Ford is known for building tough trucks, especially its popular F-150 model with the ability to tow quite a bit. However, when it comes to cargo space, the total amount of storage is a lot smaller than what a minivan offers. In fact, several van models have double the amount than the Ford F-150. How much does the Ford have in cargo space, and how much more do you get with today’s vans? 

Cargo capacity in a Ford F-150 pickup

The Ford F-150 pickup comes in a few different body styles with three different bed sizes. The amount of cargo space you get will depend on which configuration you choose. First, there’s the regular cab, which comes with a 5.5-foot truck bed measuring 65.2×21.4×67.1 inches. This amounts to approximately 52.8 cubic feet of space for storage and hauling, according to Motor and Wheels. 

If you need a bit more room in your truck bed, the 6.5-foot box is your next option. This selection has the same width and depth as the smaller bed, but its length is 78.9 inches. This means you can get around 62.3 cubic feet of space to haul around big items, such as a 70-inch tall fridge. 

The last option for a truck box is the 8-foot version, which is a popular size to buy. With this bed, you get a box that measures 97.6 inches long, which is great for hauling longer items, like lumber. As for cargo capacity, the extra length allows you to get approximately 77.4 cubic feet of space. 

What do the various minivans offer for cargo space?

While there aren’t too many minivans left, there are still a few going strong in the market. The Chrysler Pacifica, one of the more popular choices in this segment offers 32.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row of seats. For maximum capacity, you could increase your storage area to 140.5 cubic feet, according to Edmund’s. 

Toyota’s Sienna model has a bit more with 33.5 cubic feet behind the last row of seats in the minivan. But, its total capacity with the second and third rows folded down offers 101 cubic feet of storage. 

Next up is the Honda Odyssey, which offers 38.6 cubic feet of storage behind the last row. However, if you fold down the rear two rows of seats, you can increase it to 155.78 cubic feet of cargo space. 

The minivan with the most cargo storage available is the Kia Carnival. This model has 40.2 cubic feet of space, which is a lot for the cargo area behind the rear seats. Total capacity, however, is an astounding 145.1 cubic feet of storage.

You would expect a full-size pickup truck to have more, but that’s not always the case.

The advantages the Ford F-150 has when it comes to cargo capacity

The total capacity for this truck may be lower than what the minivan models offer, but it still has one huge advantage when it comes to cargo space. The 77.4 cubic feet of maximum storage is calculated using how wide, long, and deep the bed is in the truck. But, what it doesn’t take into account is the fact that there’s the height that you can utilize as well. 

For example, you can haul a large fridge or standing freezer in a pickup bed quite well. Can you do that with one of the available minivans? No, because the vans have a height limit with the enclosed body covering the cargo area. You might be able to haul a television upright in the back of the minivan, but not much else. 

Another advantage is that you can haul items in the back of the truck with the tailgate down. Materials like plywood or paneling can extend past the liftgate with the proper tie-downs and safety flags. This would be difficult to do in a minivan, with the rear door swinging up. Trucks have no limitations when doing this. 

The Ford F-150 has a smaller total cargo capacity than what minivans offer on the market today. However, it still is a good choice when you need to haul tall items, like fridges, and long materials like plywood that can extend out past the rear gate on the truck.