A place to store your junk? Every time I see one on the highway there is only a driver in them, no others.
Is it some sort of a status symbol? I remember when the PA DOT first started using them, they hauled workers in them. Made sense, but it sure doesn't make sense anymore.
 
When its raining I carry my tools, drills, table saw, etc. in the back seat. The seats fold up and it makes a nice storage space to keep things out of the weather on the job.
 
I thought the same until I got one. Mine have the seats up almost all the time. use it like the bed except stuff is secure and out of rain and snow.
Also when you don"t want stuff to role or slide around.

Dog kennel, Miter Box, Compressor, Tackle, Guns,
Food, Parts, Tools, Cloths, Wife"s stuff, Humans.

In the bed- feed, fertilizer, lumber , metal, wheal barrow, lawn mower, snow blower, furniture, deer.

Also they have lots more traction as more weight on rear tires and tow trailers better as often a longer wheal base.
 
most regular cab pu' s are designed for 3 but the majority on the road only has the driver. most families today varies in responsibilities which on many occassions require us to accommodate grandchildren. try picking up 2+ grandkids complete with backpacks, lunch boxes and sports bags and one may quickly see the need.
 
What's your point? Most vehicles only have one person in them.

I have an extended cab pickup for various reasons. Most of the time I drive alone. Sometimes I have up to four passengers. Sometimes I have a toolbox that I want to keep secure.

My next truck will be a 4-door. Why? Because that's all they make now. Nobody wants the extended cab with the "suicide doors" anymore. Most 1/2 ton buyers go for the full crew cab.
 
That's all we have, we live in the boonies, need 4x4 for our drive and roads and need room for the kids. Its more practical to buy a truck we can use for multiple things than a SUV.
 
I have an 03 Dodge 1500 crew cab. I like to think this the pickup Dodge designed for me. I wrote them a three page letter in 2000 about all the things they should incorporate into a pickup and I'll be danged if they didn't adopt all of them.

One of the most useful to me was the fold flat floor behind the front seats. I use this all the time to secure valuable stuff or things I want to get out of the weather here. Since no one makes a 1/2 ton truck with a crew cab AND an 8' bed, this will also be the last truck I buy new.
Larry
 
Your question is worthy of a reply.

I have done a study, took measurments, done calculations, talked to people that use them, I even talked to a politician aboot them.

The answer that I derived from all the studies and surveys is. "It makes getting into the back seat easier"

Same as your auto, or do you drive a car that has only one seat? If you don't have a back seat you won't need the extra doors.
 
I have a suicide door Chevy (08) and couldn't live without it. I wanted the covered heated storage plus a place for passengers in a bind. My neighbor (retired GM) wanted a 4 door with a 6.5' bed last year. Ended up with a Ford because GM didn't make it. 95% of the time, both of our trucks go down the road with 1 or 2 people in them. If you need a truck, why not have it as versatile as possible to serve your needs? Go somewhere where they have carpool lanes, and see how empty they are at rush hour compared to the rest of the freeway.
 
I didn't want one when we first got ours. I had a tuck w/ the small back seat, two small kids, the wife and a couple of dogs. Now the kids are bigger, the truck gets better mileage than the wife's SUV (and seats more people if somebody can straddle the shifter). There are times I'd still rather have the longer box, but most of the time the bigger seats and access come in handy. Wife drove it this morning, and was all by herself on the way to town. Coming home she'll have two kids (one of which is adult sized) and a Christmas tree--something she doesn't want to haul in her SUV.
 
Just bought a 2013 Chevy extended cab with suicide doors. love the convenience, extra coats, shoes, suitcase, groceries, guns, tools, horse tack, secure and dry.

Hay, boards and trash cans in the bed.

Never owned a one seat car in 53 years of driving.
 
We bought one... only paid 8k for it. Great for hauling kids, grandkids and groceries. Will never go back to a two door pickup.

And yep, usually only 1 in ours too - it's my husband's daily driver. But it sure is nice when we want to take someone along with us.
 
like people have said most cars only have one passenger but it sure is nice to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it kinda like extra money lol who has that
 
I drive a big 4WD 4 door pickup because I want to. You've made my day by telling us it bothers you. (;>))
 
I hated the suicide doors on my first one. You could not get out of back seat when parked in lot.
 
where I'm from when there is one person driving a four door pickup their on business, if there is three passengers...there is always a cooler of adult refreshments.
 
