Crew Cab vs Double Cab GMC: Which Cab Style Is Good for You?

Crew cab vs double cab GMC is usually a comparison considered by those who want to get a new pickup truck from GMC, but are not sure about the right cab style. When making a choice, you have to consider the size you want and how many people you expect to carry.

With the double cab and crew cab, you have more than enough space to carry people and extra luggage, and both options are available on GMC Sierra cars. Continue reading the article below to learn more about the differences between the two cars.

What Is the Difference Between GMC Crew Cab and GMC Double Cab?

The difference between the GMC Crew Cab and the GMC Double Cab is the size, as the Crew Cab is bigger than the Double Cab. The Crew Cab offers more headroom, legroom, shoulder space, and truck cab size than the Double Cab.

The GMC Crew Cab offers more cabin space than the Double Cab trucks, with means that there is extra space for all passengers. There is also a lot of space for up to six passengers, and the rear seats are not as tight as that of the Double Cabs. The Extended Cab also offers more cargo space and a longer truck bed, allowing for more cargo capacity.

On the other hand, the Double Cabs usually come with a four-door cabin configuration, with the front doors being full-sized while the rear doors are smaller. It offers more legroom than a regular size, and it makes it easy for passengers to go into the back seats. Double Cab pickups still have decent cargo space for luggage and passengers.

You can find the Crew Cab and Double Cab options on the GMC 1500, Sierra HD 2500, and Sierra HD 3500. With the Crew Cab, you have a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 to 31,400 pounds, but with the Double Cab, it is between 12,100 and 31,500 pounds. This is similar to the Chevrolet Silverado.

Interior Dimensions

The major difference between Crew Cabs and Double Cabs is the interior dimensions. The interior of Double Cabs is smaller than that of Crew Cabs. For instance, in a Sierra 1500, the interior dimensions of the Extended Cab are:

• Rear headroom: 40.1 inches
• Rear legroom: 43.4 inches
• Rear shoulder room: 65.2 inches
• Rear hip room: 60.2 inches

But, the Double Cab has less interior space, especially in the back seat. The interior dimensions are:

• Rear headroom: 39.9 inches
• Rear legroom: 35.2 inches
• Rear shoulder room: 64.9 inches
• Rear hip room: 60.2 inches

Performance

There isn’t much of a difference between the performance of the Double Cab and Crew Cab of GMC trucks. You won’t notice any difference in the performance between the two configurations. Based on this, you can choose your GMC truck based on the cab configuration and not the performance.

Price

The Extended Cab configuration is usually more expensive than the Double Cab pickups because of the extra interior space and cargo space. It still comes with the same powertrain, style, and features, but it costs a little bit more. Despite this, the Crew Cab will also have a higher resale value.

Door Configuration

Another difference between the Crew Cab and Double Cab is the door design. The door configuration differs between both styles, despite them having a four-door design. The GMC Double Cab has a four-door design, but the rear doors are usually smaller than the front doors. The front doors will have to be opened first.

The Crew Cab model features full-size doors at the front and rear, and the doors are bigger than with the Double Cab. Passengers can enter the rear without having to open the front doors. The bigger door sizes are a sign of the more spacious interior.

Bed Size

The bed size of the Crew Cab is bigger than that of the Double Cab. The longer the cab, the bigger the truck bed would most likely be. But keep in mind that, for a truck to be easily maneuvered, it does not have a big cabin and bed. Instead, it is either a big cabin and a small bed or the other way around.

Which Is Best for You?

When deciding between a Double Cab and Crew Cab for your GMC truck, there are different factors to consider. You need to consider the rear seat, as the Double Cab is usually tighter at the back than the Crew Cab. So, ask yourself if you will have rear passengers and whether they will be children or adults.

You also need to consider if you would be carrying large gear and supplies in the truck due to the differences in cargo space and bed sizes. Cost is also an important factor to consider since Crew Cab pickups are more expensive than Double Cabs.

If you notice that you need a lot of passenger space or cargo space, then you should go for the Crew Cab. But keep in mind that if the cabin is big, the bed would be shorter, and vice versa. But, if you don’t need a lot of space and are working with a tight budget, you should go for the Double Cab truck instead.

Features of GMC Crew Cab

The GMC Crew Cab is the largest option for those who want to purchase a pickup truck. It has different names depending on the model, like the Ford SuperCrew, Toyota CrewMax, or Ram MegaCab. It has four full-sized doors that open outdoors and significant leg space.

