Long Box--Short Box?

Sounds like you have it covered. Good luck.

-BC-

I'm the OP-- We made an offer today on a 2013 - 3500 Chevy crew cab short box, we’ll see if the dealer takes it or not. After calculating the curve of our Cameo front cap, the height of the truck compared to these curves and the extended pin it looked like I needed 40” of clearest and the crew cab comes in at 43”. But just in case I found that the Hensley Trailer Saver Air Hitch has a slider attachment that I can add to our existing air hitch if needed, if my math failed me, I have an option.

Thanks for all the post and great discussion.

Yes Chris...so true... to be honest , I don't
keep up with all the terminology changes... hard enough
following the tech specs ! Ha !.

(was just talking with a buddy the other day... here is
a football term you rarely hear anymore ... Flanker...
whatever happened to them ???? hehehehe !).

now, back to the original intent.... I vote long bed.

Charles

cdlaine wrote:
Traveller II,

I have been out of the loop for a bit as I have been
satisfied with my truck. As I recall , GM (at least in
2003) offered 3 bed lengths... short bed, standard bed
and long bed. Many posters here are referring to the
"short bed" .... have the available bed lengths changed ?
I recall the "short bed" as really a "short bed" ...or am
I having memory lapse ??? The original literature I have on
my truck refers to the Truck bed as "standard" ??? Inquiring
minds want to know....

Charles

Strange how things have changed over the years with the addition of extended and crew cab trucks. I standard bed 30-40 years ago was a 8' full bedded truck. The others were referred to as short bed trucks with only a small percentage of 1/2 build that way and no 3/4 or 1T that were not 8' beds.

Then enter pickups that did not do real hauling and the standard(short) and long bed was reversed.

Chris

Traveller II,

I have been out of the loop for a bit as I have been
satisfied with my truck. As I recall , GM (at least in
2003) offered 3 bed lengths... short bed, standard bed
and long bed. Many posters here are referring to the
"short bed" .... have the available bed lengths changed ?
I recall the "short bed" as really a "short bed" ...or am
I having memory lapse ??? The original literature I have on
my truck refers to the Truck bed as "standard" ??? Inquiring
minds want to know....

Charles

Have a short bed (6'6") RAM. I can't see the hitch in the bed when hooking up, but, then again, I couldn't see the hitch when I had a bumper pull or the curb when I'm trying to parallel park. Like anything else concerning the vehicles "spatial relationship" to things around it, you learn where things are. The hitch pin is in the middle of the nose, on mine protruding about 10", the hitch itself, is in the middle of the bed and to make it a bit easier, the hitch plate even has an angled opening allowing for a certain amount of "off center". As others have mentioned, it becomes easier the longer you do it, and the height will give you more problems than alignment. I finally broke down and bought a "hitching level" and even hitch height has gotten easier with it. The DW enjoys "helping", so, I let her "guide" me with the two way radio, but, I'm usually already making "course corrections" before she says anything. After almost 43 years, I still enjoy her company and her voice and she feels she's contributing to the RV "work". We both pitch in and help each other with our "primary" responsibilities, so, it is all good.

Fuel tank? Can't speak to the GM and Fords, but, the SB RAMs have a 34 gallon tank. More than adequate for my short days, but, I carry two 5 gallon cans of diesel for "just in case" or when we are off roading after unhooking and we are out in those areas where the GPS just goes blank...

As already mentioned. Get what will work for you, not what works for me. I prefer working on my truck in the garage, a LB won't fit. My DW won't touch a LB, she will drive the SB if it is the only horse left in the stable. I sometimes prefer parking closer to the store (I have RA and walking some days is a chore) and the SB will fit, barely, in a regular space. I can haul 8' with the tailgate down and I don't need the additional hauling room while towing because I don't have the additional load rating to make it worthwhile and I have unused storage space in the 5er for extra "stuff" if I need it.

That's why I have a SB...not, necessarily, why you should have one :)

GM finally got over the 26 gal short bed issue also. Dodge always was only one gal less than the long bed at 34 and 35 for years.

Chris

I sure would not let a hitching issue deter me from a crew cab if that is what I wanted. You can figure out a way to get hooked and besides you do not do that that often.

As far as gas tanks some folks just do not know and assume all short beds have little fuel tanks. OP did not mention type of motor. The newer Ford gas short beds have a 35 gallon tank.

The 2013 RAM HDs have a camera that looks down into the bed. Makes 5th Wheel hookups easy.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Stick with the long box, you won't like having less room in the bed.

Disagree!

Had both as crew cabs (short now) - found no need, or desire to *ever* have a long bed again!

But - It's a matter of personal preference!.:W

I wouldn't buy a truck based on how it works out for others - and the OP shouldn't either.

Guess if he makes the wrong choice - someone on an internet forum is to blame..:S

~

Tha way I look at it is he knows what he has and if he changes he may regret it. I gave a reason he might.

Having several long beds over the years, I would not trade my current SB crew cab for any long bed, just don't need the extra length or room, just not a factor after towing fifth wheels for the past seven years. It is a personal choice, and would not be a mistake either way. Just like hitches, there are some that think one works better then others, but in the end run they serve one purpose , and then they all work the same.