It's something that Congress dephinitely needs to look into; there oughta be a law.........agin it. I'd volunteer to write my congress-critter, 'cepting he's got enough trouble with his chieph of staphph dealing with the postal swat teams.
 
Well because that is what I want. In fact in the last 20 years that is all I have had. Will have another new one here before the end of the year.
Where else would I carry my coveralls.
 
Have one. 2 big dogs, (1 is 200 lbs) wife and grandson that go on vacation 6 weeks a year. One of those weeks is between Christmas and New Year. Kinda cold for the dogs in the back. Use it to haul firewood, motorcycle and pull 2 boats. Last use was to pick up box blade. Yep 200 miles by myself.
 
(quoted from post at 07:20:00 12/13/13) What's the point of them. A place to store your junk? Every time I see one on the highway there is only a driver in them, no others.
Is it some sort of a status symbol? I remember when the PA DOT first started using them, they hauled workers in them. Made sense, but it sure doesn't make sense anymore.
Click to expand...

A passenger car is difficult for me to get into, and out of, plus they are built so flimsy anymore that they won't hold up out on these country roads. SUVs are nothing more that glorified passenger cars, often built on the same chassis, and are extremely over-priced considering what they are.

A 1/2 ton, 4 door pick-up truck is built tough, will stand up to country roads, is easy to get in and out of, will give the driver excellent visibility, has room to bring home the groceries and haul the grandkids, won't cost any more than a well equipped SUV, and will get just as good MPGs.

Considering ALL of the pluses, why would anyone NOT own and drive a 4 door truck?
 
Given the cost of a new vehicle doesn't it make sense to pay a little extra so it can haul more than 2-3 people?

My extended cab hauls 6 people (with 4 kids its perfect), my "family car" can only haul 5 (legally). To haul 6 people in a car anymore you have to buy a SUV with a 3rd row seat or a minivan.
 
I have one, because it was only 1300$ and had a long box on the back and a 4wd axle up front. Its turned out to be good because you can't have infant seats in the front seat of a truck here due to airbags so I could take my son with me.

Newer trucks do have switches to disable the airbag but mines a 2001.
 
(quoted from post at 07:20:00 12/13/13) What's the point of them. A place to store your junk? Every time I see one on the highway there is only a driver in them, no others.
Is it some sort of a status symbol? I remember when the PA DOT first started using them, they hauled workers in them. Made sense, but it sure doesn't make sense anymore.
Click to expand...
I've only bought extended cabs since I bought an S15 new in 1985. Nothing like a little more (secure) storage...and with my Dodge duallie, it serves as a bed when I'm on the road and only need a couple hours of sleep.
 
Don't know when the four door truck was first offered, but I remember in the 1960's, occasionally seeing 4 door International and Dodge trucks and they sold only a few.
Funny how people/times change--Today I don't see many regular 2 door trucks.
Nearly every truck I see is an extended cab or a four door truck.
 
I drove regular cab pickups for years. Said I wouldn't have a crew-cab untill I had a family to haul around. But running a construction business, I always ended up with a bunch of "stuff" in my truck. Found a good crewcab. Still rarely hauled people in the back seat, so eventually I just took the seat out, built a level plywood platform in back with a compartment underneath for guns, or whatever else may not be needed often. Throw a big towel over it so the dog has someplace to ride and a place to keep stuff outta the weather.
I could see maybe havin a regular cab as a farm truck. Otherwise I'll always have a 4 door.

I'll admit it agrivates me no-end when I see a caravan of five or six Forest Circus-er I mean Service- rigs go by my place with only one or two lackies in a 4 door. When you know good and well they're all going to the same place. Grrrrr...


Ben
 
For that matter, usually only one person in a car, but most all have a back seat. By your logic, everyone should be driving a Corvette or sports car. Problematic when you're taking Granny to the doctor. . .

