A pickup truck separates the passenger cabin from an open cargo bed. That single feature makes it the default work vehicle in agriculture, construction, and trades. Throw plywood, tools, or a muddy dog in the back and hose it out. No carpet, no problem.

Early pickups were modified cars with the rear body cut away. Ford's Model T runabout with a pickup box, introduced in 1925, is often called the first factory-built pickup. Chevrolet and Dodge followed. After World War II, pickups grew into dedicated platforms with separate frames, stronger axles, and optional four-wheel drive.

Classifying pickups

• Compact: Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado.
• Full-size: Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500.
• Heavy-duty: F-250 and up, designed for towing and payload.
• Bed lengths vary from short (5.5 feet) to long (8 feet).

Modern pickups have drifted upmarket. Crew cabs with leather seats, panoramic roofs, and massaging seats now outsell basic work trucks in the US. The bed often goes unused. That does not stop buyers from wanting one.