Long bed or short bed?

[RGardner]

Has anyone gone from a long bed truck to a short bed and wished they hadn't? Or vice versa? Just what are the measurements on the long and short beds? I have always had long bed trucks but have found a truck just like I want but it is a short bed. Any help will be appreciated.



TIA

 

[lmills]

I had a short bed and bought a long bed this time. The short bed is 6. 5 " the long bed is 8'.



I bought the short bed the first time so that people would be less likely to ask me to haul things. The problem was that I couldn't haul things for myself.



If I were going to buy a truck to just have it and not use it I would still go for the short bed. They are easier to manuever and have a tighter turning radius.

 

[RGardner]

Do you notice any difference in the ride?

 

[JLockhart]

Originally posted by RGardner

Do you notice any difference in the ride?

I'm going from a long bed to a short bed because I'm tired of having to put so much effort into planning gas stops when towing. (Actually, the Cummins will take care of that!) The LWB truck is just too cumbersome in cities and towns when on vacation. The 03 SWB truck I drove had an incredibly superior ride to my 97.

 

[DocDetonancour]

8ft. to short

I so seldom used the long bed I am changing. Also I had a tool box and that made the floor a short bed anyway. I'll probably go with a tonaue (sp) cover this time.

 

[Steve G]

I went from a LWB to SWB. The SWB is easier to maneuver in parking lots, city etc. As far as the ride, I test drove both and I could not notice any appreciable difference in the two. I very pleased with my SWB.



Steve

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I went from shortbed to shortbed and I'm Peachy King



Vaughn

 

[2003Cummins4Me]

i prefer the shortbed over the long bed... because it does well in what i do most with it:driving. its not as hard to meneuver and park and in my opinion they also look better.

 

[hdfxrsconv]

I had a 95 regular cab long box V10 that I replaced with a quad cab short box diesel. The overall length between the two were close. A quad cab long box would not have fit in my garage. I'd have to park the quad cab Dodge outside, and let the wife park her Liberty inside.

 

[DPKetchum]

I bet resale on S/B will not be as GOOD. my opinion is S/B in a diesel/heavy duty truck is a useless as "well you know'. I know S/B are selling but surveys showed poor interest in the working truck market. I've got a S/B. Its a 1500 Slt and it hauls grocerys and pinestraw.

 

[Tony T.]

I think the shorty's and the longbeds both have there advantages and disadvantages. Kinda depends on how a person was going to use them. As far as resale goes, before I bought new, I was looking at used, and was finding the longbeds about two to one over the shorts, every one had already snatched up the shorty's. But, hey you stick a toolbox or fuel tank in the back of a longbed and you got a instant shortbed. Opinions! are what keeps us all from fighting over the same truck.

 

[lmills]

Well, I can't really say for sure about the resale on the full size trucks, but I remember back when I had a mazda I took a $500 hit for having a long bed. I was shocked to see that the resale value was higher for a short bed. Go figure, I had to pay more for a long bed, but got less out of it.

 

[DPKetchum]

Well I know I mentioned this issue in this forum many moons ago and was poo/pooed for it. Then a fellow member had to sell his early 03 s/b due to job loss etc. His later comments were when called about the truck for sale and he said it was a s/b they said oh shucks etc. and did'nt look. Times I know have changed some but 10 years ago the big three did surveys on S/B versus L/B and THEN FIRST time truck buyers bought S/B and on 2nd purchase of a truck bought L/B. I think the SUV craze might account for more recent trend in S/B. But I do KNOW that cattle/horse/lots of Rv ers,construction folks,small businesses and I could go on have no use for a S/B trucks.

 

[RGardner]

Thanks for all the help and good information!

 

[Kilby]

The LWB truck is just too cumbersome in cities and towns when on vacation.

You think that's bad, try it with a LB dually.

I stayed with a long bed because I'm always carrying pallets and need to carry two at a time. A short bed can't do that. Once you've driven a long bed for a bit, you don't sweat driving in towns at all. Well I don't anyhow and I live in the Los Angeles area.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The short bed (sb) is indeed easier to maneuver, park in cities, take on mountain trails. The tighter turn radius can really help, especially if you want to turn around on a trail. High centering (that is, scraping bottom midway between the front and rear wheels on a trail with bad dips) is less likely with the sb.



However, I prefer the long bed (lb) for these reasons:

*you can haul more stuff

*larger fuel tanks etc. won't fit in the sb because the wheel houses are too close to the front wall of the bed.

*larger fifth wheels can be turned easier without hitting the back of the cab

*longer wheelbase is more directionally stable for towing

*sheet of plywood etc. fits with tailgate closed

*with a tool box or tank in the sb, it is harder to carry plywood etc. ; without, the plywood rests on the tailgate, as it would with a lb having a tank in the bed.

*slide in campers are not practical (too small) in the sb

*you can sleep in the lb when on a hunting or fishing trip without removing everything from the bed.

Hope this helps.

 

[DPKetchum]

Hey I live outside Athens Georgia(UGA) and go into Atlanta from time to time. I manage to park and turn around kinda were I need to without much hassel. I just worry about car mirrors hitting my fenders. Same height!

 

[Mr.Goat]

I needed the long box . But I didn't want the truck to have the turning radius of a Grey Hound bus. So I went with the reg cab. No regrets. As far as resale value, I don't concern myself with it. I buy trucks suited for my purpose's not the next guy's. Pete

 

[DPKetchum]

Not every one has that luxury. I myself from homes,boats,horses,autos etc. is concerned with resale. Yes I buy for myself but I do look at what might be the future. I wanted a 3500 srw 4x4 48re h. o. 3. 73 gears. look at my sig. it was 3k cheaper due to inventory etc.