Chassis Question

[Johnielse]

just curious if anyone can explain why American trucks have massively long chassis'?

 

Better ride quality? Easier to back? Harder to find a park?

 

What's the reason behind it?

[DJMar]

Because you can't put a 4 door cab and 6 foot bed on anything less than a 19 foot frame.

On a more serious note, if you want to go down a rabbit hole, read up on US CAFE standards and what happened with them in 2011.

[Carmak]

DJ is spot on with the CAFE standards change. It allows more fuel consumption for larger vehicles. 

Additionally, Americans tend to buy trucks buy the foot, a longer truck can command a higher price because of the perception that you are getting "more" truck.

Lastly, except in a few of the large cities America has lots of space, so a long truck is not really difficult to use. I live in a rural area in the central part of the US (Iowa), and I have a truck that is 6.5 meters long that I use to pull an enclosed car trailer that is 8.5 meters long. I have traveled to many parts of Europe and Asia and my truck would be ridiculous in many of those places but where I live it is considered normal. Please understand I only drive my truck to move loads, I daily drive a minivan  .

[Ace-Garageguy]

Another thing to remember...the majority of new, huge, high-dollar pickup trucks in the US, particularly in urban areas, are rarely if ever actually used as "trucks", but rather are displays as status-symbols ($80-$100,000 in some cases) or "lifestyle/fashion statements".

As such, bigger is obviously better.

 

Edited Tuesday at 03:10 PM by Ace-Garageguy

[iamsuperdan]

Are you asking about pickups or big rigs?

 

With big rigs, the cabover design  was popular when there were length restrictions on trucks. Shorter cab meant you could have a longer trailer, thus carry more load. 

When the length restrictions disappeared, there was no longer any need to have short cabs. 

And of course, this lead inevitably to Bill's peacock analogy above.

 

[Tim W. SoCal]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Another thing to remember...the majority of new, huge, high-dollar pickup trucks in the US, particularly in urban areas, are rarely if ever actually used as "trucks", but rather are displays as status-symbols ($80,000 in some cases) or "lifestyle/fashion statements".

  It used to break my heart, yet crack me up when I was running the Service Department at a Powersports Dealer... These guys go out and spend $60K-80K on a new top-of-the-line pickup truck, then spend another $12K-20K for a 8"-12" lift, big, wide off road tires, Flowmaster mufflers, etc. They would also buy a new dirt bike at the same time. Now these guys weren't the most mechanically astute, so when they needed to replace their dirt bike tires (at the dealer because they wouldn't get their hands dirty) they would pull the wheels from the bike and, since they couldn't remember where the wheel spacers went, they would put the spacers on the axles and install the axles into the hubs. Now, with their super spiffy high-lifted trucks, they could not reach over the bed sides or even access the back of the bed with the tail gate down without using a ladder, so they threw their wheels onto the floor between the front and rear seats. As they traveled, the wheels would roll across the truck from side to side, causing the exposed axles to deeply scratch and scar the leather upholstery on the front of the rear seat and the backs of the front seats. Yep, tear up the interior of your truck, all for the illusion of being "cool"...

[espo]

20 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Another thing to remember...the majority of new, huge, high-dollar pickup trucks in the US, particularly in urban areas, are rarely if ever actually used as "trucks", but rather are displays as status-symbols ($80-$100,000 in some cases) or "lifestyle/fashion statements".

As such, bigger is obviously better.

 

So very true. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

On 9/8/2025 at 3:46 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Another thing to remember...the majority of new, huge, high-dollar pickup trucks in the US, particularly in urban areas, are rarely if ever actually used as "trucks", but rather are displays as status-symbols ($80-$100,000 in some cases) or "lifestyle/fashion statements".

As such, bigger is obviously better.

 

Some might find that humorous, but it’s absolute truth!

Gone are the days when pickups were designed to be “work vehicles”.

Now they’re mostly basically open back luxury station wagons, and most “working people” can’t afford them.

 

 

Steve

Edited Tuesday at 09:36 PM by StevenGuthmiller

[1972coronet]

On 9/8/2025 at 1:46 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Another thing to remember...the majority of new, huge, high-dollar pickup trucks in the US, particularly in urban areas, are rarely if ever actually used as "trucks", but rather are displays as status-symbols ($80-$100,000 in some cases) or "lifestyle/fashion statements".

