Short Bed Silverado

[travelnman]

I'm sure this has been talked about some where on the forum but what problems will I run into with a short bed Silverado Pick Up and a fifth wheel.It seems like there are issues, then what length bed is recommended and could I get away with a short bed. Looking at a 2016 Silverado with a short bed of course love this truck has it all
and even brown paint with brown leather. That's rare these days everything is black on black. Wish I knew more about this tempted to trust a sales person but I have learned a few lessons doing that. Mostly they don't really know themselves.

[Toolguy5]

I had 2006 Silverado short bed with a superglide auto slider worked great. I now have a 2015 GMC Denali with a B&W companion slider. In 3 years I have never used the slider.

[lazyboy]

I've had a couple short bed 6 1/2' and never had a problem. I had a slider in my first one and maybe used it once. I have a slider in my current GMC short bed and wish I didn't. It's more of a pain than it's worth. You shouldn't have a problem. Just remember what your working with.

[4bearhug]

donn0128 wrote:
Ypu can tow with a sjort bed. The trade off is,,,,,,
You loose 2 feet of useable cargo space,
You cannot carry a sheet of plywood or sheetrock with the tail gate closed,
You may need or want a much heavier slider hitch, thereby reducing your available cargo capacity,
You likely could not fit the truck with a folding bed cover,
Rarely have I ever seen a 3500 short bed truck. Which indicates to me your interested in a 2500 series truck? Which is fine as long as your looking at a short, light fiver. Once you go over about 12,000 pounds gross your going to want a 3500 series truck.

I have a 3500 Silverado w/ a 6.5ft bed. No issues for me without a slider hitch. My 5er is a 2010 Cardinal, 38'length and 14k lbs loaded for travel. It does have rounded corners on nose which make a world of difference. Also have a Trailair pinbox which extends out past the nose of the 5er. Another great feature to have with a std bed.

[tartan_camper]

I have a short-bed GMC Sierra and have a Pullrite Superglide hitch - no problems ever during the 11 years I've been using it.

[ZagiFlyer]

I have been towing my Jazz with this Silverado 2500 HD "standard bed" (now that they appear to make *really* short beds), since they've been new. I have probably pulled over 50,000 miles to Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, New Mexico, etc. I can tell you that I have never had a problem. I've got a slider hitch, but I can count the number of times I've had to slide it on one hand. Although, with a 6.5' bed I would definitely get the slider because when you do need it, you'd be SOL without it.

[AZ_T_T]

I have never had an issue. One benefit of the shorter bed is that when the tailgate is down and I am hitching the trailer up there is never a concern of the tailgate making contact with the trailer. My buddy has my exact truck with a long bed and he has to stop and shut the tailgate before he completely hitches so the tailgate won't hit his trailer.

[Firelime]

We have a 6.5' bed and when we bought our 5th I was concern about hitting. So I bought a Curt slider hitch. I have never needed to put it in maneuver position. Always have had plenty of room.

[Me_Again]

donn0128 wrote:
Get real!

I am real. In 2015 we bought a CC SB 3500, the first short box in 41 years. All the in between long box truck were Std Cab models and fit in garages. The long box RAM CC would have not have been a good fit in the garage we had when we bought it. We brought home a young saleman and an extended cab Ford long box to try in a garage in the mid 90's. Front bumper was inches from the wall for the garage door to close.

Moral of the story is like millions of others we have learned to live with short box truck. Snowbirding we see everything regarding TVs, and a great number are RAM 3500, GM 3500 and Ford F350 short box trucks. What one sees on dealers lots can vary a lot by region to region.

Another thing that has changed is that the long box that was considered the standard box has now changed to the short box be called the standard box and the one 1.5' longer is called the "long box"

BTW, I have a B&W manual slider, and use it all the time so the latch handle will clear our front bed box. So I have little worry about cab/window contact.

[Second_Chance]

garyp4951 wrote:
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29520699/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

Clicky: https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29520699/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

[diazr2]

I have always had a short bed ford 6'5"bed have been pulling a fifth wheel for over 18 years never had a problem.

[RollandB]

I went from an extended cab short box to a crew cab long box. The two best things is a smoother ride and more room to put stuff in the pick up bed. The down side with the longer wheel base is when backing into a tight spot when the roadway isn’t wide.

[MNRon]

Been pulling a 14000lb 5er for 4yrs with a 3500 Silverado SRW shortbed. Love it! I have a fold up tonno that rides in front third position when towing. Also have a Superglide hitch (probably more for comfort than necessity, but would do it again). I carry more stuff than I need in the bed and basement. If you want a 5er beyond 16k-17k range you’ll need a duality IMO but less than that an SRW should be fine. I’d recommend skipping 2500 and getting 3500 if buying new. Good luck.

[donn0128]

Get real!
The difference between a short and long bed is approx 2 feet. That 2 feet allows me to carry air compressor, extra stuff, fishing gear full sheets of plywood all with the tail gate closed and stuff flat on the floor!
With my fold a cover in place and open, I have 2 feet of space under cover. I have approx 150 pounds less weight with no slider hitch. I can take my hitch out in two pieces by my self. Short bed trucks ARE a rarity in 2500 and 3500 configuration. Go look in dealers lots and try to find one! Like I said "YOU MAY NEED OR WANT" I did not say you must have.
The OP is totally free to do what he wants. It is his money afterall. All I was trying to do was give hom things to think about, not get into an argument with you.

[Me_Again]

donn0128 wrote:
Ypu can tow with a sjort bed. The trade off is,,,,,,
You loose 2 feet of useable cargo space,
You cannot carry a sheet of plywood or sheetrock with the tail gate closed,
You may need or want a much heavier slider hitch, thereby reducing your available cargo capacity,
You likely could not fit the truck with a folding bed cover,
Rarely have I ever seen a 3500 short bed truck. Which indicates to me your interested in a 2500 series truck? Which is fine as long as your looking at a short, light fiver. Once you go over about 12,000 pounds gross your going to want a 3500 series truck.

You loose 2 feet of useable cargo space, NOT REALLY?
You cannot carry a sheet of plywood or sheetrock with the tail gate closed, SO
You may need or want a much heavier slider hitch, thereby reducing your available cargo capacity, NOT WITH NEWER 5TH WHEELS
You likely could not fit the truck with a folding bed cover, REALLY?
Rarely have I ever seen a 3500 short bed truck. REALLY? Which indicates to me your interested in a 2500 series truck? REALLY? Which is fine as long as your looking at a short, light fiver. Once you go over about 12,000 pounds gross your going to want a 3500 series truck. TRUE

[LadyRVer]

Had a short bed Silverado, no problem with it. Had two short bed Dodge's. No problem. Had a slider hitch, only used it once then tore up the tailgate because it slid back to far and the pin box hit the tailgate. I have seen some "short beds" which were really short. Too short. But a normal size short fine should be fine, especially if the fifth-wheel pin box is extended out front of the fiver. I now have a long bed, only thing available in my price range when I bought. Nice, but longggg.