New Truck (ext cab or Crew Cab?)

I'm looking at maybe getting a new Silverado truck (07) since I never owned a truck before I'm trying to find out what is better.. We have no kids so it will be mostly my wife and I in the truck most of the time.. plus we have other car if we need to take 4 people...

I'm looking at these to models

Ext Cab short bed LTZ or

Crew Cab short bed LTZ (10" long)

there is about $3700 diffecnce too... (crew cab more)

Mike,

This debate has gone all around and you will find answers ranging all over. There are a few major aspects to consider though.
If you think you will be using the EXT for more than just coats and shopping spoils... then its not worth it. You have to open the front doors to access the rears EVERY time... doesn't seem bad but if you plan on using it, it becomes very annoying very quick. In addition if you close the doors in the wrong order you'll have some nice shiners top and bottom. Because your looking into short beds it shouldn't harm you, but the extended cabs don't have great vision for side views. Crew cabs on the other hand have excellent viewing and windows you can control via the front door. The larger cab also makes it more valuable for re-sale or trade. Its nicer having seperate doors and there is more storage for the days you go back home with a new grill or tv. The windows in the back are also nice on hot days for better ventilation. Hope that helps you out...


-- Rick

x cab. 

Crew

Everything Rick said is true. I have had 3 ext cabs before i got my crewcab and there is no way i'll go back to anything smaller.

One more thing, the seats fold flat for alot of usable storeage and, with the seats up you can still put small items behind the rear seats(like a standard cab truck).

The crew cab has a shorter bed than the extended cab.  If you need the space in the bed, then go with the extended cab.  If interior space is more useful, then get the crew cab.

quote:

ORIGINAL: lost_in_alabama

The crew cab has a shorter bed than the extended cab.  If you need the space in the bed, then go with the extended cab.  If interior space is more useful, then get the crew cab.

What???
you can get a shorter(than 6') bed but most crews have a standard 6' bed. If you go with a 2500 you can get the full 8' bed if you want.

I like my extended cab because it keeps the overall length of the truck shorter than the crew cab, which makes a huge difference when turning or parking. I also like it because the rear doors open backwards which means you have open access to the whole inside of the truck from one location, you don't have to walk around the back door to gain access to the rear seat.  We have dogs and this makes it easier to load and unload them.  You get more room in the back seat with a crew cab, but that room is taken from the bed and our back seat is still bigger and has more leg room than any car I have ever been in.  

I have had several XCabs... I now have an 04 Crew..... I hate the bed, love the cab.  A tool box takes up half the bed.  I will make sure my next crew has the longer bed.  I love the crew, normal doors help so much.

Just got an 04 crew cab. Looked at the ext cabs and just didn't like the room in the back.

I've got a family of 4, used to drive an SUV, and just need the comfort and room that 4 doors offer.

The bed is short, 5'8", but I think it'll be just fine since I don't plan on puttin in a toolbox.

It really depends on your needs, I just don't like the shortend backseat.

Hey have you decided yet? extended cab gets better gas mileage. ( I had an 04 LT and love it) but If you ever need passengers the crew is the way to go. Plenty of room for large ext cab. I jus bought an 07 crew LTZ and we are LOVING IT. on the road I got 19 miles to the gallon.

I have no kids unless you count my black lab. I have an 07 LT 2 extended cab and it is plenty for me. $3700 is $3700 if you want to spend it then go for it. By the way the new Silverado extended cab rear windows roll down  if that is a consideration.

I think that is up to what you like the looks of best.  Both can carry 5 in comfort.  I like the looks of the extended better, but that is just my preference.  I don't find it annoying to open the rear door to let our Husky in the back.  Probably easier then having to open the back door of a crew cab.  Also as mentioned before the rear windows roll clear down on the extended cab now.

As everyone has said it is all your opinion and needs.  But I will throw my 2 cent in.  I have had several regualar cabs and now have a 96 ext cab.  I do like the cab don't like the short box.  I am going to find if I can an 03 3/4 ton crew cab and full size box.  I say that cause I like the bed space with a tool box (you lose a lot) and it is nice to have the room in the cab.  If your not going to be in the back a lot an ext isn't bad, but if you have anyone riding in the back or if you put a lot of stuff on the back seat a crew cab is the way to go.

