Long Bed Or Short Bed

[radar doctor]

Going to buy a 04 RAM, Want to use a 5th Wheel, Do I want to buy a Long Bed or a Short Bed???? Please give me yout idea's??? Thanks Members... ... ... ... .

 

[klenger]

LWB unless there is some driving (no pun intended) reason to get the SWB, like if the LWB won't fit in the garage. I've had both, and like the LWB much better. Only real drawback is making u-turns on narrow streets, but that's a small sacrifice.

 

[gogriz91]

The LWB is only $150 more. To me that's a bargain for what you get.

 

[SSlevin]

Man I looked at a truck like mine in the shorty it looks weird. I would go for the long bed of course I park outside.

 

[DPKetchum]

Pulling a fifth wheel. A LONGBED. On a S/B once hooked up no room for anything else. Ride also is improved as well as turning sharply.

 

[StephenThomas]

I've had both... . a long bed and now a short bed. For what you are pulling, I would advise a long bed.

 

[loncray]

Yes, for your purposes you want the LB. I got the SB - I think with the Quad Cab and a tall cap it doesn't look too stubby. I also have to park in fairly tight confines at work and I like to back into parking spaces - the SB was best for me.

 

[Big MAK]

Towing... Absolutely Positively a Long Bed.

 

[lmills]

pulling a fifth wheel, definitely a long bed. I would want to keep the trailer as far away from the cab as possible. The short bed is nice for manuevering in tight spots, but in all honesty how many really tight spots will you get into with a fifth wheel trailer?

 

[TAdamsCT]

Sounds unanimous! I got the Quad cab/long bed so I can't fit in parking spaces.....

 

[JRMora]

Originally posted by AdamsTa

Sounds unanimous! I got the Quad cab/long bed so I can't fit in parking spaces.....

Try it with training wheels!







Juan

 

[PJ]

a Duelly should take care of the parking place problem. It takes 2 spots!

a few years back, my wife took my 97 duelly to the University to work and got a parking ticket. All the spaces were designed for Volkswagons and Hondas. Both outside rear tires were "touching" the white lines! That was a chicken ticket that cost me $75!

Since that time, I got handicap plates on that truck and she parked in a closer spot and didnt have to walk! University police couldn't do squat as I would meet her everyday and go to lunch together. That made it ok as even tho she parked in the handicap spot, I removed the truck. That made it LEGAL! That really torked off the University Police! Nothing they could do!

 

[RobbieH]

Also keep in mind a bed tool box will take up a large portion of a short bed.



At work I take 2 spaces empty, 7 with the trailer. I have to pull through and hang into the space behind me.



I would not trade my longbed for a shortbed.

 

[RACE427]

Longbed

Longbed is the way to go, too bad Dodge did not make an even longer bed, say 10 feet, that would be perfect for those family camping trips. Longbed truck looks great with a matching cap that is not higher than the cab height. Sort of reminds me of a Freight Train rolling on down the tracks! LOL



By the way, dark colors will make the truck look smaller than it really is and light colors will make it look larger!!



Hope this helps!

 

[klenger]

I tink a 7' bed would be neat. Had one of those on a '78 Jeep J10.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by radar doctor

Going to buy a 04 RAM, Want to use a 5th Wheel, Do I want to buy a Long Bed or a Short Bed???? Please give me yout idea's??? Thanks Members... ... ... ... .

I'm also in the LWB camp, but if you are going to pull a 5th wheel a lot I'd also get the duel rear wheels, for stability. It's never happend to me, but I don't think it would be very fun to be running down the road at 65MPH and have a rear wheel blow-out on an SRW truck while towing a 5th wheel.

 

[Johnstra]

A truck bed is to put things in, so LWB is definitely the way to go. You'll be surprised on how many occaisions the extra space will serve you well.

 

[SSlevin]

At work we have a few guys with 4 door trucks we all park side by sid backed in at an angle for door room. We do stay betewwn our ines but not by much and we all hang out into the drive area.

 

[Steve M]

I've owned one short bed truck and the rest long beds. (see reader's rigs) I never made contact between the 5th wheel and cab with the short bed but, it sure was close on tight turns. The long bed takes all the worry out of it. I'll not own another short bed.

 

[y-knot]

My take is pretty simple, if you are going to tow with the truck it should be a long wheel base. You mentioned the use of a fifth wheeler, so you know the answer.