10 Long Bed Trucks with the Largest Cargo Boxes

The defining feature of a pickup—even now, when the current crop is more refined than ever—is its cargo box, and Autobytel’s latest list of long bed trucks goes to great lengths to prove that point. These are the entries from each of today’s 10 pickup nameplates with the longest available cargo beds, with some data also provided about how much those boxes can hold. Just note, though, that this will be in cubic feet, not payload, as the latter term refers to all the additional weight carryable by a truck, not just what goes into the bed.

Further, folks also should keep in mind that the longest box sizes are usually paired with the smaller cabs, so there will be a bit of a tradeoff there for going big in the bed department, and there is some overlap between mid- and full-size entries, so the lengthiest of the former actually outstretch the shorter of the latter.

For the 2015 model year, the longest pickup bed in the industry belongs to the truck that also boasts the highest fuel-economy ratings in the industry: the 2015 RAM 1500. In its regular-cab configuration, the Ram offers a bed length of 98.3 inches that, combined with a maximum cargo width of 66.4 inches, delivers 74.7 cubic feet of carrying capacity. And as indicated, that cab can be matched with the brand’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 for EPA grades of up to 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway/24 mpg combined.

Of course, the truck is sold with a standard Pentastar V6 or HEMI V8, too, and, with shorter boxes, it can be set up with crew- and quad-cab body styles. As another key advantage compared to some of the other extended-bed pickups, Ram offers its biggest box with upper-trim models, not just for its entry versions.

Unsurprisingly, the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and its corporate cousin—the GMC Sierra—have the exact same box length listed, at 97.8 inches, but the Bowtie brand truck gets precedence among our big-bed trucks from an alphabetical standpoint. It’s also worth noting that despite being a tad shorter than the longest of the long-bed pickups, the Silverado happens to provide a bit more volume, with 76.3 cubic feet, slightly higher bed walls, and also a nearly 2-inch wider tailgate opening. Additionally, the smaller box sizes for the Silverado are bigger than their counterparts for the Ram, with each providing about 6 percent more volume for the Chevrolet. 

Chevy also shares its extended bed across different models in the Silverado range, highlighted by an LT Z71 truck that showcases an exclusive, off-road friendly upgrade package. In the mix here: gas-charged shock absorbers, a 36-mm stabilizer bar up front, and trail-tailored design cues.

For GM drivers who prefer big-box pickups with the Professional Grade positioning of the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500, its regular-cab lineup includes a bed of up to 97.8 inches in length for the same 76.3 cubic feet of volume as found in the Silverado. And while it must be admitted that GMC does not yet offer a long-bed Denali derivative of the Sierra, it does provide a mid-grade SLE trim with upper-range cargo features like standard LED box lights and an EZ-Lift and Lower tailgate, which relies on an internal torsion bar and dampers to provide a soft, controlled opening/closing experience. On the other hand, it’s also easy to remove—and without tools—for even more cargo-carrying versatility.

Oh, and also standard on that truck is OnStar’s 4G LTE connectivity service and an always-on mobile wi-fi hotspot, backed by a three-month/3-gigabyte trial data plan.

Showing size doesn’t always matter, even among pickups with long cargo boxes, the 2015 Ford F-150 has the shortest longest bed of any domestic full-size pickup but also the most pulling power. When fitted with the available 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine—able to dial up 365 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque—the regular-cab, long-bed F-150 can tow up to 12,200 lbs.

The Blue Oval also boasts some bonus benefits for folks who want to maximize both cabin and cargo-box capacity. That’s because, for the former, the F-150 doesn’t limit long-bed customers to a regular-cab body style; it also can be configured with a two-row, extended-length SuperCab capable of holding five total passengers—albeit without quite the rear legroom of a full-on, four-door crew cab. Meanwhile, out back, the Ford is the only one of the country’s long-bed trucks to offer stowable loading ramps.

The 2015 Toyota Tundra tops out with a 97.6-inch bed length, the same as in the Ford, and further features a double-cab big-box model, just like the Ford. But the Tundra does have some cool advantages, including a minor benefit in box depth that’s complemented by a standard, easy-open, easy-to-remove tailgate and an also standard V8. As a result, the Tundra stands out with the most powerful entry model of the 2015 long-bed trucks, with its 4.6-liter engine serving up 310 hp and 327 lb.-ft. of torque.

