2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 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!!!!!



Here is a pic of a Short-box crew-cab dually I know of.



What do you all think would be best???





Thanks..... Ryan

 

[B.G. Smith]

Short or long

IMHO, it would look better with short bed, get into those Honda parking places easier and should be fine to pull a 5th wheel, might have to get a slider hitch fo manuvering in close places but that is not a big expense. And of course it would ride a little better with the long bed and be a little more stable towing That said, if you are not as old as me, go with the short bed. bg

 

[C. Harlan]

My opinion is not a firestarter, but the plain spoken honest truth. No offense to some of y'all who have trucks just for looks, but Shortbed duallies are sissy trucks in my opinion. It defeats the purpose of having a large truck. I mean, come on... . why would you want a 1 ton, with a little bitty box? You cant really use it. . Keep in mind if you drag a 5'er, you will have to watch the back of the cab, as not to hit it with the frond if the 5th wheel while turning. I have met several people at past livestock shows who try to pull cattle trailers, and horse trailers with the flat front end in a short bed, and 2 of them had to do extensive body work on the cab from it being too close in proximity of the trailer. . At least with a long box you can put a toolbox in the bed for stuff to stow away (Jack, tire iron, etc. ) And for the fitting in the "Honda parking spaces", Dude. You have a truck, and a large one. Be an ass and take up 2 spaces. Do it because you can! Let it be known that the truck you are building is going to rule the road! I mean, you will have the awesome looks of a Chevy, which I also own along with my CTD, and the reliability of a REAL diesel, being a Cummins. So, long story short, get a long box.



-Chris-

 

[OTRPU]

Hel!, it's your money, buy what you want. I'm in no position to talk about short trucks. Never owned one, prolly never will. But then, I can forget about ever parking anything I own in a standard garage. It's the same theory as Kentucky long rifles and a longer sight radius, the longer the base the smoother the effective ride. And I hear it tends to keeps things alittle more in line going down the road. But I'm the other extreme, don't care if I ever drive it around town or park it in my garage. I can tell you I pay a penalty when it comes to turning around or backing up. With pickups, length can have disadvantages. But for a road truck, most the time it's a better deal. But as long as I fly my flag you can dam well buy anything you want, even if I think it looks strange. People seem to tend to worry way to much about what somebody else thinks in my opinion. And that's all this is.

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Tow Safe,

Steve J.

 

[Rebel_Horseman]

I agree. Buy what you want and be happy with it. Don't settle. The long bed will ride better and I think ti looks better. That's just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions. My uncle had a 2000 model short bed Chevy dually with the 6. 5. I got to drive it a bunch and it drove and turned great. He said it towed their 36' livestock trailer well too. But, like it was posted earlier, if you go with the short bed you are going to have to watch out for the cab when turning and such. Another thing too. If you are going to cut out the suspension and install the Dode SFA setup, your steering is going to be different than the Chevy. Just some things to consider. I like the way the short bed dually look more or less and they do have advantages, but if it were my money I'd go with the long bed. But it's not my money, so do what YOU think is best.



Reb [><]

 

[kentdiesel]

Having owned longbed and shortbed trucks my preference is longbeds. A extra cab or 4 door with a shortbed looks like it's overcabbed and underbedded to me. MHO



Kent

 

[rmrc]

Not to restate what has already been said. My vote,,, Long Bed!!!!!!!!!!

 

[swampinboy]

Hey, quite a project, cool idea. My question is how do you plan to use the truck, work or play? I had a long bed when I was working with it (construction), but now taken on new career and switched to a short bed for looks. I tow a 26 5th with RBW hitch(excellent product at an inexpensive price built by the KISS principle) no slider and can turn about 75 to 80 degrees w/o hitting, never had a problem putting it where I want it. I would base your decision on how you will use the truck. I also bought a 20' car type trailer for when I do need to haul something (saves on box damage too). Have fun and flip the coin... .