shortbed vs longbed

[Rcpilotlv]

What are some of the pros & cons of the shortbed vs. Longbed trucks. Looks, towing and size. Please tell me what you have and why you like it. . Still cant make up my mind. Help. . or are they about the same?

 

[MR V]

I am planning on buying a short box for a couple of reasons: 1) it will fit in my garage, 2) I don't really have the need for a long bed.

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Waiting to order a 2002 Quadcab SLT 2500 ETH-DEE. Mike

 

[RAMalama]

Long bed for me. Fifth wheel hitchs need long beds for the most part. When turning sharp, the corners of the trailer can come real close to your rear window. There are some 5ers however that have an extra long neck that allows for short beds to haul. It's mostly for smaller 5th wheels though. I haul dirt bikes as well quite a bit. It's nice to have extra room. It seems like as soon as you buy a truck, your friends all hear about it and you end up playing host and ringleader all the time! -Hauling their stuff and taking everybody with you!

Ian.

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2001 2WD Quad Cab HO 6speed 4w disc brakes. Less than 1500 miles. Bought 18MAY01!!! 35ft 14K-lbs triple slide 5er. Truck is completely stock so far...

 

[Skyjacked Ram]

I bought a truck to haul stuff (junk- don't let my wife know I said that), Short bed would be nice for parking but having that extra bed space has come in handy more times then I can count. My . 02¢ worth

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1998. 5 QC long bed 4x4 24v Auto 4. 10s spinnin' 33x12. 5x16. 5 mud BFG's on weld roadhawks factory center caps retained K&N Bushwacker fender flairs Dodge/Cummins 1ton mud flaps

 

[SandDemon]

I dumped my SB for a LB because:

-LB gets tighter turning with a 5th wheel.
-Can't get 4x8 sheets of wood in a SB
-Can't fit 2 motorcycles in a SB with tailgate up
-I'm 6'3" and I can't sleep with the tailgate up.

Jeff

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2001. 5 ETH/DEE 2500 4x4 3. 54 lsd, Autometer Boost & EGT. 33' Weekend Warrior 5er and an army of toys to fill it!
'96 1500 360 3. 90 LSD 3" cat back no muffler! 110,000 and still eating chebbys for lunch!

 

[fj40charles]

I had a shortbed truck once and I did not like it. I purchased a longbed Cummins because:

1. I bought a truck to haul and I want to be able to fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood without having to lower the tailgate.

2. If you have a toolbox mounted on a shortbed, your effective bed length is about 4 feet. Not much hauling capability.

3. Can't sleep in the shortbed if you have a tool box.

My 2 cents...
Charles

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2000 QC 2500 4x4 LWB ETC/DEE, Anti-Spin, 3. 54, Trailer Tow, Camper Special, DD1's, PS boost module, PS high idle kit, PS steel idler pulley, Autometer boost and EGT gauges, Westin nerf bars, Rhino Liner
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My Toy

1969 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
350 TBI, Turbo 400, ARB lockers front/rear, 4 wheel power disk brakes, 4. 88 ring/pinion, 3 speed transfer case, full roll cage, Warn 8274, MRT 36 bolt beadlocks with Super Swamper Boggers (16x35x15), Saginaw Power steering, custom bumpers/fenders/nerf bars/skid plate, GM tilt steering column, 6 point roll cage, RCI racing seats with 5 point harness. Loves to be pulled behind the Dodge and pass the powerjokes going up hills.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I love my long box. Kinda tough to farm with a shortbox. I am always hauling someting! If there was a 10 ft box I might consider it.

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John McEachern
Fort St John B. C. Canada
1998 12v, 4X4, QC, auto w/tc switch, air, tilt, cruise, 3. 55 gears, TST #6, Isspro boost/pyro/transmission gauges, BD VB&TC, CC industries headache rack and rails, JVC KD-SX949 Cd player, forest green, Brigestone Dueler M/T's 285/75/16, Eagle 16x8 rims, K&N airfilter.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have an 01' Shortbed. The ONLY advantage i can see to having a short bed is you can park it alot easier. Aside from that, i really wish i had a long bed. Especially since i have a tool box.
But i can still slide 6 sheets of 4x8 plywood in the bed (under the toolbox, and the tailgate open) and i haul 2 Motorcycles every weekend and even with the toolbox, they fit with the rear wheel on the tailgate. Basically, you can haul anything a long bed can, as long as the tailgate is down.
Just ask yourself what you REALLY need the truck for?. If you are going to tow with it and its NOT a fifth wheel type trailer, bed length does not matter. If the most you "Haul" with it is groceries and occasionally some lumber for home projects, is a long bed worth virtually immpossible parallel parking situations?, not to mention the tail end of your truck sticking out of most spaces and unlikley it will fit in most garages?. Personally i think long beds look nicer too. Just my ideas, good luck with your choice.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

I had my mind set taht I would get a SB. Well, after i ordered the truck, I had wished I ordered the LB because I was constantly hauling furniture and copper. I don't do this often, and my 6' box on my Chebby was frustrating. Lo and behold, the dealer screwed up the order and spec'd the LB #ad

If you plan on putting a toolbox in, you'll have a 4. 5' bed (witht he exception of the stuff that slides under).

I now wish that the dealer had screwed up the engine codes and spec'd the CTD

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01 2500 V-10 4x2 QC/LB, 4. 10, Ruenel Bumper/brush guard, RS 9000's, 2" frt springs 1500#/in, KC Daylighters, Rhino Liner, Spin Tech Muffler, DD 4" Tail, 265 BFG A/T, Lots more to come

 

[NVR FNSH]

Gotta disagree with EMD - I drove a LWB 2500 4wd for 1 year, a SWB 2500 4wd for the next 2 years & am now back to a LWB 2500 4wd. The SWB offers NO advantage for parking - I'm in the north 40 regardless of which truck I'm driving. Parallel parking sucks with either length truck.