Mrs. (WA) drives the pickups a lot more than I do, on her horse adventures. Very handy for extra horse stuff, and the ever-present dog. And a must for when she hauls the grandkids around. Just because you only see one person in a pickup a lot of the time, doesn't mean that the whole outfit isn't put to use sometimes. And when you need it, that single-seater just ain't gonna cut it.
 
ded(jed), Having owned Regular cabs for a big part of my life, Then owning a 86 supercab (2door)
The 4 door truck has made it possible to haul family, groceries, or a ball team, And pull a 30 ft Gooseneck with a 15000 lb tractoron it at the same time.
Why Not Own One?
+++This Still America, I can afford it, and didn't ask anybody else to help pay for it!
Oh Yes the F350 Crew cab, 4x4, 7.3Dsl, Still Rule!!
We still call it Gods Truck in Texas!
Later,
John A.
 
Wouldn"t have anything else. Provides and clean safe, dry lockable space for passengers, pets, tools, firearms , groceries , materials etc.
 
Friend has GM 6.6 diesel, 4dr, service body. Gets about 23 mpg. That gives him more carrying capacity, more seating space, and more towability than my S10 extended cab and it gets 23-24 mpg.
I'm all for it.
 
(quoted from post at 07:20:00 12/13/13) What's the point of them. A place to store your junk? Every time I see one on the highway there is only a driver in them, no others.
Is it some sort of a status symbol? I remember when the PA DOT first started using them, they hauled workers in them. Made sense, but it sure doesn't make sense anymore.
Click to expand...

I have a Ford PS 4 door. Just thought I would ask. I bought mine for towing and because the price was very good. Thanks for the comments. Hope I din't rock the boat too much.
 
Around here they come in handy for trying to intimidate auto drivers by seeing how close they can tailgate. Also I have never seen one stopped by the cops no matter the speed. TDF
 
90% of them are on the road because their owners want one and can afford to drive them.

10% of them are on the road because their owners use them to their full potential daily.
 
Those are a do everything vechicle.

Mandatory insurance sort of slowed down people owning extra cars for running around and winter beaters.
Not to mention cash for clunkers took many winter beaters to the scrap heap.
I remember back when I was a kid we could load a regular cab pickup full to the brimm !!! smaller ones sat on your lap.
No seat belt or air bag laws to worry about !!!!

Now also in my area there are alot of Amish work crews being hauled around in these large trucks everyday. Many of them look like they could use an even larger truck.
 
Probably has something to do with free market. A product is offered for sale and purchased. Simple as that.
 
1st car was a 53 Chevy last car was a 63 mercury. Have had trucks ever since, both two door and four door. As others have said, you can't beat the four door for convenience .
 
That's going to be my next truck.The extended cabs don't have enough extra room for coats or passengers.A lot of family's and horse people buy them instead of cars.They hold there value a lot better than a car and you can actually haul something.A lot safer on the road than a car and
insurance is cheaper.
 
I'm pretty sure the International Travelette crew cab--which started out in the late 1950's--was the first crew cab to be built "in-house" in any quantities. Early '50's International Crews were built by Orrville, a subcontractor. Ford crews were built by subcontractors...in Louisville, the subcontractor was Crown. Ford took crew cabs in-house in 1998 for the HD pickups Not sure when GM started building crews in-house, but it's been relatively recently.

The Ford SportTrack...a crew cab with a short bed. Original? No. You could get an International Travelette with a short bed and 4-wheel drive from about 1961 on; IH built many of them for the military [most I've seen were either Navy or USAF].
 
Makes about as much sense as 4WD pickups in Phoenix. Probably less than 10% or them ever get driven into snow country and probably less than that ever go out in the desert and use 4WD.
 
(quoted from post at 23:32:23 12/13/13) Makes about as much sense as 4WD pickups in Phoenix. Probably less than 10% or them ever get driven into snow country and probably less than that ever go out in the desert and use 4WD.
Click to expand...
I used to work with a couple of guys that would brag about never having hauled anything in the bed of their truck???
 
They're great can haul the same passengers as a car and haul the same load as a regular pickup.Plus the long wheel base makes it ride good.What's not to like?
As far as not using it to its fullest extent all the time I suspect you have some other thing(s) you don't use too often but when you do you use it/them you think they are worth having.(LOL)One of the things that comes to mind is a spare room for guests.
 