Then, with the up-sized 5.7-liter V8, the Toyota offers a higher towing maximum—of 10,500 lbs.—than the most powerful GM long-bed pickups.

For 2015, the longer-bed Tundra also can be ordered with a new underseat storage tray in the SR5 trim, for a nice boost in versatility.

The old-school 2015 Nissan Titan will soon be replaced by an all-new 2016 model, so it’s probably no shock to find it somewhat lacking in some areas—including bed length—as compared to the rest of the full-size extended-box pickups. In fact, the Titan doesn’t offer a traditional big-bed model at all, although its longest setup of 79.1 inches is a mere fraction of an inch longer than the regular beds offered by its direct rivals. However, it does offer a number of notable versatility enhancers, such as the Utili-track cargo-management system.

Nissan has dropped the regular-cab Titan from its roster as well, providing potential purchasers with double- and crew-cab models throughout the range.

For the future, well, the hotly anticipated next-gen Titan should rectify many of the nameplate’s long-bed limitations, while also showcasing a V8 diesel engine from Cummins.

When GM decided to revitalize the mid-size pickup segment with the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado (and GMC Canyon), engineers wanted to provide a traditionally truck-style ownership experience, and that naturally included multiple cab and bed configurations. The longest: a 74-inch box that can be paired with both extended- and crew-cab body styles. It enables nearly 50 feet of bed volume that can be further enhanced by the GearOn cargo-management system.

But even fresh from the factory the Colorado comes with standard features like a CornerStep rear bumper, for easier access to its bed, along with a locking tailgate, two-tier loading capability, bed-rail and tailgate protectors, and 13 tie-down locations, all of which can be further enhanced by the available EZ Lift-and-Lower tailgate.

Colorado customers also should know that this midsize pickup still provides mighty towing power, with a trailering maximum of 7,000 lbs. (when properly equipped).

With the 2015 GMC Canyon sharing the same foundation as the Chevy Colorado, you might think that it offers the same specs when it comes to comparing long-bed pickups. But you’d be wrong. Sure, the Canyon does share the same dimensions as the Colorado, for a longest box length of 74 inches, but because the GMC products wear lighter-weight alloy wheels, engineers were able to bake in an extra 40 lbs. of payload, for a standard maximum of 1,450 lbs., a four-cylinder maximum of 1,490 lbs. (with automatic transmission) and a best-in-segment peak of 1,620 lbs. with its available V6 engine.

Some final things the Canyon and Colorado definitely do share: segment-leading fuel economy of up to 27 mpg highway and a complimentary three-month, 3-gigabyte data trial for its standard mobile wi-fi hotspot, powered by OnStar’s 4G LTE connectivity service.

Despite its previous-gen underpinnings—and the launch of GM’s brand-new mid-size entries—the 2015 Toyota Tacoma remains by far the best selling of the industry’s smaller pickups, and it checks in on our list of long-bed trucks with a maximum box length of 73.5 inches.

Of course, that measure isn’t the biggest news here. What sets the Tacoma apart from newer pickups is that its longest-box model can be configured with a sporty PreRunner package, in a nod to the truck’s off-road prowess, as well as with a unique powertrain that combines a powerful 4.0-liter V6 engine with both all-wheel-drive and a six-speed manual transmission. The next-generation pickups have all but abandoned DIY shifting except in entry-level models. (Note: The Tacoma TRD Pro, a true off-road performer, is available solely with a short-bed/double-cab configuration.)

The 2015 Nissan Frontier follows a similar template to that of the Tacoma, as an old-school mid-size pickup that makes the most of its traditional strengths. But while the Frontier’s longest bed is a few fractions of an inch shorter than that of the Tacoma—at 73.3. inches—Nissan goes all-in here by offering that cargo box on its highest performer, Frontier Pro-4X.

And with that truck, owners enjoy standard go-fast goodies like a 261-hp V6, six-speed manual transmission, Dana 44 rear axles, a two-speed transfer case, Bilstein off-road shocks, four-wheel drive and extensive underbody protection, and that’s all complemented by a surprisingly premium, leather-appointed cabin with standard NissanConnect technology.

Finally, while the Frontier does indeed have the shortest bed-length maximum of any current pickup, it also has the lowest starting price, at just $17,990.