The Extended Cab is also the most expensive option that you can choose from and is highly comfortable for children and adults to use. The Crew Cab trucks can seat up to six adult passengers and come with multiple rear storage options in the interior. It is available on Sierra 1500 with a short or standard bed and Sierra HD with a standard and long bed.

Interior Space

The GMC Crew Cab is designed with seating for six passengers, but you can choose the configuration for five passengers if you want. The front dimensions include 43.03 inches, 44.53 inches, 66.02 inches, and 61.18 inches in the headroom, legroom, shoulder room, and hip room.

But, the back row of the Extended Cab is still spacious, with over 40 inches of headroom and 43 of legroom. This makes it ideal for adults to sit down at the back without worrying about space.

Box Length

GMC comes with different box lengths, which are short, standard, and long box lengths. With the GMC Sierra 1500, you can add the Short Box or Standard Box to the Crew Cab, along with the four-wheel drive.

But with the Sierra HD, you can only use the Standard Box or Long Box with the Extended Cab. Both options would give you extra cargo space. The Short Box is not available with the Sierra HD.

Towing Capabilities

The Crew Cab also has impressive towing capacities on GMC models. If you use the Crew Cab, 4-wheel drive, and Standard box with the 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine, you get a maximum towing capacity of 11,800 pounds in the Sierra 1500.

Extended Cab trucks have a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds, 18,500 pounds, and 31,400 pounds on the Sierra 1500, Sierra HD 2500, and Sierra HD 3500.

Features of GMC Double Cab

On the other hand, is the GMC Double Cab, which is one size up from the regular cab. Most brands call it the Double Cab, unlike Ram, which renamed it the Quad Cab. This cab version comes with four front-hinged doors that open normally and two rows of seats. But the rear doors are usually smaller.

The Double Cab has a tighter leg space in the rear of the cabin, and there isn’t a lot of storage space under the rear seat. It comes with a bench seat for small adults and children and can seat four adults comfortably or five adults squeezed in. The Double Cab is available on the Sierra 1500, with the standard bed, and the Sierra HD, with a standard or long bed.

Interior Space

The interior space of the Double Cab is smaller, but every configuration offers seating for five to six people. The front dimensions, including the headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room, are the same as the Crew Cab.

But the rear is tighter, as it doesn’t reach 40 inches of headroom and provides a little over 35 inches of legroom. If you’re thinking of carrying adults in your Buick GMC, this would be too tight.

Box Length

As for the box length, the Double Cab is only available with the Standard Box on the Sierra 1500. You can only use the Long Box when you use the regular truck.

With the Sierra HD, you can match it with the standard box or long box, offering you enough room for a large amount of cargo. If you are transporting smaller tools and items, you should go for the short box, but the long box is better for extra lengths, like sheet metal and drywall. This is also similar if you’re getting a Chevy Silverado.

Towing Capabilities

The Double Cab also has an impressive towing capacity. If you pair it with the 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 powertrain with two-wheel drive and a standard box, you have a towing capacity of 11,300 to 12,100 pounds on the Sierra 1500. But with the Sierra HD 2500, you can carry a maximum of 18,200.

The Double Cab HD 3500 has a slightly higher towing capacity than the Crew Cab, set at 31,500 pounds. In general, the towing capacity for the double cab is between 11,300 and 31,500.

FAQ Section

What’s the Difference Between a Regular Cab, Double Cab, Crew Cab?

The difference between a regular cab, a double cab, and a crew cab is the size. The regular cab is the smallest option, followed by the double cab and then the crew cab. They have different interior dimensions, bed lengths, and towing capacities.

Why Are Crew Cab Pickups So Popular?

Crew cab pickups are so popular because they offer more space for passengers than standard pickups, including extra legroom and headroom. It is also popular among people in the US who use trucks for recreation and work purposes, like carrying equipment.

Are a Club Cab and Quad Cab the Same?

A club cab and a quad cab are not the same. The club cab comes with a standard driver and passenger seat in the front row, and a smaller bench seat in the rear, while the quad cab comes with a full-size bench seat in the rear for better space.

Conclusion

When shopping for a new truck, you might be considering the crew cab vs double cab GMC. Here’s a summary of what we covered in making your choice:

• The main difference between a crew cab and a double cab is the size, as the former is bigger than the latter.
• The GMC crew cab offers a more spacious interior, including legroom and headroom for adults, and can tow between 12,000 and 31,400 pounds.
• The GMC double cab has a less spacious interior but can tow between 11,800 and 31,500.

You should consider your needs and how much cargo you would be carrying when choosing between the crew and double cab. Regardless, the GMC trucks offer many other features that you can enjoy.

References

• https://www.gmc.com/trucks
• https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/truck-cab-types