One guy I worked with at a GM dealership once said, "Four wheel drive is exactly like whiskey: it'll make you think you can do things you can't."
 
I agree, Fred. Most folks buy what they want, whether it's something they need or not. That's not a bad thing; that's just human nature. [Does anybody really "need" a Mercedes? Probably VERY few actually NEED one. But having the choice is what separates us from the old Soviet Union.]
 
Do you see any regular cabs or extended cabs on dealers lots? NO Kinda like 4wh drive tractors.Ever see any 2 wheel drives on the dealers lots, very few.If you want an extended cab,yes, they can order you one.Want a two wheel drive tractor,yes, they can order you one.
 
People that buy these kinds of junk have ruined the truck market. Companys have cheapened out the trucks, because to many people buy a loaded pickup with leather, tannou cover 4 doors ect to go by grocerys with. I think people forgot how to use a truck for work. A 70s half ton was heavey than today's 2500 hd, ect. For me a truck is made for work, and that's all my trucks do is work. If I wanted luxury I'd get a Benz or such.
 
'Cause you can carry people AND stuff or even tow (try that with a today kind of car!) Used to be for construction and road crews, My dad bought an F-350 crew cab in 1972 ($4,800) or about 90% of what a teamster would make in a year at that time. Remember when he was truck shopping Dodge claimed they were the only one building them in-house, he looked at Dodge, Ford, Chevy and IHC, IHC was a tad more expensive and only came with a 6' box (but had a 5 speed transmission). The Dodge within $500, the Chevy about $1,600 more but it was converted by a third party, the back doors would be the same as the front, vent windows and all. He bought the Ford, it was made in Canada at a Ford Plant. Also remember you used to be able to haul kids in the back of a truck, don't know if I'd try that now. I'm running a 01 F-150 super cab with an 8' box, bought it new and I wanted a truck with an 8' box and a back seat to haul the kids, would of bought a crew cab but it wasn't available on a 1/2 ton and didn't want to pony up the money (or gas) for a 3/4 ton super duty. Yes probably 80% of the miles on my pickup where sole occupant (driver only) but 60-70% of our car use in the last 5-10 years is sole occupant and almost the same for our mini-van.
 
File that one in dumb question basket.Lots of pickups around here.My truck has 3 seat belts.More than one kid you have a problem.My truck doesnt get used much now but most around here get worked hard.I need an 8 foot bed to haul 16 foot lumber.At times I haul hay, firewood fertilizer.Sometimes I just go fishing with my dog sitting on the front seat with his nose against the windshield.I need a 15 foot sliding door track,wont fit in my wifes car.A single seat truck is hard to find now.Drive by the new truck dealers and tell us what you see.
 

Hard to haul a camper/trailer etc and take the entire family in one vehicle if you have a reg cab.

Capability and flexibility. Can use for work and play and not break a sweat.
 
(quoted from post at 07:20:00 12/13/13) What's the point of them. A place to store your junk? Every time I see one on the highway there is only a driver in them, no others.
Is it some sort of a status symbol? I remember when the PA DOT first started using them, they hauled workers in them. Made sense, but it sure doesn't make sense anymore.
Click to expand...

Why do people have tattoos? Why do people watch football or NASCAR? Why do people in town on a lot own a tractor? It's called FREEDOM. Beyond that, some of us here are actually farmers or people that work and have families too. A 4 dr makes sense, so does my Suburban. I suppose the gov't could mandate we all drive Smart Cars, would that make you happy?

Why do people ask questions like this? Makes no sense! People used to have common sense, but not anymore.
 
Another thing I noticed in a cab larger than one seat is the sun shining through the rear window. Used to come home from work to the East. West setting sun came right through the window and in the summer was not enjoyed so I had to put up with it or put some kind of redneck flag over it.

With some sort of cab extension, you not only have a place to put all the junk that you otherwise would put in the passenger's side, you also have a means to keep the sun off your neck.

Took awhile for me to get used to seeing something in a P/U other than a single seat cab, but I got used to it and now, for me, it's the norm.

Other thing I like is that OEMs found out that everyone doesn't like to keep it simple just because it's a truck. I like the amenities available on trucks now-a-days.

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