Pickups have long evolved from being utility trucks to becoming an all-around transport for families. Statistically, more households own this type of vehicle due to its versatility. Which type or model(s) best suits your needs? We have researched which truck is ideal for families and here is what we've found.
In terms of automotive manufacturers' models, the five best pickup trucks include:
- RAM 1500
- Ford F-150
- Chevrolet Silverado
- GMC Sierra 1500
- Toyota Tundra
They each have adequate cab space, safety systems, storage capacity, entertainment amenities, and other features that provide for ideal family transportation.
Choosing a pickup truck for family use has gained popularity since they are versatile, large enough to accommodate five or six people, and capable of assisting the family during road trips and vacations. Read on and find out more about the best trucks that suit your needs!
The Best Trucks For Families
Modern pickups are safer and prove to be more comfortable than older models. Here is a list of the best trucks for family use that might just help you decide if purchasing one is the right choice.
RAM 1500
The RAM 1500 is a family-friendly truck but a close rival of the Ford F-150. However, this vehicle particularly outweighs its competition in certain factors.
Cabin
The truck can host a family of six and has the most luxurious cabin design amongst its peers with the best handling and maneuvering that will give you an overall smooth ride. Other RAM 1500 models obtained a top off-road performance.
You can choose between the Quad Cab and Crew Cab models – the latter features a more spacious interior with expansive rear seats.
Safety Rating And Features
Similar to the Ford F-150, the Ram 1500 has obtained a five over five-star safety rating, which was also evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It has scored four out of five stars in the frontal crash category, but achieved a perfect rating in the side crash evaluation.
The Ram 1500 also features a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and parking sensors.
Towing And Load Capacity
The models have a towing and payload capacity of up to 12,750 pounds and 2,300 pounds respectively. These figures are considered to be a good number even though it is not regarded as the top-notch.
Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 is considered as one of the most family-friendly trucks on the market. It scored an impressive five out of five stars in a safety test rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Safety Features
The truck is designed with standard safety features including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, rearview camera, automatic emergency brake, lane departure warning, and front and rear parking sensors.
Towing Capacity
The truck has a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds and a load rating of above 3,300 pounds.
Cabin
Aside from its safety features, the cabin is built with a spacious interior that can fit a family of five. You can choose between a crew and an extended cab size for more legroom for both kids and adults.
For a seat upgrade, you can opt for Max Recline Seats that incline nearly all the way back, giving you the luxury to lie back and take a nap. Apart from this, the second row is equipped with latch connectors that can anchor two child car seats.
Food and beverage spills are often associated with kids and can easily be cleaned if spilled on a leather seat. That being said, you might consider the model's leather seating as an available option for most 2021 models.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The latest Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has a recreated interior and exterior appearance. It features a premium and more modern look along with the installation of a widescreen infotainment system.
Cabin
You can choose between double and crew-styled cabins – both of which have four standard-sized doors and the capacity to accommodate a family of six. Your kids will definitely have plenty of legroom even when the child's car seat is in place.
Features
Its suspension allows for smooth city driving and off-road performance – but not as smooth as the Ram 1500. The truck can be installed with a hands-free driving system that can be useful.
Safety Rating
The 2022 model has not yet undergone the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash test, but the previous models had received a four out of five overall safety rating. It scored four out of five stars on the frontal crash category and a perfect score on the side crash test.
Towing Capacity
The Silverado’s towing capacity outweighs the RAM 1500 since it has a carrying capacity between 8,900 and 13,300 pounds. It can readily haul sailboats, trailers, and other equipment.
GMC Sierra 1500
The GMC Sierra 1500 has acquired a new and affluent interior style that is almost on a level with the RAM 1500, additional standard driver assistance technology, and a refurbished infotainment system.
Safety Rating And Features
The model has obtained a four out of five stars in the safety rating evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) along with a four-star performance in the rollover and frontal crash test and a five-star in the side crash assessment.
The headlights however ranked the lowest rating in their capability to illuminate the road.
Similar to other trucks in this list, the Sierra 1500 has forward warning collision, pedestrian detection, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control that automatically adjusts the truck’s speed to retain a safe distance between other vehicles, and Super Cruise partially autonomous driving system.
This feature controls the steering wheel for a certain time when the truck is running on a highway. It will allow you to rest or attend to your kids' needs while on the road.
Cabin
The cabin features a modern interior design with cloth upholstery or a leather seat that is available in models on the upper trim. You can choose between a Double Cab or a Crew Cab.
The former has adequate rear seat space that can accommodate adults and kids while the latter has a more spacious interior. The cabin can fit a family of five or six depending on the front seats' features. Similar to other models, the back row is designed to accommodate two child car seats.
Towing And Payload Capacity
If fully equipped, the GMC Sierra 1500 has a towing capacity of 13,000 pounds and a payload performance that ranges between 1,830 pounds to 5,420 pounds depending on its engine.
Toyota Tundra
Safety Features
The Toyota Tundra is also designed with standard safety technology since it is equipped with a pre-collision system, pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, and a road sign assist. It helps keep you and your kids safe while on the road.
Cabin
The cabin is available in two options – the Crew Cab and the Double Cab, both of which differ in their overall interior dimensions.
The former has a fairly spacious rear seat that can accommodate two adults and one kid, while the latter has a smaller back seat space with little legroom for adults but will most likely have room for kids. The rear seats are also installed with a latch that can attach two child car seats.
All seats however can be upgraded into a heated and ventilated feature and leather upholstery for a more convenient and comfortable cabin experience.
Towing And Payload Capacity
The Tundra’s towing capacity ranges between 8,300 to 12,000 pounds. The figures are enough to haul average-sized boats and camper trailers. Its payload power reaches 1,485 to 1,940 pounds.
Pickup Truck Safety Factors
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rate automobiles annually based on their safety features.
They function mainly to keep people safe on roadways by evaluating how vehicles generally perform and how they fare during collisions and crashes.
The NHTSA criteria essentially rank vehicles based on crash protection- forward and side collision as well as rollover. Crash tests are simulated based on the majority of accidents in the U.S. The limitation lies in that the agency measures the ability of a vehicle to withstand impact.
The IlHS evaluates how well the passengers are protected after a crash and ways the manufacturer designs or prevents and lessens the occurrence.
The following is a list of the safest pickup trucks of 2021 and 2022.
| 2021 Safest Pickups | 2022 Safest Pickups |
| RAM 1500 | RAM 1500 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Ford F-150 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | Hyundai Santa Cruz |
| Honda Ridgeline | Honda Ridgeline |
| Toyota Tacoma | Toyota Tacoma |
| Ford Ranger | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 |
Are Midsize Trucks Good For Families?
Midsize trucks are great utility vehicles since they are installed with a longer bed. This makes them at a disadvantage for family use since cabin space is compromised. There will be a relatively small area in the back seat to accommodate the children, which can be inconvenient during road trips and vacations.
In Closing
Most vehicles, pickup trucks included, may serve well as a family car. However, their respective design and features vary in terms of safety, cabin space, cargo capacity, and other relevant factors. We hope the post helped you decide which truck suits your preference.
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