I have a short bed Dodge with the Lance 855S.
The reason for a short bed is so I can maneuver the thing around, both on-road and off-road. I am able to get in and out of regular parking spots since, even with my camper overhang, I'm still no longer than an empty 8 foot bed truck. I used to own a long bed and it's hard NOT to clip corners with that wheel base when working narrow roads, parking lots and campgrounds. Also, it's MUCH easier to level when the wheel base isn't so stretched out like on a long bed.
I get better fuel economy and the overall truck weighs less than a long bed, making my GVWR a better ratio for cargo.
Folks ask; if you don't have a truck yet, why get a short bed. I ask, if you don't NEED the extra hassle of a long bed, or dually's for that matter, then why strap yourself to one??!! The Lance 855S is everything I ever needed in a camper plus. There's nothing a long bed camper is gonna provide that my Lance doesn't give me.
Make it easy on yourself; get a short bed truck and a slide-out short bed camper. Beef up the suspension as you like and enjoy all the benefits of a full sized camper with the convenience of a short bed pick up truck. I know I'll never go back to the inconvenience of a long wheel based truck.