It's amazing how much more stuff can be loaded into a LWB truck... ... .

Brian

 

[ftb87]

I have a short box. I like it because it fits in the garage and also the parking garage downtown. But, if your planning on using a 5er or hauling alot of stuff... . then a long bed would be best.

Frank

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01 White, Quad Cab,Short Box ,Sport SLT+,5 speed 3. 54 Ltd-slip,4X4,line-x ,Nerf bars,fiberglass tonneau cover

 

[Sky]

I have a SB and love it. I think it looks more sharp, and statisticaly they sell better and I make sharp turns better too. "Most" people dont use the whole box on LB's, unless thats why you bought it to do alot of hauling. No fiver here so im good.

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2001 QuadCab,SWB,Auto, 4X4,4" Flowmaster Raceing Exhaust, DTT TC & VB, EZ Box, Bosch 275 Injectors, Mag-Hytech transmission pan/Dana 70, K&N, Autometer pyro/boots guages, Eclipse cd player, Boston Pro componet speakers, 2 Solo Baric Subs, 33" BFG AT'S... ... .....

 

[DonBaggett]

I love my long bed. Had a short bed for 10 years before getting this truck. That CTD is a truck. For just an urban grocery getter, I'd get one of them little japenese things, but for a truck... #ad


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'01 2500 3:54/Auto SLT white/driftwood QC LWB K&N, Silencer Ring in glove box, Triple guages in A-pillar, bed caps, running boards. 29'Starcraft 5er.

 

[Bad340fish]

I got a short bed for a number of reasons. #1 if its not a dually it looks like a wiener dog(sorry LB guys) especialy if its 2wd. The parking spot deal DOES make a big difference around here at least. Plus the turning radious helps alot. I learned to drive/back/ and pull in a 1980 Dodge crew cab dually. I can stick this 2500 SB anywhere with a trailer behind it now lol. The bed of mine is used mostly for coolers and pit bikes. The hitch was the reason I went for the CTD. . plus it just rocks #ad



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Clark
1999 2500 QC SB 5spd, EZ, Flowmaster 3 chamber, K&N Re-0880
1968 Barracuda Formula S Viper Blue 11. 98@112 Currently scattered all over the garage

 

[Fireman Dave]

The long box really comes in handy when hauling stuff - not so crowded. Also, the long box makes for a bigger monster coming down the road. #ad

Parking can be tight, but I always park in the boonies anyway to keep the door dings away. I've also heard that the long wheel base rides nicer down the highway. This is my first pick-up, so I don't really know first hand if that's true.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; BedRug; Forest Green; Isspro Pyro, Boost, and Trans Temp Gauges; 27' TT

[This message has been edited by Fireman Dave (edited 05-29-2001). ]

 

[CUMAPART]

Long box for me. I got the quad cab and when I was looking and test driving, the short box just didn't look right on the quad cab. My work truck has a 10' dumper on it so I'm thrilled to even have a rear window.

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2001. 5 2500 DARK GARNET QC LB 4X4 6SPD HO 3. 54 EVERYTHING BUT THE COWHIDE ISSPRO PYRO AND BOOST ON THE PILLAR

 

[Rcpilotlv]

Thanks for your prompt responses! Theres a couple of things I didnt think about the two versions. Right now I'm leaning towards the longbed only because if I hit the megabucks I'LL buy me a fifth wheeler. Dont really see how you could make a mistake with either one. Happy truckin...

 

[klenger]

Short bed for me.
1) It fits in the garage.
2) I bought it for basic transportation and to tow TT/5th wheel. I think of it as a minature tractor (i. e. 18 wheeler)
3) Don't need to haul much in the back.
4) Tighter turning radius.

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Ken Lenger
2001. 5 2500 QC 4X4 SWB SLT, ETC/DDX 5 Speed, 3. 54 (no LSD), camper group, trailer folding mirrors, RBR CD/Radio, LT265/75R16E AT OWL tires, trailer tow group, Patroit Blue / Agate, Westin CPS Step Bars, Jordan Utlima Brake Controller, Weather_Guard 664 tool box
Trailite 21' Travel Trailer, ~4000 lbs loaded.

 

[Archive]

RC. . I'm glad U posted this ???? As I am about to order or purchase a new truck in about 3 weeks. I'm having a hard time deciding between a 1 ton and 3/4. (The 3/4 would have to be 4x4. . just for the looks. Probably not a 4x4 on the 1 ton. ) So price is about the same. .
Bryan

 

[Statebull626]

I was in your when I was looking for a Cummins. I thought that I wanted a LB for all the reasons that the other guys are saying, save the towing 5er, (looks better, 4x8 fits tailgate up, etc. ) If you are going to order the truck, no problem, but around here the dealers rarely stock LB, 2500, 4x4, CTD. I ended up buying the SB Quad. and I love it. The parking factor/turning radius can't be beat and the looks kind of grow on you. For as much as I put anything in the bed, I can haul anything with my SB that I could with my w150 LB; just have to have the gate down. Whichever truck you get you'll love it. Its the CTD that brings the smiles.

Tim

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2001 Quad cab SLT, SB,4x4, Lt. Driftwood, Agate cloth, Auto. , loaded, camper & trailer group, snowplow prep. , Extang taneau, Bosch 275's.