Pickup bed length

kennethwooster wrote:
Since 03 I've pulled with short bed Fords. Last March I went to a DRW long bed. Wow what a difference. No more slider, and we have have has a rear window taken out without a slider, I was shocked how easy the DRW handled, and turned very sharp. However, I was shocked at how much more space I had.

Do you have a F-450 as that is the only truck I can think of that with a long bed and crew cab would have anything remotely considered a tight turning radius?

How does 8 feet as compared to 6.5 feet translate into a lot more space, or did you have a short 5.5 foot bed with your prior truck?

That is why I prefer a standard bed and an extended/super/mega cab over a crew cab. I don't travel around with a crew of large guys so the extended cab on my truck is all that I need. A long bed with a crew cab would result in a gain in overall length of 24 inches or 2 full feet and a wheelbase that was 2 feet greater as well.

Obviously the turning radius with a 2 foot longer wheelbase is going to be seriously compromised. I paid the penalty with a larger turning radius to get the better ride and handing with GM's independent front suspension. With a Ram 3500 truck the difference may be less between the different configurations.

With the GM truck the crew cab adds 5 feet to the turning circle and with a long box the crew cab truck need 10 more feet of room, curb to curb to make a turn. Not much fun having to back up to make a turn in traffic much less when towing a trailer.

Wheelbase length does help towing. If you ever towed with a short Bronco II or Samurai, you better not be prone to motion sickness. My extended cab short bed truck did not experience this, so I do feel that that it is only the extreme length differences where you will notice. My current truck has over 2' more wheelbase than my short bed and I do not feel any difference in fore/aft pitching even with rear suspension that has twice the previous truck's rating.

I've made a living towing with long bed and short bed LDTs. My experience has been bed length had zero to do with my trucks ride quality nor did all my longer longer wheel base trucks ride easier than my other shorter wheel base trucks.

I have both....... and use both pulling my 5th wheel RV and various other flatdeck trailers.

I can give several reasons for using a short bed and the same amount of reasons for the long bed. In the end they both have their advantages and disadvantages but mainly its what we like to use.

Whats so silly is some of the clueless remarks trying to convince others to use the same ........... they do.

IMO the biggest issues is choosing a red one ......or maybe the blue one but lordy is that black one bee-u-ti-full.

The OP made his choice now he can become a xxbed length fan.

Since 03 I've pulled with short bed Fords. Last March I went to a DRW long bed. Wow what a difference. No more slider, and we have have has a rear window taken out without a slider, I was shocked how easy the DRW handled, and turned very sharp. However, I was shocked at how much more space I had.

Bed length varies by manufacturer and model year. There are generally speaking short box, standard box, and extra long box versions with lengths of 5.5', 6.5' and 8' respectively.

The overall length of the truck and the wheelbase depends in part on the length of the box but equally on the cab type, regular, mega/double/super, or crew cab. With a crew cab I would not want the long box as that makes for a very long vehicle with a terrible turning radius.

There are sometimes differences in the fuel tank size with the different bed and cab configurations and differences in the availability of aftermarket replacement tanks for the OEM one.

Test drive different configurations before buying anything and if you have a local RV park in your area go there and talk to people pulling 5th wheel trailers.

Dave H M wrote:

usmohls2@yahoo.com wrote:
I have a short bed & never had to worry about the over hang hitting the cab. Why would any one want the extra 2 feet to haul stuff? Pack lite & travel lite!

I azgree. postiong a question such as yours on this forum is a waste. All the long bedders just chime in since they long for the chance to show how long their stuff is.

Nonsense. I have never had a long bed in the two decades I have been towing, nor a slider.

I don't have any advice for you on making a decision except if you are driven by peer pressure get a long bed.

Total nonsense! I have had several of both types of trucks over the years. Its simple, a longer wheel base rides better. Fact not nonsense. Having more room can be very handy and useful. Fact not nonsense. Not having to have some concern over hitting the cab is handy also. Not nonsense.

On the other hand having a short bed is easier to park. Fact not nonsense. A short bed truck may fit in a garage that will not fit a long bed truck. Fact not nonsense. Many may feel the appearance of a short bed is more pleasing. Fact not nonsense.

So I say great question OP.

usmohls2@yahoo.com wrote:
I have a short bed & never had to worry about the over hang hitting the cab. Why would any one want the extra 2 feet to haul stuff? Pack lite & travel lite!

I azgree. postiong a question such as yours on this forum is a waste. All the long bedders just chime in since they long for the chance to show how long their stuff is.

Nonsense. I have never had a long bed in the two decades I have been towing, nor a slider.

I don't have any advice for you on making a decision except if you are driven by peer pressure get a long bed.

Sounds like a plan! Our next truck may be an F150 Ecoboost LB with heavy duty payload and towing package as well. Here's wishing you many miles and years of happy travels!

IaRver wrote:
Thanks to all of you that responded to my question about pickup bed length!

After an extensive search to find a long bed truck with a heavy tow package, I just bought a 2012 Ford F-150 with the 3.5L engine with ecoboost and the max trailer tow package. I tallied up the responses and large majority of you said the long bed was the way to go as well as choosing which ever one I prefer. I have a garage deep enough to get the truck inside, but plan to have a 10 ft wide garage door installed to replace my 8 ft one, so I don't have to fold in the mirrors when pulling in or out. Now I just need to get used to the much longer turning diameter than I had with my Jeep Grand Cherokee that I traded in....oh, and buy the 5th wheel camper I have picked out (27 ft Jayco Eagle).

I am now deciding on the best hitch go have installed. I found another forum on this website that had input on that, and I plan to get the B & W companion hitch. I like the idea of not having rails in the bed when I use my truck for hauling other stuff (like 4' x 8' plywood and panelling, another plus for the 8 ft bed :-)

Again, many thanks to all of you! Rich

Good choice on the B&W you will love the solid no frills design and quiet ride with the B&W.

Enjoy the new truck!

Thanks to all of you that responded to my question about pickup bed length!

After an extensive search to find a long bed truck with a heavy tow package, I just bought a 2012 Ford F-150 with the 3.5L engine with ecoboost and the max trailer tow package. I tallied up the responses and large majority of you said the long bed was the way to go as well as choosing which ever one I prefer. I have a garage deep enough to get the truck inside, but plan to have a 10 ft wide garage door installed to replace my 8 ft one, so I don't have to fold in the mirrors when pulling in or out. Now I just need to get used to the much longer turning diameter than I had with my Jeep Grand Cherokee that I traded in....oh, and buy the 5th wheel camper I have picked out (27 ft Jayco Eagle).

I am now deciding on the best hitch go have installed. I found another forum on this website that had input on that, and I plan to get the B & W companion hitch. I like the idea of not having rails in the bed when I use my truck for hauling other stuff (like 4' x 8' plywood and panelling, another plus for the 8 ft bed :-)

Again, many thanks to all of you! Rich