Dave H M wrote:
i don't get the continual comment on the sheet of plywood?
... :W
OK, I'll bite!
Mine is a long bed. Actually, the inside floor comfortably fits a 4x8 sheet of plywood laying flat between the fender wells, and I still have an inch left between the plywood and the tail gate.
Not only plywood, but 4x8 sheets of drywall, that lay FLAT on the floor. If they don't lay flat, and bounce when traveling, they break in half! 8 foot lengths of lumber no problem, and 10 foot lengths of lumber will fit corner to opposite corner without overhanging the tail gate.
Eight foot beds simply hold more stuff. With my configuration with the construction shell, the side panels have 2 enclosed shelves on each side. That hold a lot of small stuff, like electric cords, lumber for leveling the trailer, even our canoe supplies. I carry most of my extra tools in those side panels.
That leaves the bed of the truck for: A massive amount of fire wood, the blue sewer tote (35 gallon on wheels), a generator, an air compressor, a 7 foot step ladder, a 35 gallon extra water tank for when we do not have full hook-up, spare tire for the trailer, as the bumper is used for a cargo cage on the trailer, 2 different tool boxes, one exclusive for water connections, the other for tools exclusively for the camper, my trailer tongue platform, and sometimes our dog stroller.
It all fits, very well and very nice.
For me, I'd not have anything less than a long bed. In MY world, there IS more than camping I use the truck for. With the crew cab, 4 door, seating 6, the truck gets used when we have more than just the 2 of us traveling. It's roomier, inside and out.
I've not driving a short bed in a long while, but I do know, after owing 3 long bed duly's, the ride is stable as a rock! All 3 have towed marvelously. I've never had trailer sway, from an 18 foot trailer to my now 35 foot trailer. It pulls my 10 x 6 foot bed utility trailer like it doesn't even exist.
I can't say the longer wheel base helps eliminate bumps. Indiana has some pretty bad interstates, and especially when towing the trailer, these interstates simply beat us to death. We don't feel that in the car at all.
Basically, YOU have to decide which is right for you. I voted for "Bigger is better" and for me, it has been.
What are the cons? I don't have any. I've adjusted to long bed trucks so much, I don't see any down-side.
Face it ... try parking the family car at WallMart, and you still have to walk half a mile to the door because the parking lot is always packed!
No difference with the truck.
The only down side with my truck, NOT because is a long bed, but because it's a duly.... I can't get through my bank drive through to use the ATM, so I get out and walk up. And my duly won't go through automated car washes. I think that is the only down side. Length? Not a factor in my opinion.
It still boils down to the question you have to ask yourself: What do you use your truck for when NOT camping or towing? There's a balance between getting a vehicle that is a great tow vehicle, and something that you use with a purpose when not towing.
