Here is some interesting -and definitive- information about pickups.
The third paragraph reinforces what most of us have always thought about
the El Camino and the Ranchero.
1. A separate cabin
and rear load area or compartment (separate cargo bed).
2. Instead of a well-type bed (short rigid sides) with an opening rear gate, some pickups have a flat tray back (aka flatbed).
3. Others may have a specialty body mounted behind the cabin.
Two North American vehicles, the Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero
are not technically trucks. This is because the have a spot welded
sheet steel monocoque chassis in the same style as modern passenger
cars.
Trucks on the other hand usually have a heavy 'C' section rail
chassis with a fully floating cab and separate cargo section. The sheet
steel in both of these sections is not a stressed member. A combination
of the two styles, monocoque cab and engine bay welded to a 'c' section
chassis rear is offered in Australia. It is known as the 'one tonner'
because it is rated to carry some 250kg more than the all monocoque
style.