I agree it of course should be what you like. I just purchased a 07 1500 crew and I love it. I have had several x-cabs and I liked them also. I will on occasion have 4 adults to ride in the truck now so that was what helped me to decide on the crew. For me the bed doesn`t matter as I have several trailers if I need more hauling capacity.

more room is alway better, but remember if this is your first truck, trucks have longer wheel bases than your typical car, and the longer the wheel base the harder to park and manuver that sucker in a parking lot or tight spot, although a long wheel base will ride smoother and oh yeah be heavyer and possably use more fuel. I have owned both over the years, and now its just me the wife and 10yr old grandson and some of his buddies occationally, I bought a extended cab silverado with the 5'8" bed ( who needs to carry a sheet of plywood? and how often?) the back doors must be opened after the front but will swing all the way open and back windows go all the way down, doesnt cause any damage if you shut the front door before closeing the back either, just a bruised ego! My x cab silverado is plenty big for 4 adults as long as you arnt going on a major road trip! good luck

If you plan on hauling a fifth wheel the short bed will decrease your clearance at the rear cab corners on the crew cab model.  If you are a outdoors person who will use the ride as a TRUCK, the just make sure you have enough bed space.  If you just need the occasional hauling of mulch/shrubs then the bed makes no difference.

I have been pondering this question for weeks now (I'm looking to buy a truck). I like the idea of having some room (extended cab) for power tools, cables, groceries, coats, junk, etc. But trying to put grown people back there is absurd. Seats 5 my foot! Kids maybe. I don't like the idea of having people behind me with no way out in the event of a fire and/or wreck. If I get killed in a wreck the people behind me would have to climb all over my dead body to get out the front doors and I fill up a lot of space. I do service work and I find it hard enough to find enough space in front of a customer's house to park a short-bed 1/2 ton pick up. If I even go to a standard long-bed that would often be too long, but an extended-cab pickup at 20' 5" long is out of the question and a crew cab with 8' bed would be like parking a bus. I need an 8' bed but I don't need the extended cab that badly. Now for a personal "family" truck I would go with a short-bed crew cab 4-doors.
 
-1bigsteve

I recently purchases an Ext LTZ and think its great for me. If you don't use it as a taxi and drive ppl around then its no problem, but if you constantly have more than 2 people in your truck it may get annoying. However you can control the windows in the back from the front(somebody said you can't)  The bigger bed size is great for me as my bed is almost always full(with a Tonneau cover)   For the part of 5 adults not fitting confortably; is true. 4 fit great but the 5th in the middle may be out of line.

I have an Crew Cab. It has lots of room., but has a shorter bed. I don't work out of it so i rarely use the bed. I also have two boys, so it has plenty of room.

crew with a long bed would be my choice.  The truck is already huge, so a little longer to get a full size bed is no big deal IMO.

I think trucks that have four full size doors look more like crucks, than trucks. The extended cab in my opinion has a more sporty look to it, and looks, well more like a truck.

I have a crew with the short bed. My family of 6 (wife, 11,9,8, and 2 year old) fit comfortably on 3-4 hour trips. The bed is near useless. I put a bed cover on, but wish I would have spent the money on a topper. I use mine for farm type work, so I need a good bed.

Wish I had the medium size bed. It would have been perfect.

I have the 06 Crew Cab and I love it.  There is more leg room in the back than the EXT cab, and the bed on a 1500 Crew is 5.8 feet, which is close to 5 feet and 8 inches.  You can get a Crew 1500 HD which will give you a 6 foot bed, but the truck is longer.  Another point is that the EXT w/6 foot bed is the same length as the CREW w/5.8 foot bed.  Check the dimensions on a website like autos.yahoo.com.
The bed is shorter in the Crew, but it all depends on what you haul.  I have a bench seat in the front and I have carried six people around in it for distances under an hour, five adults and one child in a wide bulky carseat.  Everyone was comfortable.  I love this truck.