Pickup car body type: description, popular models and estimated cost

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

During the long history of automobiles, a large number of body types have been developed. On the one hand, this is just a design parameter. On the other hand, it significantly affects the technical characteristics of the machine, as it determines its size and covers many other important functional points. Cars in the back of a pickup truck are somewhat inferior in popularity to sedans, hatchbacks and station wagons, because they are designed to carry goods, not passengers. But even such machines have their own consumer. Moreover, today there are quite a lot of people who want to buy a small truck that would be suitable for city roads.

Description of pickup trucks, origin of the name

The name comes from the English pick-up, which translates as "raise, open, lift." Structurally, a pickup truck is a combination of a passenger car andsmall truck. It is distinguished from other types of bodies by an open luggage compartment and hard sides. The cabin is isolated from the cargo area and, as a rule, is quite comfortable to accommodate the driver and passengers. A pickup truck can have one or two rows of seats, respectively, two or four doors.

With the advent of automobiles, the question of creating a car that could carry goods almost immediately arose. Therefore, a pickup truck is rightfully considered one of the oldest body types. For a long time, such cars were popular only in North America and Europe, and then began to spread around the world. First of all, these machines were purchased by farmers and entrepreneurs.

The first manufacturers of pickup trucks were such well-known brands as Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge. The earliest models include the 1919 Ford T and the 1930 Ford 46.

Initially, pickup trucks were exclusively a means of transporting cargo, and therefore they practically did not pay attention to the comfort of the cabin. Over time, when the purchase of such cars was carried out in order to demonstrate their lifestyle, manufacturers began to work out every detail in the interior of the cabin.

Characteristics, varieties and features of pickups

Modern pickups have significant differences from the models of the late XX century - they are much more comfortable, more convenient, more powerful and visually more attractive. It is impossible not to notice the changes regarding the body structure. There are two types of pickup trucks:

1. Body type equipped with an extended luggage compartment andhaving two doors - Single Cab.
2. Body type equipped with a small luggage compartment and having four doors - Double Cab.

Accordingly, the first option assumes the presence of one row of seats, and the second - two. There are also car models in which there are two-row seats, but there are not 4 doors, but 2.

Pickups are divided by carrying capacity. There are only 3 such groups:

1. Low capacity (up to 0.5 tons).
2. Medium payload (up to 1 ton).
3. Heavy trucks (more than 1 ton).

Pickups from each group have their own technical characteristics and the arrangement of "insides". These machines are designed in such a way that they can carry goods without compromising internal systems. Instead of standard springs, powerful springs are installed in the rear of the suspension of pickup trucks. The luggage compartment is closed with a special lid or material made of dense fabric, which excludes the negative impact of the environment on the cargo. And of course, such machines have an increased level of cross-country ability.

Who are these cars best suited for?

Pickups are best suited for people who regularly need to transport various goods, be it food, household chemicals, appliances, sports equipment and much more. Therefore, such cars will be great helpers for small businesses, as well as for people who lead an active lifestyle and often travel outside the city.

Car brands producing pickups

Today, pickups are present in the lineups of many automakers. The most popular options in Russia and abroad are:

• Chevrolet Avalanche;
• Nissan Titan;
• Honda Ridgeline;
• Nissan Frontier;
• Toyota Tundra;
• Toyota Tacoma;
• GMC Sierra;
• Dodge Ram;
• Chevrolet Silverado;
• Ford F-Series.

It is impossible not to mention domestic manufacturers. For example, the well-known AvtoVAZ has been producing UAZ (pickup) vehicles since 2007. These machines were designed on the basis of the UAZ "Patriot". Also in the model range of the domestic manufacturer there is a VAZ-2329. He, in turn, was designed on the basis of an elongated version of the Niva - VAZ-2129. These 2 models are also considered popular and even in demand in their circles, and they are purchased not only by Russians, but also by foreigners. And LADA 4x4 Pickup today is often purchased by government agencies and commercial enterprises, from security agencies to medical institutions.

Price for pickups

It is difficult to talk about the average cost of pickups, since all cars are different in technical and design terms. And therefore the price is significantly different. On average, foreign-made cars produced in 2015 will cost 30-40 thousand US dollars. But there are cheaper options. For example, a 2012 Mitsubishi L200 will cost 821,000 rubles, a 2009 Nissan Navara will cost about 728,000 rubles, and a 2014 SsangYong Actyon Sports will cost 833,000 rubles. Atthis updated "UAZ Pickup" costs from 979,000 to 1,105,000 rubles.