Pickup trucks are light-duty trucks with a closed cab area and an open cargo area. It also has a low tailgate and sides. Though initially produced with utility in mind, the pickup has slowly wormed its way into popular perception as a family car. It is a versatile vehicle that currently accounts for 18% of the total automobile sales in the country.
Almost all pickups have an automatic transmission with an ultra-low first gear ratio for hauling heavy objects. While the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Chevrolet Colorado are available with a clutch, Ford pickup trucks only have automatic transmission.
Regular trucks come with a single set of doors, one on either side and a single row of seats. Extended or super pickup trucks have extra space behind the main seat, which may include small seats.
In 1957, International Harvester manufactured the first crew cab truck in the country followed by Dodge (1963), Ford (1965), and Chevrolet (1973). The crew cab, also known as the double cab, can seat five or six passengers, and it also has four full-sized doors that are front-hinged. In 1973, Chrysler introduced the first extended truck in the country which was then known as the Club Cab.
Any pickup truck that has four rear wheels (instead of just two) is known as a “dually.” A dually can carry much more weight over the rear axle and is mostly used to carry campers, heavy loads, and to support fifth-wheel trailers.
The primary use of small pickup trucks is for commercial and agricultural uses as well as for passenger transport. Many countries also use them in the military, law enforcement, and fire services.
Following are the best small pickup trucks currently available in the market: