Crew Cab Truck Seating

Im not ready to buy a truck now but the wife and I are thinking of having another baby in a few years which would put us at 4 (I know I know, time to hang up my cleats and call it a day). My buddy has a new Dodge Ram and another friend has a 1 year old Ford F-150. In both of those trucks the center console does not go up like they did in old trucks allowing a person to sit in the front. That makes the trucks effectively 5 seaters. Do any of the new trucks out there offer 6 seating capacity? As nice as they are id rather not extend my new truck search to include the suburban due to the high price tag.

You can still get a bench up front, just not as common.

I have a 2016 F-150 and mine has the 40/20/40 front seat. The arm rest / console flips up and you can seat 3 in front. I have had 6 adults in my truck multiple times.

Ford STX models still come with folding center front seat. Many guys tend to take it out and put in console so they are easy/cheap to find to put in another model as long as it doesn’t have the floor shifter. I’m sure you’re aware of how great the rear seat room is in the ford……..

I have a 2012 F150 XLT and the middle console still goes up. We recently purchased a 2016 Explorer with the 3rd row to alleviate that issue. That’s my wife’s vehicle now. We have a 4 & 6 yr old plus grandparents that are around a bit. That is how we avoided the pricey surburban and its crappy gas mileage. I’m 6’8″ an fit well in it. It can easily tow a boat if you pick the right options and has tons of room when the 3rd row is folded down. I’d recommend you take a look at least.

Good Luck.

oh nice. I was not aware that trucks offered different style center consoles to accommodate more seating. that should solve my problem. Thanks Gents!

2014 Silverado and mine has a 40/20/40 bench in the front – will seat 6

Crappie,

I just bought a new Chevy crew cab and would have to say that I had to look for one with cloth seats and the council as the split bench is much more common with the cloth interiors. Spend some time on a car lot and that is what I think you will find.

CBMN wrote:

Crappie,

I just bought a new Chevy crew cab and would have to say that I had to look for one with cloth seats and the council as the split bench is much more common with the cloth interiors. Spend some time on a car lot and that is what I think you will find.

Thanks CBMN. How you like the Crew Cab Silverado so far?

crappie55369 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>CBMN wrote:</div>
Crappie,

I just bought a new Chevy crew cab and would have to say that I had to look for one with cloth seats and the council as the split bench is much more common with the cloth interiors. Spend some time on a car lot and that is what I think you will find.

Thanks CBMN. How you like the Crew Cab Silverado so far?

It is a bit early to tell as I think I have about 350 miles on it (not a daily driver), but so far so good. I bought a HD, but I think the cabs are basically the same as the 1500’s

My crew cab Lariat F-150 has a 40/20/40. I do not think I would like a center console in a truck…I believe you can still get the split bench up to the Lariat trim levels.

I have a GMC Acadia with the 2 rear captain’s chairs plus the fold-flat rear bench seat, for a total max capacity of 7 or probably more realistically 6.

Like you, I didn’t want to have to upsize any further. Luggage space is somewhat limited with the rear seat up, but so far that hasn’t been a problem because of storage space between the 2 captain’s chairs in the back.

Just another option to consider.

With children, the problem is that with the absolutely massive car seats these days, a baby in a car seat takes up as much space as an adult. So a vehicle may, in theory, seat 3 across a bench, but if one or more of those is in a baby in a car seat, the situation isn’t workable.

Grouse

You might also want to consider the amount of space in the back seat. I haven’t looked since 2015 but at the time, the F-150 had a lot more space in the back seat than all others.
And the standard front seat was a bench with a flip down arm rest/cup holder. I paid up to get a console, partially because the console included more duct work to send heat and AC to the back seat. And partially because I don’t ever want three people in the front seat. I like my space.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Luggage space is somewhat limited with the rear seat up, but so far that hasn’t been a problem because of storage space between the 2 captain’s chairs in the back.

I have rear captain’s chairs in our Tahoe. I wasn’t sure I’d like it when we bought it, but yeah, I really like the extra space that it provides.

Crappie, out of curiosity why the need for seating 6 with a family of 4? I’m just curious be cause I have a family of 4 (5yo and 7 yo) and just picked up a 2014 F150 Crew Cab with the center console in the the front and I love it. I can honestly say that I don’t think there is ever a time when I would have 6 in the truck. I sold my suburban to go to this truck.

Once we start driving other kids around MAYBE that need could arise, but I guess I will SOL!

My dad just picked up a 2017 ram with the bench seat. They go to Arizona for a couple months and wanted to be able to drive around with 6 adults when people come visit.

I understood that he’d have 4 kids, putting him at 6 total.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

I understood that he’d have 4 kids, putting him at 6 total.

Ahh….I guess that makes sense. Thanks!

What are the legalities of children in the front seats? I haven’t had to look into that yet.

One word. Mini van. Wait that’s two words.

One thing to remember depending on the age of your kids is booster seats. A friend of mine was bound and determined to keep his crew cab Chevy when they had their 4th but they couldn’t get a booster seat to fit safely in the front split bench seat (the back seat was filled with car seats)so he had to sell the truck.

my oldest is turning 8 this summer. my long term plan is that by the time I can afford a new(er) truck he will be old enough to sit in the front while the 3 younger kids would occupy the back.

suzuki wrote:

One word. Mini van. Wait that’s two words.

yeah that’s probably in the future as well but I need something that will haul the family and the boat/ future fish house.

crappie55369 wrote:

my oldest is turning 8 this summer. my long term plan is that by the time I can afford a new(er) truck he will be old enough to sit in the front while the 3 younger kids would occupy the back.

Why stop at 4 kids, get yourself one of these and “keep on lovin”! Could even make appearances…The Crappie Family!

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Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>crappie55369 wrote:</div>
my oldest is turning 8 this summer. my long term plan is that by the time I can afford a new(er) truck he will be old enough to sit in the front while the 3 younger kids would occupy the back.

Why stop at 4 kids, get yourself one of these and “keep on lovin”! Could even make appearances…The Crappie Family!

LOL. I dig the bus

Here is a pic of the RAM and the 6 passenger Crew.

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big_g wrote:

Here is a pic of the RAM and the 6 passenger Crew.

Oh yes, the new Rams…so much nicer than the old 1 passenger Rams!!

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I had a 2011 Lariat with leather and a flip up console. They are hard to find in that trim

suzuki wrote:

One word. Mini van. Wait that’s two words.

^^^ He said mini van ^^^. What are we women??? Sorry I couldn’t help myself Suzuki.

I have a Silverado and like it but the backseat space is limited. If you will have 2 and possibly 3 car seats/boosters you are better off to look at Ford and Ram. I believe Ford has the most space in the back seat.

big_g wrote:

Here is a pic of the RAM and the 6 passenger Crew.

Dodge Mega cab. 6 people and you can still not touch each other. Get that.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>big_g wrote:</div>
Here is a pic of the RAM and the 6 passenger Crew.

Oh yes, the new Rams…so much nicer than the old 1 passenger Rams!!

Did your sister let you off at the finish line?