30 Jun 08
In America the pick-up truck is almost a cultural necessity ('Whaddya mean you don't have a truck?') but in the UK we're a little less enthusiastic.
Pick-up trucks, you see, are uncivilised. Everything's on show and, on this side of the pond, we just don't do that. Pick-up trucks advertise a day's activities and even if it's a vital part of your vocation, nobody wants to see your hardcore. Just cover it all up please, you'll scare the neighbours.
For tradesmen, a pick-up is a workhorse, but even among these horny-handed sons of toil there's a truck pecking order - and, worse, truck envy. Double cabs are for ponces, single cabs are for paupers.
So what makes a good truck? A large loadbay? Towing capacity? Ground clearance? Off-road ability?
Of course, it's all those things, but manufacturers need a little more than 'fitness for purpose' to put their pick-up at the top of the truck tree. Maybe superior power and performance, interior refinement or even a bit of bling might do the trick. It's hard to know what tips the balance for the tradesman in the market for a truck, but whatever it is, it's got to be hard - hard as nails.
To help sort out the working men from the leisure truck-using boys, we've chosen our top trucks, including their vital statistics. In a bid to keep things consistent we've included maximum load length and payload capacities - the best figures will be the ones detailed regardless of trim or configuration. We've driven the best six on the market and canvassed opinion to establish what is: 'the king of the cabs'.