As such, bigger is obviously better.

 

Now that's just ostentatious ! 

[Rodent]

4 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Now that's just ostentatious ! 

They are loud and obnoxious as well. There must be a RAM badge there somewhere....

[Beans]

14 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Some might find that humorous, but it’s absolute truth!

Gone are the days when pickups were designed to be “work vehicles”.

Now they’re mostly basically open back luxury station wagons, and most “working people” can’t afford them.

 

 

Steve

When the standard for cab construction went from two to four doors I knew it was the downfall of the pickup truck.  5 people should not fit comfortably in any pickup!

[NOBLNG]

1 hour ago, Beans said:

When the standard for cab construction went from two to four doors I knew it was the downfall of the pickup truck.  5 people should not fit comfortably in any pickup!

Pre-Ram days.😁

Edit: How about six…we don’t need no stinkin’ center consol.😜

Edited Wednesday at 01:16 PM by NOBLNG

[Beans]

11 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Pre-Ram days.😁

Blasphemy!! 😆 

[Ace-Garageguy]

57 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Pre-Ram days.😁

Yeah, but that was built to carry a dirty smelly work crew to and from a jobsite, probably with heavy vinyl upholstery and rubber mats so you could hose it out once a week.

And today, built to carry a crew of middle managers to and from the wilds of shopping malls and frou frou restaurants:

Edited Wednesday at 01:21 PM by Ace-Garageguy
punctiliousness

[Rob Hall]

36 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Yeah, but that was built to carry a dirty smelly work crew to and from a jobsite, probably with heavy vinyl upholstery and rubber mats so you could hose it out once a week.

And today, built to carry a crew of middle managers to and from the wilds of shopping malls and frou frou restaurants:

 

That is funny...last time I rode in a crew cab pickup it was with a group of engineers from my company at the Plano HQ, we were going out after meetings in search of BBQ and Buc-ees.  It was a nice Ram Laramie Longhorn w/ a leather interior and all the goodies. 

[NOBLNG]

International Harvester started it all, although this is technically farm equipment.🤣🤣🤣

Edited Wednesday at 03:50 PM by NOBLNG

[DJMar]

4 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Yeah, but that was built to carry a dirty smelly work crew to and from a jobsite, probably with heavy vinyl upholstery and rubber mats so you could hose it out once a week.

USFS used trucks like this to move fire, trail and maintenance crews with all their gear, up and down FS roads (or no roads). Vinyl bench seats front and rear, rubber mats, and sometimes a manual transmission.

It's true that sometimes they didn't smell the best, but then again, they weren't meant to swaddle you in creature comforts. And you never saw them taking up 2+ spots in the grocery store parking lot.

 

[rattle can man]

I shall hold onto my $1000 dollar no-frills work truck forever. And the I6 engine will last forever. No gee-gaws to fail. Sure AC would be nice, but it's not necessary.

[StevenGuthmiller]

On 9/10/2025 at 8:20 AM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Yeah, but that was built to carry a dirty smelly work crew to and from a jobsite, probably with heavy vinyl upholstery and rubber mats so you could hose it out once a week.

And today, built to carry a crew of middle managers to and from the wilds of shopping malls and frou frou restaurants:

And the only thing they’re carrying in the back is a new Vari-Desk for the office or a couple of house plants from the farmer’s market.

 

 

 

Steve

[thatz4u]

this crew cab sleeps 6

[webestang]

Curious what Google AI would say........

 

American pickup trucks have massively long chassis due to a combination of federal regulations, consumer demand for comfort and space, greater payload and towing requirements, and strategic marketing by automakers. 

 

Government regulations

• Fuel economy loopholes: Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards created separate, less stringent fuel efficiency targets for "light trucks" based on their footprint (the area enclosed by the wheels). Automakers found it easier and more profitable to increase the size of their trucks to meet the looser requirements than to make their engines more efficient.
• Reduced competition: The "Chicken Tax," a 25% tariff on imported light trucks dating back to the 1960s, stifled foreign competition and allowed U.S. manufacturers to dominate the market with their larger, more profitable domestic models. 

