2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Longbed/Shortbed? Experiences please!

[BCFAST]

Maybe I'm getting old, but I am thinking hard about selling my truck in favor of a newer automatic. I know the 'electric trucks' wont get the mileage mine does, but still... . Can some of you with experience at both long-bed and short-bed trucks ? Do the short trucks ride much worse? Is it a pain having only a 6' bed when you wanna haul stuff? Your opinions please!

Thanks,

Brian

 

[Whitmore]

Brian

buy the long bed , put a tool box/ fuel tank combo in the back and the weight will soften the ride and you will still have enough room to haul butt and stuff in the bed... ... ... . Kevin

 

[RADdodge]

Go For The Long Bed

Rancho 9000 adjustable Shocks helped a lot! A 38 gallon Transfer-Flow aft tank helped. It's good but not as good as hauling a 4000 lbs. camper. I would like to get the "Comfort Ride" air suspension. I checked into it but the rep said the Dodge setup wasn't ready yet. That was 6 months ago. I would go for the long bed for the hauling capacity. Ride was secondary for me.



But if you like the looks of a short bed, well - My favorite saying is " I don't care whether it works or not, as long as it looks good" - might work for you. You know you're going to make it work! You might just not get around to making it look good though!

 

[Cooker]

IMO a long bed is the only way to go.

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

Go with the long bed. You won't regret it. Well I didn't anyway. My old truck was a short bed and there were a few times when I wished I had a long bed. I have noticed pulling my TT, the truck seems to handle the load better. And like the others have mentioned, if you want to put a truck box in the bed, you still end up with 6+ feet of useable bed space. Not so with the short bed.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I've had both a long bed and short bed Ram/Cummins, definitely like the shortbed better. Sooo much easier to maneuver in parking lots and park. It rides really well too.



It all amounts to what you are using it for. I drive around town a lot so the shortbed works well, but there have been times I wish I had more room in the back, like on my road trip to NW Territories.



Vaughn

 

[Mick2500]

Brian,

Two reasons I bought the short bed, It fits IN

the garage and it looks good. My last truck was

a long bed and I never needed the extra length.

Just dropping the tailgate serves almost the same purpose.



Mick

 

[klenger]

Although not required, the long bed is much nicer for pulling a 5er, but it is harder to find a house with a garage big enough for a QC LB. The LB is also harder to park, make U-turns, etc. I'm not sure what I'd do if I was buying a new one again. I might even consider a LB standard cab.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I have a short bed and don't regret or wish I had a long bed. I can manuever easier in tight spots in the woods or at walmart. The only thing is I don't do a toolbox/extra fuel tank cuz there wouldn't be any bed left if I did. I pull goosenecks regularly and don't have problems unless they have a big squared off nose on the front, then I'm just carefull. As far as 5'ers go you can get a hitch that slides back for parking the trailer. A friend has one and he really likes it for his short bed. As far as ride, I like the truck feel and don't care if I can feel all the bumps anyway. To each his own.

 

[emarsh]

What do you want your truck to do? Look good? Fit in the garage? I bought mine to tow (either one will do that) AND haul, cargo that is. The longbed wins big here. Its your call, you asked for input, my answer is based on what I use MY truck for, and to each his or her own. Women I'm sure would go for the short bed solely because it is easier to maneuver. You asked, I told!

 

[NVR FNSH]

I've owned both long & short beds. Both were '96 2500 CC 4wds. LWB was CTD/5spd, SWB was 360 V8/auto. Neither would fit in my garage. The SWB was originally my dad's and he bought it because it would fit in his garage in Mass - in '96 you couldn't get a SWB CTD so he got the V8.



I never really noticed an advantage in handling/manuverability/parkability of the SWB over the LWB. Then again, I was living in LA and the SWB was a big vehicle for that area.



Where I noticed the difference between the two was when I was hauling our dirtbikes. A short bed sucks - end of story. I bought - actually my dad bought it 'cause I *****ed so much - a bed extender and that helped. I still have the bed extender and use it occasionally on my '00 LWB. It's amazing how much more crap you can get in a LWB truck.



I don't like the look of a CC/QC SWB - the bed is too short relative to the cab & hood.



Hope this helps,

Brian

 

[Oxjockey]

I had put my money down on the long bed without having driven it and when I got to drive it, I didn't like it. The balance is way off between the front and the rear, at least versus my regular cab gas 2500 (long bed). I drove a short bed, and it doesn't wander as much as the long bed.



I think having the short bed is better for me - I don't haul things on a regular basis, so I can throw a cover on it and all it is is a big diesel car. I'll eventually get a trailer for hauling mulch & stuff...



Bryan

 

[Pit Bull]

Get the big one 3500 4x4 QC. You can sleep in the back seat when the wife gets mad, and you have enough bed to haul all your stuff away in one trip when see kicks you out. Plus it is the best looking truck on the road. JMHO

 

[Shovelhead]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

Get the big one 3500 4x4 QC. Plus it is the best looking truck on the road. JMHO

Pit Bull..... I agree

 

[CharlieMiller]

I vote for the 3500 also - awesome truck...

 

[K_Arts]

My wife and I actually own one of both. As far as driving around town, I prefer my shortbed, it's easier to get in and out of parking lots and has a tighter turning radius.



Though for longer trips or for towing, my wifes longbed has a smoother ride.



Just my $. 02



Kev

 

[MJawsman]

I'm surprised at the responses here. I remember when I bought my new 97, Dodge didn't have a short bed option. At the time there seemed to be a great deal of people (5th wheel crowd)crying over the fact that you couldn't the the CTD with a short box. Now that you can have either, the majority on this post favors the long bed. Was it simply because a bunch of people THOUGHT they wanted something they couldn't have, or is it because some people like to ***** about the fact that D/C isn't offering an option?



In either case, I've owned three long beds and one short bed. They both have their advantages, and I think it falls upon the user to determine what that use will be.

 

[Mark Baker]

If I had a dollar for every time I have needed my long bed, I could retire. It's a matter of whether you want to use your truck or borrow someone else's.

 

[Mad Max]

SWB 4 ME! ! ! !

My rig's primary duty is a commuter in Houston Traffic. I have a short bed because the parking garages I have to navigate are quite tight and the shorter wheelbase and shorter overall length make it easier to navigate w/o driving by brail and mess'n up my finish.



My "Electro" is getting 16-19MPG's in city and 19-21hwy, it is a 6spd and 2wd for what its worth.



MaX

 

[BCFAST]

Thanks everyone! I think all of the responses here are genuine and without prejudice... good job Rammers! I find my current rig difficult in the city traffic (parking garages, etc. ). That's the reason for the curiosity in the first place. I'm just not towing like I used to and dont want to row the gears anymore. Anybody wanna buy a clean and fast truck? Again, thanks for the input!