New truck

Here is my 2 cents worth for consideration. Unless you can find a truck with everything you desire that fits into your garage, I suggest that you should be considering the best truck for your towing and comfort needs ahead of your parking situation. Saying that not knowing your parking area at your home. If you choose a truck just because it fits you may be kicking yourself later because it just doesn't meet your real purpose, traveling and towing. Also, I started with a 2007 Chev 2500 extended cab and loved the truck but realized quickly I should have gone with a 3500. I now have a 2012 Chev 3500 crew cab and am far happier with it even though I thought I would dislike a crew cab.

Dayle1 wrote:
Since GM stopped production of the EC in 2013, you are not likely to find one on a dealers lot and will need to get a 2015 Double Cab (same size). Anyway, while you are at the dealer, ask about fuel tank size on the DC.

For 2015, all versions (RC, DC, CC) of both the 2500HD and 3500HD come with 36 gallon fuel tanks standard.

mdamerell wrote:
I believe you will find the simple extended cab is a thing of the past. To pass the side impact/crash test, they had to add a door pillar. Adding the door pillar basically makes it a crew cab.

Are Extended Cab Trucks An Endangered Species?

I just ordered an extended cab long bed 2014 Ford F350 srw at work. Still has suicide back doors.

jsiemers wrote:
Thanks for all the input. My current pickup is a 2002 Chevy, 2500HD, extended cab, 6 1/2 foot box. That's the size I'd like to stay with for more reasons than the garage size. I see from all the responses, that I will need to go to the dealerships and ask some questions. The web sites make it very difficult to find the answers I am looking for. One thing I have discovered in my research is that the new vehicles are about 4 to 6 inches higher at the bed rail than my current truck. Rats, just when I got the 5th wheel towing level.

I don't think the height difference is as great as you think, at least for GM trucks. Some owners have used longer shackles to lower the rear of the truck. Fuel tank size is another issue, on my '03 EC I couldn't stand the 26 gal tank and went with a 45 gal. replacement tank from Transfer Flow. Since EC sales volume is so low, larger replacement tanks are no longer available for the EC. Since the crew cab is just 9 inches longer and still fits in my garage and comes with a 36 gal tank it has worked out great for me. Since GM stopped production of the EC in 2013, you are not likely to find one on a dealers lot and will need to get a 2015 Double Cab (same size). Anyway, while you are at the dealer, ask about fuel tank size on the DC.

Thanks for all the input. My current pickup is a 2002 Chevy, 2500HD, extended cab, 6 1/2 foot box. That's the size I'd like to stay with for more reasons than the garage size. I see from all the responses, that I will need to go to the dealerships and ask some questions. The web sites make it very difficult to find the answers I am looking for. One thing I have discovered in my research is that the new vehicles are about 4 to 6 inches higher at the bed rail than my current truck. Rats, just when I got the 5th wheel towing level.

RAS43 wrote:

Ford still shows a super cab configuration. As someone else pointed out, Dodge no longer offers anything like these.
I share your needs-a long bed with a little larger cab but I don't haul anyone in the back seat. Just need a place for a few items including a small cooler and the cat carrier. Others here have different needs and ideas.

Same here with wanting an SC with a long bed. Mine came with the 38 gallon tank and I don't have to stop and raise the tailgate when hooking up. That must all depend on the length of the FW overhang and pin.

I much prefer my 8 foot box. I have my generator behind the SC and can still fit my 6 foot long ramps in the bed.

And it all fits in my garage. Barely.

I think you didn't check the website thoroughly, Ford and chevy provide good cab club, check the website once more.

I measured my garage before trading up to a 2500HD. Any longer and I would not be able to get around the back of the truck without leaving the garage door open. I'm glad I bought mine when I did. We don't plan on buying a 5th wheel any longer than what we have so no need for a new truck. Mine is a 2008 and only has 44,000 on it.

I have a 2013 GMC 2500 extended cab, bed is about 6 1/2 ft. Came stock w/ 36 gal gas tank. Gas 6.0 gas engine. I got the 4.1 rear which is only $100 extra. All these newer trucks seem to be taller. My 5th wheel is a bit nose high going down the road and I carry a small step ladder in the bed just so I can reach over the side of the bed to get something.I am average height.

We bought an extended cab GM product and it fit into our garage just fine, as long as I was able to lightly bump the front bumper into the wall in the front of the garage. Went to a crew-cab with a short-bed GMC and it was a bit shorter and I didn't have to hit the front wall of the garage to park it in the garage. I think you might want to measure the total length of the trucks to see what might fit, you might be a bit surprised about the crew-cabs' lengths.