 

Consumer demand

• Luxury and comfort: The market has shifted from viewing pickups as purely utilitarian work vehicles to "lifestyle" vehicles that double as family transportation. This means larger crew cabs with more legroom and passenger space, and luxury features once reserved for high-end sedans.
• Status and safety perception: A "bigger is better" mindset among many consumers associates size with power and safety. While large trucks are more dangerous to other road users, their size and higher seating position can give occupants a greater perceived sense of security.
• Towing and cargo: Many Americans own boats, campers, and recreational trailers that require significant towing capacity, which is enhanced by a longer wheelbase. Extended chassis also allow for longer beds and greater cargo volume. 

 

Engineering advantages

• Ride and stability: A longer wheelbase provides a smoother, more comfortable ride because it absorbs bumps and road imperfections more effectively. This added stability is crucial when towing heavy trailers, as it helps prevent swaying or "fishtailing".
• Towing capacity: The longer frame of a stretched truck allows for better weight distribution, especially for heavy loads. This reduces stress on individual axles and suspension components. For those with a fifth-wheel trailer, a longer bed configuration provides the necessary clearance to avoid needing a bulky sliding hitch.
• Serviceability and safety: Longer, conventional (long-nose) trucks are generally easier to service because the engine is more accessible. The engine compartment also acts as a crumple zone in a head-on collision, absorbing more impact and protecting the driver. 

 

Marketing influence

• Automakers aggressively advertise larger trucks, spending massively increased budgets to appeal to consumer desires for size, comfort, and capability. This marketing has helped normalize the size increase and maintain a profitable market segment. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 hours ago, webestang said:

Curious what Google AI would say........

 

Very interesting, and the typical curated response from that source, carefully non-judgmental and never ever negative to anyone who could possibly be a source of advertising bucks, and always certain to rebleat the PC dogma-du-jour if there's any way to work it in.

Far as "ride" goes, I haven't found any late model trucks that ride significantly better than my '92 Silverado extended cab, which is in large part due to the massive amount of unsprung weight more recent trucks have with their unnecessarily heavy/tall wheel/tire combinations.

Late model pickup frames are more rigid, which makes tuning harshness out easier, but I'd just about bet anything that if I boxed my Silverado frame rails, I could tune the suspension to ride noticeably better than the new stuff.

For that matter, everyone who rides in my '89 GMC single-cab longbed fleet stripper seems to be flabbergasted as how nicely it rides, apparently having been convinced that older pickups ride like buckboards.

And the "servicability" line is just ludicrous. Find me anything easier to work on than a smallblock Chevy in a huge engine bay...other than an inline six in the same engine bay.

Little Googli hasn't heard of having to lift the cabs of a lot of the late-model garbage to get access to relatively simple stuff, apparently.

I won't even get started on late-model engine and trans failures and recalls and grossly unnecessary overcomplication, rust issues, poor long term reparability, etc.

 

[sfhess]

4 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And the "servicability" line is just ludicrous. Find me anything easier to work on than a smallblock Chevy in a huge engine bay...other than an inline six in the same engine bay.

 

From my observation, the engines in most late-model pickups are shoved so far back in the engine bay, in a recess in the firewall, that they are almost impossible to work on.  I bet my Outback engine is easier to work on, and it's pretty tight due to its configuration.

[Bills72sj]

I have never owned a truck. Never really needed one even as a homeowner, a utility trailer was enough for the occasional Dump Run. My vintage Grand Prix has plenty of room in the engine bay. I have even changed camshafts with the engine installed without even having to unbolt the A/C condenser. In fact, once the fan, radiator and shroud are out, you can climb in the engine bay and stand on the ground and work on the engine (or sit down on the front sway bar).

[StevenGuthmiller]

27 minutes ago, Bills72sj said:

I have never owned a truck. Never really needed one even as a homeowner, a utility trailer was enough for the occasional Dump Run. My vintage Grand Prix has plenty of room in the engine bay. I have even changed camshafts with the engine installed without even having to unbolt the A/C condenser. In fact, once the fan, radiator and shroud are out, you can climb in the engine bay and stand on the ground and work on the engine (or sit down on the front sway bar).

That’s certainly true, but the ‘69 through ‘72 Grand Prix is a bit of an anomaly and the ‘69 and ‘70 have the distinction of having the longest hood ever produced on a production vehicle.

I haven’t taken measurements, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was somewhere in the neighborhood of close to 2 1/2 to 3 feet of space between the radiator and the front of the engine block in my ‘69!

 

 

Steve