Short bed or not?

I went from a long bed to a short bed years ago. I've never missed the long bed. I use a nonslider hitch and regular pin box and find I have adequate cab to trailer clearance. I like the idea of a Turning Point pin box but not enough to warrant changing mine out.

A short bed works OK but driving around town a long bed makes almost no difference. I wouldn't let that drive the choice. Only place where I've seen it make a difference is if you have a small garage and it simply won't fit. We got a short bed this time because it was a good deal. If we were buying new or had two equal deals, long bed would be our choice.

By the way, 5ers are not good for rugged service roads. If that's how you want to travel, I wouldn't recommend a 5er. Depending on how rugged, I would at least move to a travel trailer if not a truck camper. If the rear drivers side tire drops into a 4" deep hole while the trailer passenger side tire drops into a 4" hole...expect Mr. Trailer overhang to meet Mr. Bed Rail in a very solid way.

For my use, hauling and towing, even a long bed usually won't hold everything. I'd buy a 10' bed if it were available. There's no way I step down to a short bed.
Often a long bed truck will have a larger fuel tank than a short bed truck. The longer wheelbase will ride better.

I believe that pin box can be hooked up to a Trailer Saver hitch, probably a BD1 or BD3. Is it worth it - yes. Their hitches are of the highest quality and will protect your truck, trailer and back side. The weight isn't super critical with a Trailer Saver as you air them up to a tow height mark, the heavier the pin, more air. I have the TS3 and if things get really bumpy, I can air up the hitch for an additional 2" of bed rail clearance. Many times short/light fifth wheel trailers have worse rides than long/heavy units. My trailer tows at 10k#. The hitch is worth every penny I spent on it.

I watched the installation video. It looks like if you carry your tools, you can remove the capture plate and lock the rotating part out and hook up on an angle if needed. Then run as a standard pin box until conditions are better. By the way, the video operator's technique with the torque wrench is terrible. No way is he going to get an accurate 200 ft-lbs of torque with a 1/2" Harbor Freight wrench. Many good quality manufacturers make 1/2" wrenches to 250 ft-lbs.

If all your going to do is tow then a short bed makes sense. If you ever plan on using it like a truck, get a long bed.

This debate has raged for years. Short bed you save roughly two feet. You loose 2 feet of useful bed space for storage. Long bed usually will ride a bit better. Long bed will usually have better resale value. Short bed usually has a bit better turning radius. It all really depends on what you get used to. I like my long beds better for the better looks.
BTW, if your going fifth wheel skip the 2500s and go straight to the 3500SRW. Right now the cost difference is only a couple hundred dollars new. Value if you go to a a bigger fiver in a few years and dont have to rebuy the truck........ PRICELESS!

My first 5th wheel was 36' long and was towed with a Chevy 2500 shortbed. We had a slider hitch but never used the slider.