SB vs. LB?
You will, no doubt read the usual suspects with their viewpoint, but let me lay out the reasons I bought a short bed, extended cab truck and a Lance camper that would fit.
1. It would fit in the L.A. Music Center underground parking Garage, spiraling down 8 floors. A long bed or a dualie would not fit between the curbs in the spiral.
2. I originally bought a SB as I wanted a tug for my jeep-on-car-trailer.
3. I looked in the Recycler one morning and found a 3 yr. old Lance Lite with the long snout; the extended cab version; called the guy; shortly after met him; we went to the bank; I gave him $6500 cash; he gave me a bill of sale (no registration needed in CA); he gave me all the hardware i needed; after securing hardware, a couple days later I picked it up at a storage yard, loaded it up, cranked up the jax, and drove it home. We've camped over 200 nights in the box.
4. I can make very sharp turns with the 139" WB, which my bro with a LB Ford had to triple pump to make. Part of that is that we have coils and 4 links in front and my bro has leaf springs which limit your turning radius.
5. @ 20 feet, loaded it will fit in a regular parking spot in a lot or along the curb.
6. You gain a very small amount of storage in the 'wings' at each rear side.
7. You actually don't loose much space inside with an 8'-6" box, as 18"-24" variously hang over the end of the bed.
8. You can use that 'hangover' space to put your utility aluminum rack in the receiver hitch for more storage yet.
It's just a compact package that has worn well for us, even in the XTC mode. Don't fear the Short Bed.
What ever you wind up doing, make it fit your circumstances;
the old, form-follows-function. Here we are last week in Afton Cyn. near the start of the Mojave Road:
jefe
