Well, after towing our 14,500lb toy hauler a couple times, my mind has me thinking about a new truck. The 16 y/o 3/4 ton does the job, it’s just there is no safety margin in the ratings. As much as I hate to give up my 8.1/Allison, it may be time. So......I’m looking at two trucks, both 2018 models. The GMC 3500HD Denali Crew Cab Standard bed and the Chevy 3500HD LTZ Double Cab with a Long bed. Both are SRW trucks.The Chevy is 9” longer at 20.75’ and the wheelbase is longer by 5” at 158””I like the the extended cab but not so much the long bed tough the LB will give me better 5th wheel hitch options.But, I like the Denali more for appearance: red and the standard bed. The slider options aren’t that great though.Either truck will be lowered 3” so I can level out my fifth wheel.Does the 5” wheelbase delta really make that much of a differencewhile towing? I know it will in the parking lots. My current truck has a 144” wheelbase so that will be an improvement.Thanks.

Personally I would go crew/short bed. Plenty of wheelbase for a tow vehicle. Unless you really need the bed space of the long bed there are plenty of shortbed hitch options.That double cab will also take a big resale hit and be harder to sell down the road as there is limited demand these days for anything less than a crew cab.I take it your going diesel? After the first pull you’ll forget all about the 8.1

Now I'm just the opposite of N-Trouble. I only buy used trucks and I don't even look at a truck unless it's a crew cab with a long bed.Check the turning radius on both of them. Some Fords come with two different turning radius'. Bill

I tow with 2018 crew cab long box LTZ Duramax. I like towing with that set up. Many tow with the 6.5 box without issues, if your new trailer has the cuts in the front cap you should be able to get around fine with the short bed. The double cab long box you found is a bit of an anomaly. You don't see that combo especially in an LTZ trim very often. It might be harder to resale if that is an issue. Having a legit crew cab is nice even if it is for storage and not moving people. As far as the package comparison is concerned, I really like the LTZ package, and if the important boxes were checked when it was ordered, I doubt the Denali has anything that you would miss in the LTZ. The Denali will be easy to resale when that time comes, a lot of power in the Denali name plate.If it is a daily driver and tow rig, I would go with the Denali for sure. If you wanted a long box, I would find it in a Crew cab. While the double cab saves some money upfront, they don't resale as well. The additional storage is priceless in the crew cab. The double cab saves a little length but not enough to offset the downsides to it.

That toy hauler is a bit much for an srw, trust me I have been there and it wasn't fun. You really want a dually. As long as the trailer has cutaways on the front corners you will be fine with a standard bed and no slider.

Either one will tow just fine (I'm assuming you checked the ratings and both are within).Yes, longer wheel base is better but both are pretty long.I would look at which cab configuration you prefer or which you think looks nicer (ie: non-towing issues).

Two Truck Styles, Which is Better | Good Sam Community

LMMNOCATS_EFI
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018
My first heavy truck was an LMM extra cab LB on 325 60 20 as a daily driver and I live in ca and having been in several other cc trucks towing and not the LB does ride better loaded and unloaded

Sadly that truck was totaled and I searched high and low for that same configuration as the (3500hd srw EC) is going to have the highest payload in the SLT package and I can tell you the double cab LB is the way to go , once you have an 8ft bed you’ll never go back and far as the truck it seems to be really stout and seems like it’ll make it the 380k like the last one did...
bartlettj
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018
I have the 2012 version of the GMC. I love the truck, my kids love riding it it, and honestly I think it's a smidge too long for suburban driving. My only real complaint about it is that the Z71 package makes the turning radius awful.
The Duramax/Allison combo is lovely. The suspension is great, the steering is great, the brakes are fantastic, the exhaust brake is brilliant. GM has the longest short bed anyway. You will like either one.
IdaD
Explorer
Jun 27, 2018
Ralph Cramden wrote:
IdaD wrote:
A crew cab holds value quite a bit better than an extended cab.

