Long Bed vs. Short Bed for Towing 5th Wheel???

[bowler1]

I know this is a matter of opinion, personal preferences and personal needs, but I would like to hear what people feel about this topic to inform my decision. Which do you prefer based on your experience?

I am planning to get a 5th wheel in the next year or so. I will probably get a one ton diesel truck to tow it (probably a Dodge due to the warranty mainly), and am debating over long or short bed.

I know there are a lot of advantages to a long bed, but not sure how big of a PIA it will be in parking lots, etc. and if the advantages for towing and hauling outweigh any daily driver drawbacks.

Ultimately another factor for me will be what's available on the used market--I can't really afford a brand new diesel truck.

Advantages for long bed that I see: better ride quality, better towing, no need for slider hitch, capacity, space for auxiliary fuel tank.

Advantages for short bed that I see: turning radius, parking, availability on the used market.

thanks for your help

Matt

[transamz9]

cummins2014 wrote:

blt2ski wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
Since when can I get a 10' long bed in a pickup? The std 8' bed us only way to go if you can truly get a long bed.......take it! Luv my INC with a 14' bed!

Marty

And you have a need .:S

Can you put 2-3 pallets of sod, pavers, wall block, trees 12-29' tall long in a truck? How about 3- 15 yrs of landscape material, be it lightweights like bark sawdust. Or lessor volume but heavy like rock product? 29' pieces of sprinkler pipe or equal?

YES I have a NEED!

Marty

I know you have a need, thats the reason for my post 🙂 My point is all this talk about having to have a long bed. I have no need, DON"T want one. I guess some don't seem to understand that.

No I can't do what you do, but then I think its apparent by now I don't need to ,nor want to .

Long story short, I can do all that and more with my short bed. It's called a 30' gooseneck trailer.

[cummins2014]

blt2ski wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
Since when can I get a 10' long bed in a pickup? The std 8' bed us only way to go if you can truly get a long bed.......take it! Luv my INC with a 14' bed!

Marty

And you have a need .:S

Can you put 2-3 pallets of sod, pavers, wall block, trees 12-29' tall long in a truck? How about 3- 15 yrs of landscape material, be it lightweights like bark sawdust. Or lessor volume but heavy like rock product? 29' pieces of sprinkler pipe or equal?

YES I have a NEED!

Marty

I know you have a need, thats the reason for my post 🙂 My point is all this talk about having to have a long bed. I have no need, DON"T want one. I guess some don't seem to understand that.

No I can't do what you do, but then I think its apparent by now I don't need to ,nor want to .

[blt2ski]

cummins2014 wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
Since when can I get a 10' long bed in a pickup? The std 8' bed us only way to go if you can truly get a long bed.......take it! Luv my INC with a 14' bed!

Marty

And you have a need .:S

Can you put 2-3 pallets of sod, pavers, wall block, trees 12-29' tall long in a truck? How about 3- 15 yrs of landscape material, be it lightweights like bark sawdust. Or lessor volume but heavy like rock product? 29' pieces of sprinkler pipe or equal?

YES I have a NEED!

Marty

[cummins2014]

blt2ski wrote:
Since when can I get a 10' long bed in a pickup? The std 8' bed us only way to go if you can truly get a long bed.......take it! Luv my INC with a 14' bed!

Marty

And you have a need .:S

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Advantages for long bed that I see: better ride quality, better towing, no need for slider hitch, capacity, space for auxiliary fuel tank."

I think you have answered your own question!

I daily drive "RAM" Dually, far outweighs the negatives of a shortie!

Somehow you long bed guys are convinced of the negatives of the short beds, and some are valid, if you somehow need the long bed.

Even if I needed a dually, I would still go with the Megacab , some just don't want or need a long bed. FYI, I have had 5 long beds, and can honestly say in the past 19 years with two different 350 or 3500 short bed trucks, never ONCE did I think I wanted or needed a long bed, matter of fact only time I even think about a long bed is when I read these silly threads about why the short bed guys need a long bed, and they are just wannabes 🙂

I'm here to tell the guy that made the comment about the " Wannabes " that 3500 Ram Cummins MegaCab is far from a wannabe towing a 38' fifth wheel, and he has no idea.

[cummins2014]

jorn wrote:
Do not fall for the running myth that you *need* a slider hitch in a short bet; that’s anachronistic these days. Many news 5th wheels are designed to be pulled by short bed trucks. I can go to 90º fine with my combo. We went straight to the Ram MegaCab because that cab! 🙂

I too have the Megacab, great towing truck, and the ride is just great.

And yes, I went from a manual slider to the Andersen fixed hitch, never needed to use the slider. Andersen is the only way to go if a slider hitch is not needed.

[jorn]

Do not fall for the running myth that you *need* a slider hitch in a short bet; that’s anachronistic these days. Many news 5th wheels are designed to be pulled by short bed trucks. I can go to 90º fine with my combo. We went straight to the Ram MegaCab because that cab! 🙂

[ACZL]

donn0128 wrote:
You see lots of wannabees pulling fivers. Personally the long bed is the only way to go. Yes, you hit the disadvantages. But you missed all the advantages when not pulling, like being able to carry full sheets of plywood with the tail gate closed, carrying a yard of yard stuff easily. Short beds are OK. Just not my idea of a real truck.

Donn--

Real trucks don't have spark plugs!!

Sorry couldn't resist. LOL

OP- test drive both in all cab configurations and go from there. All of us here that have both stand behind why they feel which is best and main reason is that it's what works for them.

Kinda reminds me of a saying:

1. Problem with most people is that they don't admit their faults. I'd admit mine if I had any.
---What this has to do with the topic is nothing, but good for a laugh---

[blt2ski]

Since when can I get a 10' long bed in a pickup? The std 8' bed us only way to go if you can truly get a long bed.......take it! Luv my INC with a 14' bed!

Marty

[Cummins12V98]

Dually parking at it's finest!

[john_bet]

I prefer a long bed.

[Edd505]

corvettekent wrote:
Parking a long bed truck is easy if you back into the parking space.

A lesson you learn quick, way easier. Another plus for long bed, with the hitch out you can lay a full sheet of plywood, dry wall, etc. in the bed. I have a tool box behind the cab but it does not go down to the bed. In my opinion at least an extended cab, crew is better. Can't think of how many times we have met people and head for town site seeing, eating, or just groceries.

[corvettekent]

Parking a long bed truck is easy if you back into the parking space.

[Me_Again]

I towed for years with long bed Std cab trucks. In 2015 we bought a new RAM SRW 3500 short bed. My V-Box fit behind the B&W manual slider just fine. The Front book that I had in a 93 and 2001.5 RAM had to be modified to fit in the front of the bed. I actually modified it a second time when be purchased a larger 5th with with a different pin box.

DW he not want a long bed crew cab as a winter daily driver while snowbirding in Arizona.

We are happy with our decision. Chris

[goducks10]

I'd give up cab space before I'd give up bed space. It's just the wife and right now I have a CC LB. I would easily go to an SC LB. I like the fact that I have 4+' of space between the cab and the 5th hitch. I also don't need a slider hitch.