Forum Discussion
50 Replies
- Alley_FoxExplorerSeveral of my "short bed" friends have ridden in my truck and tell me there is definitely a better ride in my loooong bed truck. I've been in some extremely tight spots and glad I didn't have to worry about popping my back window..or worse. I often find myself actually carrying home improvement stuff that needs a longbed to bring home. My garage is extra long, so it fits, and I still get 17-20 mpg driving it. Downside, finding non-Prius hugger places to park, having to take a little extra time to back our 5th wheel into tight spots and dicouraging friends who are moving and notice you bave a "BIG TRUCK"....
- sem1ExplorerYou still can put a tool box in a short box. I have one that i don't use.Also tools are heavy and really aren't used. over the years I have trimmed tools to what i think is a basic tool box. If needed I can beg, borrow,rent or buy a tool.
I have a manual slider that is only needed when backing in a tight spot - DrBakerExplorerI am on my second short bed with my 5er. I had a slider in the first truck and never engaged it. Never had a need to use it. On the current short bed truck I did not use a slider. I have never had a situation where I needed it.
I would only recommend a long bed if you actually need the extra storage space. IMHO, a 5er works great on either one. Somewhere on the forums are pics of my old short bed truck with aux diesel tank and Honda moped in the bed while pulling my 5er. I find no problem hauling stuff and towing with a short bed.
edit to add link to pics of my setup in the last truck.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25201634.cfm
edit 2. here's a link to the new truck with more carrying ideas
mine is the red truck with generator on the pinbox - powderman426Explorer
Peg Leg wrote:
My 80 gal aux tank turned my long bed into a short bed.
For me, I know where they sell diesel and my tank wil last me long enough to get there. Probably a lot longer than that as I only have about two hour bladder. But to each his own.:B
AS for bed length, I prefer long. - poncho62ExplorerMany of today's crew cab short boxes have this 5 1/2 ft bed. Definitely need a slider hitch for those. My extra cab, 6 1/2 ft bed, I can get away with a regular hitch. Of course, my 5th wheel is not a large one.
- rseymour21ExplorerMy current truck, 2003 F250 has a 7' bed, in between short and long. I have no idea if any of the new trucks has this available! I have a 60 gallon aux tank and still some room for a few odds and ends!
- donn0128Explorer IIAge old question with no correct answer. I prefer a long bed for the extra storage capacity. I find no advantage or disadvantage when manuvering. It is what YOU get used to and find most appealing.
- Itching2goExplorer IIHad a short bed and now have a long bed, both extended cab. Long bed seems to ride easier, but the real payoff for me is the ability to easily carry our bicycles between the cab and the hitch. Oh... and there was that time in our first year of towing that I put the nose of the fiver through the glass of the cab...
- waltbennettExplorer
old guy wrote:
now I do not have a 5th wheel and from reading the above posts, why do you need carrying room in the bed of a truck when 5th wheels have so much storage room in them. do you really haul all that stuff or even need that much stuff?
Yes, there's a lot of storage space in a 5er, although most inside is within cabinets. Once the slides are in, there's nowhere anything loose could be save on the couch, bed or chairs. There's also the issue of bicycles - most ladders will not support them well, but they go in a long bed easily. We waterproof & weighty things in the bed & still have room for our old dog's folding ramp, the anaconda, wheel chocks, and step stool between the hitch and tailgate. If you're traveling without kids/grandkids and aren't intending on doing much else, you might not need the extra room. And I haven't found our F350 dually much harder to park than our previous 2500HD. Both need a lot of room to turn although the dually is a good two feet longer.
We vend at art & craft shows and take our tent, inventory, tools and supplies with frequently. I also picked up a Softopper canvas top that folds back to the cab. Once at a CG, I unhook, leaving the hitch on our Monty, pull out the Softopper cap and load all our show stuff into the truck. Works great for us. - JIMNLINExplorer IIII have both and both work fine for my use.
Long bed doesn't handle or ride any better than the short bed. Todays short bed truck have 140" + wheel bases so ride isn't a issue. Trucks wheel base/suspensions has more to do with handling/ride issues.
My truck has to stay in a garage at the house so preferring a crew cab truck that means a short bed truck for me. My crew cab long bed chevy will not fit in my garage and still have room for what I need to do so it has to sit out in the tractor shed.
Some sliding hitches are lower in price than some non sliders. Many short bed GM owners report not needing a sliding hitch as GM has a longer dimension from the back of the cab to the trucks rear axle. Now add the newer 5er front corner profile with a radius/notch and a slider may not be needed.
It simply depends on your wants/needs.
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