Looking at a short bed 2013 Crew Ram 2500 diesel. I remember reading somewhere about wheelbase effecting maximum length of trailer you should tow. Is there anything to that?One day soon we want to get a bigger travel trailer or maybe even a 5'er.

Long beds will usually ride better, short beds will park easier and fit better in a garage. If your considering a 5er down the road by all means shop a 35 series for payload alone.

More space in a LB and no need for a more expensive hitch. I had 1 SB and it was still easier to back into parking spaces so that part is a non-issue to me. My SB had a small gas tank... ggrrr! There wasn't very much I liked about the SB. Craig

A crew cab short bed will still have a pretty long wheelbase, actually it will be a longer wheelbase than the days when we didn't have crew cabs. It won't have any affect on towing a big trailer or 5th wheel as long as you're within the trucks weight limits. I use to pull a 12,000lb 30' 5th wheel with my quad cab short bed without any problems.Personally a crew cab short bed is still a long truck. A crew cab long bed if you live in the city and use it as a daily driver, the long bed can have it's own negative issues. Parking in the garage probably won't work, parking in the driveway might not be possible because it hangs out over the sidewalks, manuevering in tight parking lots can be troublesome.Depending on the brand a long bed may have a bigger fuel tank. My short bed Dodge has a 34 gallon tank, only 2 gallons less than the long bed.Bottom line IMO, short bed vs long bed with these 4 door cabs won't affect the trailer you want at all.

My extended cab short bed is about 1/2' longer than the standard cab long bed. In my case, I suffer from the 25% smaller fuel tank but enjoy the maneuverability of the short truck. When I towed a BP, I had less front swing when getting into tight spots. Now with my TC, I am as long as a crew cab long bed - The length is noticeable, but I still out maneuver the guys that are pushing 25' length.A longer wheelbase does help in porpoising. I towed the same camper with an extended cab Mazda pickup and Ford Bronco II with much less motion in the lighter Mazda.I was concerned how much additional leverage my BP would add by using a 2' extension on the hitch. Although I do feel it more when a big rig passes, it has not been enough to cause concern. Porpoising has not been an issue with the extension, but I have upgraded suspension. The other factor to consider is that my TV weight increased due to hauling a TC. It would take more force to my truck around than if it was unloaded...

If you are buying the truck for a fiver make sure it has enough payload to handle your pin weight. I wouldn't bother with a 3/4 ton, go to a one ton SRW unless you're planning on getting a huge 5'ver (over 3000 lbs pin weight) in which case a dually might be better. My personal preference is a short box SRW without a sliding hitch.

Does Bed length/wheelbase matter? | Good Sam Community

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Sep 25, 2013
We were in Lodi Ca 3 days ago and walking in the rv park I saw a very long 4 slide fifth and a 2500 short box GMC hooked up to it. Something about that look makes me think WHY would he want that? The year of the GMC was older than our 05.
chevman
64thunderbolt
Explorer II
Sep 25, 2013
A cc lb drw is best for towing if that works for you. I have my hitch mtd so the pin is 4" ahead of the axle center line. Rides like a dream. The wgt is distributed better. But when taking it shopping nowhere has spots long enough for it. Park in the back 40 taking 2 spota @ an angle. I usually take the compact car for those runs though. My truck is just for towing so it works for me.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Sep 25, 2013
catfishmontana wrote:
Just buy the man size and be done with it.

No kidding.........
dadwolf2
Explorer
Sep 25, 2013
catfishmontana wrote:
Just buy the man size and be done with it.

Really?? :R
Norskeman
Explorer
Sep 24, 2013
It is all about what you use the truck for.

Like the full size box - 8 foot. More storage and I don't need a 'slider" hitch.

A few times a year I take an generator (4000 watt Yamaha). I need the room for the generator and wood I bring along.

We have 12 foot kayaks that I haul on top of the truck - longer bed works good for us.

Picture of truck and our previous fifth wheel.
transamz9
Explorer
Sep 24, 2013
catfishmontana wrote:
Just buy the man size and be done with it.

HAHAHA!!! Too Funny.....
goducks10
Explorer
Sep 24, 2013
12 Ram CC LB 169" WB here, plenty of room in front of the hitch for all the stuff that won't go in the 5'er. Not sure it handles any better towing the 5'er as I never towed with a short bed. Parking can have it's issues whether towing or empty. Backing up with a LB can get tricky as it won't react the same as a SB. Also when backing up with the 5'er and your in some CG's with narrow tighter roads you need more room as the LB is 20" longer than the SB. I have never been in a predicament that I couldn't take care of with the LB, but may not of been in it with the SB. With all that being said, I would never go back to a short bed even if the ride was the same. I just like the extra room the bed has.
john_bet
Explorer II
Sep 24, 2013
cyberiankhatru wrote:
Looking at a short bed 2013 Crew Ram 2500 diesel. I remember reading somewhere about wheelbase effecting maximum length of trailer you should tow. Is there anything to that?
One day soon we want to get a bigger travel trailer or maybe even a 5'er.
This truck should have the same wheel base as my Quad cab long bed of 160.5", maybe a little shorter. The cc long bed I think has a 169" or so wheel base. I like my Q/C long bed.
catfishmontana
Explorer
Sep 24, 2013
Just buy the man size and be done with it.
transamz9
Explorer
Sep 24, 2013
tsetsaf wrote:
4x4ord wrote:
If you are buying the truck for a fiver make sure it has enough payload to handle your pin weight. I wouldn't bother with a 3/4 ton, go to a one ton SRW unless you're planning on getting a huge 5'ver (over 3000 lbs pin weight) in which case a dually might be better. My personal preference is a short box SRW without a sliding hitch.

I agree with the above except for slider hitch. You will need the ability to 90 degree the trailer at some point in time; why worry about it. We found our superglide new used for 400 on craigslist.

At some point you are going to have to learn to back your trailer. You should never have to get 90* with these trailers. If you want to tear up your stuff then do it but don't say you have to get 90* because it simply just ain't true.:S