Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Short box or long box?

[RyanB]

Hey everyone, pretty new to the TDR and just want to say hello and say this this board is amazing for all the information it has.



I am just about to start building my truck. Its a Chevy (yeah I know but its got all the good stuff) I am building a 97 Crew-cab with a CTD/NV4500 and swapping in the D80 rear and the D60 front with the coils. Pretty much its the best of both worlds. The space of the crew-cab and a diesel that actually will last past 100K.



My question is, the truck is going to be a dually and is pretty much totally custom. Chevy made short box duallys from 97-2000 and they are very rare but I love the looks of the them on the crew-cabs. Do you think this would be okay for general use having a short box or should I go with the long box. Either way I will be getting a normal box and slapping on the dually fenders. As far as the short box goes, to do it its just a mater of moving the spring hangers forward. I am wanting to pull a fifth wheel trailer with it but I think there would still be plenty of room infront of it for a tool box or... ... ... STACKS!!!!!



I have atatched a pic of a Short box Crew-cab Chevy so you can all see an actual pic of one.



What do you all think would be best???





Thanks..... Ryan

 

[TPCDrafting]

I have a shortbox and will buy one again next time. I use it to go into the woods and also as a grocery go getter. That's when I'm not pulling a trailer. Especially with a crew cab, you'll appreciate the tighter turning radius. If your going to pull a 5'er, I would suggest getting a sliding hitch that can allow you more cab-to-trailer clearance when turning in tight spaces. On the other hand, if you're going to use the truck to haul lots of stuff around in the bed, once you put a tool box in a shortbed, you really just have trunk left, not a bed. In that case the long bed would be better. Good luck on your conversion.

 

[Ncostello]

I'd go with a short box for various reasons. Only problem is when you install stacks and/or toolbox the room goes away quickly. I'm on my first shortbed now and miss the long bed once in a while... like the other day when I wanted to move a golfcart but realized the rear axle would be over the tailgate and more than likely break it when hauling. But 90% of the time the short box is fine for me. Chevy CTD's are cool. I almost considered putting a CTD in my previous C2500HD but time wasn't on my side.



Ford also sold the CrewCab dually short bed. They are rare too but I've seen them and talked to the owners. In fact, the first one I ever saw was towing a 5th wheel sprint car trailer and it had a tool box.

 

[Boondocker]

shortbed vs. longbed

I think this is a really tough question unless your application demands a longbed.

When I was shopping my truck, getting a SB was in the top 5 priority list. It would have taken a heck of a deal to "compromise" to a LB. My Dodge Quad Cab Short Bed is 18. 5 long. It seems like you're only talking about the difference in bed length since your truck is a custom job. However, the Dodges, length is in the bed, in the wheelbase and overall - more factors to consider.



Looks - totally subjective, no pros or cons

Overall length - Pro:none (in the Dodge, 2-gal bigger fuel tank)Con:may not fit in your garage, parking in general

Wheelbase - Pro:longer usually rides better Con:better breakover angle

Short Bed (bed length only)- Pro:less to wash! Con:some days there's just not enough room. Definitely not good for cabover campers. Problematic with 5th-wheelers.

Long Box (bed length only) - Pro:You still might run out of room, but you won't have to say - "wish I had a long box", much less concern with 5th-wheel, room for 5th hitch and standard size storage boxes / aux. fuel tanks, accomodates most campers. Con:More to wash?



Even as a SB owner, by my own analysis, it looks like I'd be better off with a LB. If I had to do it again, I might go LB. Am I unhappy with my SB? -NO. I like the way it looks, that's important. I have some tight parking spots at home and at work and a longer truck would aggravate the parking situation. When I go out to the boondocks, I appreciate the extra clearance underneith. I bought a Pullright Superglide 5th-wheel hitch (read expensive) to solve the shortbed/5th wheel problem. My bed is empty most of the time anyway but there have been times when I could have used just a little more space.



Good luck thinking it over.

Neil



P. S. You said

As far as the short box goes, to do it its just a mater of moving the spring hangers forward.

Are you talking about moving the axle forward or backward? That would involve a whole lot more than spring hangers, such as driveshaft, brake lines, maybe fuel tank assembly.

 

[RustyJC]

If you're serious about towing a 5th wheel, the long bed is preferred. The "workaround" is a short bed with a slider hitch (not cheap).



Rusty

 

[Dane]

If you plan to put a cabover camper in it remember bedsize=floor space...

 

[Hohn]

I am surprised so many prefer the shortbed. The ONLY thing I would have done differently is possibly go with the long bed.



But I love my truck. I have never run out of bed space, so I think I made the right choice (actually, I didn't have a choice, because this was the only one available that had all the other options I wanted).



I think the LB would ride better, but I appreciate the tighter turning and better maneuvering of the SB. If I was on the interstate all the time, i would get an LB. But since I do a LOT of around-town type of stuff, a SB is the only way to go.



Not to mention the SB is better for sportiness-- in looks and traction. At the strip, a SB will launch harder than a LB all day (at least in 2wd).



If I put a hardshell on my SB, I would have all the space I would ever need.



jlh