It does? Taking into account an extended cab is around 1.8K to 2K less on the front end that has not been my observation. When I had my crew cab with 8' bed I was questioned all the time about its overall length and how I could drive such a boat lol. Some want an 8' bed crew, some a short crew, some a short extended. One holds no more value than the other.....holding value is only perception. When it comes right down to it your losing either way....none of them come even remotely close to being an investment.

No question any vehicle is an expense. I shopped for a used truck for quite awhile before I gave up and just bought a new one. Every one I saw with a really attractive price at at first glance was either an extended cab or 2wd. If you can live with one or both of those issues you can get a great deal on a used truck, especially if you're willing to go gas.
Lantley
Nomad
Jun 27, 2018
Ralph Cramden wrote:
IdaD wrote:
A crew cab holds value quite a bit better than an extended cab.

It does? Taking into account an extended cab is around 1.8K to 2K less on the front end that has not been my observation. When I had my crew cab with 8' bed I was questioned all the time about its overall length and how I could drive such a boat lol. Some want an 8' bed crew, some a short crew, some a short extended. One holds no more value than the other.....holding value is only perception. When it comes right down to it your losing either way....none of them come even remotely close to being an investment.

I see way more crew cabs vs. extended. I would say the demand is much greater based on what I see on the road.
When it comes times to sell crew cab demand will also be greater vs. extended. I imagine this difference will reflect in the price as well.
Ralph_Cramden
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2018
IdaD wrote:
A crew cab holds value quite a bit better than an extended cab.

It does? Taking into account an extended cab is around 1.8K to 2K less on the front end that has not been my observation. When I had my crew cab with 8' bed I was questioned all the time about its overall length and how I could drive such a boat lol. Some want an 8' bed crew, some a short crew, some a short extended. One holds no more value than the other.....holding value is only perception. When it comes right down to it your losing either way....none of them come even remotely close to being an investment.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jun 27, 2018
ugeesta wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
ugeesta wrote:
It really is a wheelbase and length question. Does the additional 5” of wheelbase and 9” of overall length of the Double cab long box make a noticeable improvement in the ride? If not, the Crew Cab is likely the preferred truck.

I do understand that a dually is better for pulling this trailer, just not an option at this time.
Is there a shortage of Duallys?

Nope. There is a bunch of them around here. Just no place to put it and they don't go through the McDonalds drive thru very easy.

I would get the GMC. Chris
ugeesta
Explorer
Jun 27, 2018
Huntindog wrote:
ugeesta wrote:
It really is a wheelbase and length question. Does the additional 5” of wheelbase and 9” of overall length of the Double cab long box make a noticeable improvement in the ride? If not, the Crew Cab is likely the preferred truck.

I do understand that a dually is better for pulling this trailer, just not an option at this time.
Is there a shortage of Duallys?

Nope. There is a bunch of them around here. Just no place to put it and they don't go through the McDonalds drive thru very easy.
Huntindog
Explorer
Jun 27, 2018
ugeesta wrote:
It really is a wheelbase and length question. Does the additional 5” of wheelbase and 9” of overall length of the Double cab long box make a noticeable improvement in the ride? If not, the Crew Cab is likely the preferred truck.

I do understand that a dually is better for pulling this trailer, just not an option at this time.
Is there a shortage of Duallys?
KD4UPL
Explorer
Jun 27, 2018
I personally would not want anything less than an 8' bed. I'd love a 10' if they made one.
My work truck is a double cab and it is really too small to have adults in the back seat for any length of time. You have to slide the front seats forward to make it work at all. I wish everyday it was a crew cab and not a double.
jaycocamprs
Explorer
Jun 27, 2018
For us the 8' bed is a must, not even going to think about anything less. We also went with the Double Cab truck, it’s just the 2 of us plus the dog. If we rode people back there often or far I would do the full crew cab.

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