Is a Ford Sport Trac a full size truck?
No. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a mid-size pickup built on the Explorer SUV platform, not a full-size truck like the Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
Launched for the model year 2000 and marketed as a Sport Trac variant of the Explorer, the vehicle blended SUV-style seating with a pickup bed. It remained classified as mid-size in market terms, constrained by its wheelbase, payload, and bed length, and Ford ended its production in 2010. This distinction matters for buyers evaluating payload, towing limits, and overall cargo capacity compared with true full-size pickups.
What defines a full-size pickup?
Full-size pickups are typically built on larger platforms (such as Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado/Sierra, Ram 1500), offering longer wheelbases, bigger cabs and beds, higher towing and payload capacities, and a more rugged, work-oriented footprint. They are designed to handle heavier workloads and serving as primary work trucks for trades, towing larger trailers, or carrying substantial cargo over long distances. By those standards, the Explorer Sport Trac sits below full-size rivals in capability and scale.
To illustrate how the Explorer Sport Trac compares to full-size pickups, consider these key distinctions.
- Platform and size: Based on the Explorer SUV, the Sport Trac is categorized as mid-size rather than built on a full-size truck chassis.
- Bed length and cargo layout: It uses a shorter bed combined with SUV-style rear seating, unlike the longer and more utilitarian beds found on full-size pickups.
- Payload and towing: It generally offers lower payload ratings and towing capacities than typical full-size trucks.
- Ride and handling: The Sport Trac emphasizes a more car-like ride and comfort, whereas full-size pickups prioritize straight-line capability and rough-terrain load-carrying.
- Seating and interior space: The interior is more SUV-oriented, sometimes with more cabin versatility but less dedicated crew-cab space for heavy-duty work than full-size trucks.
- Pricing and market positioning: It was marketed as a mid-size option, often priced and specified accordingly, rather than as a primary work-truck alternative.
In summary, these factors position the Explorer Sport Trac in the mid-size category, offering a compromise between SUV practicality and pickup utility, rather than true full-size truck capability.
Explorer Sport Trac in Ford's lineup: quick metrics
For readers who want a snapshot of how its size stacks up, the following metrics illustrate its mid-size status compared with full-size pickups.
- Wheelbase: roughly 112–118 inches, shorter than typical full-size trucks.
- Overall length: about 200–210 inches, again shorter than full-size rivals.
- Bed length: around 6 feet (roughly 72 inches).
- Payload: typically in the 1,200–1,600-pound range, lower than many full-size trucks.
- Towing capacity: commonly around 5,000–7,000 pounds, depending on engine and equipment.
Actual figures vary by model year, drivetrain, and configuration. Check the specific year’s specifications for precise numbers.
Bottom line
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is not a full-size truck. It sits in the mid-size category, combining SUV-style comfort with a pickup bed. If you need the heft, payload, and outright towing power of a true full-size pickup, you’ll want a model based on the F-Series, Silverado/Sierra, or Ram platforms instead.
Summary
The Sport Trac represents Ford’s attempt to bridge the gap between SUV and pickup, offering a compact-to-mid-size footprint with a bed for cargo. While capable and versatile for light-to-moderate hauling and everyday use, it does not match the scale or workload capacity of full-size pickups. For those prioritizing space and rugged payload, a true full-size truck remains the industry standard.
