Truck or Pickup?

At the Beach Boulevard of Cars in Huntington Beach, our dealers carry a wide selection of vehicles. When you stop by for a visit, it’s fairly easy for you to figure out whether what you’re looking at is a sedan, SUV, or hatchback.

But what about a truck or a pickup? Many people, including our sales agents, use the terms interchangeably, and often, use the catchall term “pickup truck.” Are there any differences between the two?

Motor Biscuit, a noted automotive authority, classifies all pickups as trucks but not all pickups as trucks.

• Trucks require a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 8,500 lbs., are used primarily in business, and are designed to haul cargo and not people.
• Pickups demand an open bed and can also haul cargo. But they are versatile enough for personal use because they have comfortable interior space and numerous passenger amenities.

Which is Which?

See if you can decide whether each of these models is a pickup or truck.

• 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD. Large and in charge of any job, this heavy hauler handles up to 7,290 lbs. of payload, tow trailers up to 36,000 lbs., and offers infotainment through an available 13.4-inch touchscreen.
• 2023 Ford F-150. Pick from among 8 trims that you can customize to fit your lifestyle. It tows up to 14,000 lbs. and carries up to 6 passengers in 2 rows.
• 2023 Honda Ridgeline. Emphasizing fun with a bed that fits dirt bikes or camping gear, this vehicle pampers with available leather upholstery, a moonroof, and a wireless phone charger.
• 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz. You gain the comfort of an SUV and the carrying capacity of a cargo bed with roof racks that accommodate surfboards and a drainable underfloor compartment that can be packed with ice to hold drinks.
• 2023 Jeep Gladiator. Strip off the roof and the doors, and fold down the front windshield to get closer to nature. The cargo bed holds up to 1,710 lbs. of payload.
• 2023 Nissan Frontier. This adventurer helps you steer through tight trails and around rocks with a camera that reveals multiple view angles on the dashboard screen.
• 2023 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab. This hard worker, which has a GVWR of 10,000 lbs., accepts upfits behind the cab, like service boxes, flat beds, and snow plows, among other accessories.
• 2023 Toyota Tacoma. Toyota Safety Sense™ P guards your trips with safety assists like the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.

Every model listed is a pickup except for the 2023 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab, which has no cargo bed, and has a frame that is tailored to meet the needs of your business.

How to Choose

Whether you’re looking for a truck for your commercial concern or a pickup that you can park at home, come to one of the dealers at the Beach Boulevard of Cars. Our friendly sales consultants will be happy to help you make the right choice for your driving needs.