Short bed or standard bed?

I owned a short bed extended cab 3/4t truck. Here were my observations even if some do not apply to your use:

Pros -
Fit in tight garages and parking stalls
Great turning radius for parking or camping in tight spots
Lighter weight giving it more payload for same GVWR

Cons -
Smaller fuel tank on my truck than long bed
Harder to carry long builder material or off-road toys
Limited choice in truck camper models

You guys speaking in absolutes are missing the point. It's all about compromise and what suits an individual's need better. Both options have pros and cons.

An 8' bed isn't long enough for me. The whole point of a truck is to haul things after all. I'd get the longest bed possible.
Look at the bed at the dealer; envision where you will put: firewood, grill, bikes, chairs, tool box, generator, cooler, ladder, etc.

First thing forget the 1500 and go 2500 as it will give a much more stable towing platform.

Call it what you want. Get the one that you can close the tailgate with 8' materials laying on the bed.

Grit dog wrote:

Walaby wrote:
It all depends on what YOU want to get out of the bed size you pick. Either one should pull that trailer just fine.

Personal preference really...everyone else can tell you their preference, but you have to drive it and live with it every day. What do YOU want?

Mike

^This.
I just ordered 3 new Chevy 1500 crew cabs for work. Got the 6' bed, not the 5'. Current one has the 5' bed. Not much room after you put a tool box in it.

I doubt I could get my lawn mower in a 6' bed with a tool box. Barely fits in an 8' bed with TB! Then again, it is a 16HP twin cylinder hydro walk behind that weighs 350 lbs or so.......
Put a bike or two in the bed, some other stuff, and one would be out of room with the smaller beds.
Again, as noted, comes down to what you need to put in the bed!

Marty

Walaby wrote:
It all depends on what YOU want to get out of the bed size you pick. Either one should pull that trailer just fine.

Personal preference really...everyone else can tell you their preference, but you have to drive it and live with it every day. What do YOU want?

Mike

^This.
I just ordered 3 new Chevy 1500 crew cabs for work. Got the 6' bed, not the 5'. Current one has the 5' bed. Not much room after you put a tool box in it.

It all depends on what YOU want to get out of the bed size you pick. Either one should pull that trailer just fine.

Personal preference really...everyone else can tell you their preference, but you have to drive it and live with it every day. What do YOU want?

Mike

Longer wheelbase will ride better, that would be my choice.

The wifes truck is a '16 1500 chevy crew cab 5' 10" short bed. I pull all my GN/bumper hitch trailers with it. The 5th wheel rv trailer adds too much hitch weight for the trucks small 4000 rawr
We looked at the 1500 double cab/ 6' 6" std bed but she wanted more cab room.

Get the bed length than suits your needs as every ones needs are different.

What ever bed length you decide on, get the NHT package with the higher 7600 gvwr and bigger 4600 rawr for more payload and the 3.73 axle ratio. The 6.2 with its 420hp and 460 torque won't have any issues pulling its tow rating.

I had probably 6 standard beds and now have a long bed. I will never go back to a short bed. Those tiny bed trucks must be just for groceries. :)