short bed and TT

[clong]

I am looking at buying an 03 quadcab with a short box. I pull a 27' fifth wheel travel trailer and was wondering if anyone out there had had any problems with clearance to the cab when backing at fairly extreme angles.

 

[klenger]

I you talking about a travel trailer or a 5th wheel camper? The '03 short box distance from the cab to the rear axle is about 3" shorter than the 2nd gen. trucks, so it could be tricky. There are a couple of members with this combo.

 

[Dean Upson]

If you are talking about a fiver you will likely need a sliding hitch such as the PullRite.



Dean

 

[Fireman]

Or a long bed. In the long run You will probably be happier. Test drive one, I think you'll be suprised at how maneuverable it is.



Just one mans opinion

Fireman

 

[DPKetchum]

Some of these guys may not agree but friends i have with the short beds claim they ride choppery then long beds and say they would not buy one again. Myself i think they are kinda worthless and would never consider a short bed unless for wife etc in a small gasser 1500 sort. I also wonder if resale won't be affected. Most folks that really use a truck would'nt buy one. . Hope this dosen'nt offend any one.

 

[Dean Upson]

.

DP,



Certainly no offense here (check my sig). There is a real market for the shorties and I test drove a 2500 QC that rode like a dream before I ordered my '03. Some folks have a need for a smaller truck and they sure are easier to park . It can be an interesting enterprise to get my rig parked in the city. No doubt the long bed is better for most of us, but they sure sell a bunch of shorties



Dean

 

[klenger]

I need the exercise, so I park out in the boonies. Other than trying to make a u-turn, the LWB isn't any harder to maneuver. I had a SWB for about 6 months before the one I have now, and it did not ride as nice as the LWB.

 

[DPKetchum]

What i was told by people i work with that bought one was OK for in town but on old Dwight D Eisenhower type interstates etc the jounce they had was bad. Claimed with any weight or towing was really bad and did'nt control sway worth a toot. Two of these guys are Dodge Techs. then they say the lack of room did'nt hit them until a gooseneck etc. hooked up and no room for hay,baggage or much of anything else. The surveys done a decade ago showed the first time truck buyers purchased short beds and next time bought long beds!My wife and i may be prejudiced but everytime we see a short bed diesel we go OH nice truck,see that its short and say what a shame. I'll be curious about resale on these in several years.

 

[Dean Upson]

I don't know about the resale, but there is no arguement that the longer the wheelbase, the better the ride. That is just simple logic.



Dean

 

[DPKetchum]

And the more stable the tow. My wife calls them a car with a open trunk. Great for the guy hauling pinstraw for his home in the subdivison or the one horse owner but kinda useless for much of anything else. most of those folks don't need the towing capacity of the diesel could do just fine with a 1500 hemi or what not.