8' or 6.5' truck bed ?

[joesann]

Need some reasons the why 8' truck bed is better to tow with for a 5th wheel ? Please

[Dave_H_M]

DinTulsa wrote:
My next truck will be a 8 ft bed. Gives me more space to haul stuff, if I decide to upgrade to a fifth wheel I won't have to buy a slider and I like the way they look.

How come you think you have to have a slider with a short box?

[fireman41]

Can't see myself ever getting along bed anymore. I haven't had an long bed truck sense high school.
I currently have a crew cab short bed Super Duty. I have yet to say to my self I wish I had a longer bed.
I do however own a 12 foot dump trailer for the big loads. It is so much easier to unload than a 8 foot truck bed.

[DinTulsa]

My next truck will be a 8 ft bed. Gives me more space to haul stuff, if I decide to upgrade to a fifth wheel I won't have to buy a slider and I like the way they look.

[Arcamper]

I have had both and this is just my opinion. If I am going to the store for milk I like the short bed because it turns sharper and is easier to park in a regular space. It also fit in my house garage. If I am towing I prefer the long bed because it rides better and I can put more things in the bed like our dogs exercise pen laying flat in front of the hitch. I also don't need a sliding hitch on the long bed. I may have not needed a sliding hitch on the short bed but I had a Superglide so it was automatic. I don't miss the extra maintenance on it either. I park the long bed in my shop and going forward a long bed is all I will use for towing after owning both. All these answers are opinions and people are different so there is no wrong answer. What fits you the best?

[transamz9]

Jackfate wrote:

Dave H M wrote:
Din, you forgot to read the previous post on size of fuel tanks.

short box/little tank went out of style with granny's high button shoes. :W

Rams 8' bed has larger tank !

Turning radius larger on a 8' bed

By 1 gallon. If you are cutting it that close you are going to have more problems down the road then bed size. You'll be one of those coming on here complaining about your fuel system blowing apart.

[Jackfate]

Dave H M wrote:
Din, you forgot to read the previous post on size of fuel tanks.

short box/little tank went out of style with granny's high button shoes. :W

Rams 8' bed has larger tank !

Turning radius larger on a 8' bed

[hotpepperkid]

You couldn't give me a short bed truck, well maybe you could but I would just trade it for a long bed

[Dave_H_M]

Din, you forgot to read the previous post on size of fuel tanks.

short box/little tank went out of style with granny's high button shoes. :W

[DinTulsa]

Larger fuel tank, longer wheel base=more stability, haul more stuff in the bed. My next truck will be a long bed, whether I have a rv or not. And my garage is deep enough to fit a crew can long bed as well, that's a definite plus as I always park inside.

[transamz9]

I always haul plywood in my short bed trucks with the tailgate up. I do have to leave the tailgate down when I haul 16' lumber though.:)

[OutdoorPhotogra]

Love my long bed. Perfect for kayak. Full sheet of plywood as stated earlier. I have Supercab. I agree Super Crew (or equivelent) would be too much. I can't fit in my garage unless I have a spotter and a real need to get it out of weather.

[Towin_Toys]

the_happiestcamper wrote:
Larger fuel tank

Not any more. My '13 and my current 2017 6'7" bed both came with the same 36 gallon tanks as the 8' beds.

[hawkeye-08]

My plan was to get an 8' bed for the reasons mentioned, but it would not fit in the garage so I have a 6.5' bed, but then again, we have a travel trailer, not a 5th wheel so things work fine. If we were getting a 5th wheel trailer, I would lean towards the 8' for sure.

[goducks10]

No slider needed and more room between the cab and the 5th hitch for extra gear.