Short bed or standard bed?

bogie514 wrote:
I decided on the standard bed. Drove one the turning radius didn't seem to be any worse than a short bed. When I looked it up it was only a few inches more.

Great decision based on your test. I had a short-box, and suffered for bed space when taking stuff to the county fair.

I also had the standard box on a CC HD, and found it was a great compromise. Currently driving a CC HD with long box, and find it difficult to maneuver on a daily basis.

I think you will be happy with your choice!

Towing a trailer with a gas truck will average about 9 mpg and those smaller tanks require too many stops.

My 26 gallon tank needs refilling about every 3 1/2 hours when towing. That's more than enough time for me to go without stretching my legs, taking a bathroom break, etc. Saving a couple of 15 minute gas stops per day seems trivial compared to the other considerations, such as parking, turning radius, fitting in the garage, etc. The bottom line is, it all depends on what you want your truck to do. That's why they build so many different sizes. :B

I've had 8' beds on all my pickups till November I bought a new 2016 F-350 Crew cab Powerstroke 4x4 and I ordered it with a 6'5" bed and I love it easy to maneuver. I also use it on the ranch and when we go hunting. I pull our 5th wheel with it love the combination. I also have a 20' equipment trailer if I need to haul anything bigger than what I can get in the truck.

Huntindog wrote:
In my mind, a standard bed is 8 foot. But I have an old house with what was once considered to be a standard 2 car garage.. I have 2 autos in it including my 2011 3500 CC dually.
Interesting how times have changed.

Your mind isn't running the GM marketing department.

The terms they decided to use are, "long" for 8', "standard" for 6'6" and "short" for the 5'8". This started round about when GM introduced the the crew cab 1500s with the "short" bed (~2005?). They needed to call it *SOMETHING* and decided to shift terminology around.

I decided on the standard bed. Drove one the turning radius didn't seem to be any worse than a short bed. When I looked it up it was only a few inches more.

It is not what we advise you to get it is what you need. i have never had a long bed PU and never will unless someone gives it to me.

My basement storage is seldom at the limit either. Also my short bed gasser has the large gas tank just like the long beds.

I do not get ate up with, "you may need it in the future when you trade up, I am not going there.

I think your challenge should be to figure out what you want and need.

I am not advising getting short bed either.

Good luck and have fun out there.

IBcarguy wrote:
I've got a GMC 2500HD with the 5.5 bed. I'll admit that the bed doesn't haul much stuff but I seldom load it except when we go camping. However, for everyday use I think the short bed is better, at least for me. Parking and turning radius on these trucks aren't good and even worse on the long bed.

When could you get a 2500 with a 5.5' bed? I thought the 2500 was only available with the 6.5' or 8' bed regardless of the cab configuration.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"An 8' bed isn't long enough for me."

So what pickup bed is Substantially over 8'?

None. Ram almost did it a few years ago.
I think a longer than 8' bed would be great for work trucks. The first mfg to build reg cab xxtra long bed or super cab XL bed would sell a ton of them to the construction and other service industries.
After I put a slip tank and a big tool boax in a long bed, I have a 5' bed left.

First of all bed length is personal choice!
That said I prefer a long bed, storage, typlicly larger fuel tank, no issues with 5er hitting cab. Size of the TV is only an issue if you dwell on it! Long bed crew cab is only an issue if you let it be.
Currently visiting family in Ireland, driving on other side of road, with, a manual, and many narrow roads, no issues.

The_real_wild1 wrote:
I do like reading that people think driving a 8' bed is too much but you want to haul a trailer?

They are probably towing it off the back and not in the bed. :B

I don't think the trailer in their sig is a truck camper.