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09-11-2020, 10:13 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 19
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Short bed vs. Long bed
What are the pros and cons of short bed trucks versus long bed trucks. We bought a 39' Keystone 5th wheel, Gross weight of 14,000
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09-11-2020, 10:19 AM
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#2
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Community Moderator
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central, Arkansas
Posts: 11,202
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Long Bed is more storage, less likely to have an issue when backing in sharp turns, harder to park at Walmart, and larger turning radius.
Short Bed is less bed storage, Works fine backing up but if you get close to 90 degrees you have to pay close attention, easier to park, and shorter turning radius.
Backing up in a short bed assumes a radius front cap on the rig. If it is squared off you will need a slider hitch or a long bed.
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2004 Beaver Monterey Laguna IV
Cummins ISC 350HP Allison 3000 6 speed
2020 Chevy Equinox Premier 2.0t 9 speed AWD
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09-11-2020, 11:06 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 942
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Here's my opinion. I had a short bed 2013 RAM 2500 diesel pulling my 12k 5th wheel with out any issues. I had a slider hitch as I was new to 5th wheel and RV in general. From my experience, I would not have a short bed with out an auto-slider hitch. It came in handy many times. Sometimes because cars do not realize I needed more space to turn and had to go further out, resulting in a tighter turn than planned.
I could use a long bed for hauling something once a month or more. So I replaced my 125k 2013 RAM 2500 with a 2020 RAM 3500 with a long bed. 2+ more feet of truck makes a difference in turning and backing!!
I remember being told that a longer wheel base rides better. But the new 350/3500s do not ride like the trucks from 10+ years ago. Loaded or unloaded.
A crew cab short bed would have been about what my 2013 2500 lenght was. A RAM Mega Cab with a short bed is not much shorter than my CC LB 3500 is.
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2020 Ram 3500 Tradesman HO Diesel Aisen CC LWB Dually
2008 Cherokee WolfPack 295WP
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09-11-2020, 12:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Vancouver Wash
Posts: 7,227
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Long beds are just to useful......for lots of things.....I carry a trike scooter up behind the cab on a platform, loading with ramps over the side of the bed rails, carry generators, and other bigger stuff.....and use a auto slider......
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09-11-2020, 06:59 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,974
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You can lay a 4x8 sheet of plywood in a longbed and close the gate. You can fit alot more mulch or topsoil, a toolbox at the front and have as much open space as a shortbed and even an aux fuel tank and still mount your hitch. You can have an aux tank, a toolbox, and a full size pallet. The list of pros for a long bed is longer than the bed is. The only advantage a shortbed has over a long is turning radius, which effects things like parking. My work truck has an 8ft bed and so does my personal. Not one single time have i wished i had a shortbed. Ive wished for a smaller vehicle in some instances, but never a shortbed.
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09-11-2020, 08:34 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: So Calif
Posts: 3,521
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I have owned both, my current F350 is a long bed. I am glad every time I tow our fifth wheel I have this truck and not the short bed I had before.
Yes, backing and turning radius is sometimes a issue. But not enough of one for me to go back to a 6 1/2 box pickup.
It is not my daily driver either.
The OP has a heavy trailer, probably requiring a duel wheel setup. And at least a 1 ton truck.
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2020 Coachmen Leprechaun 270QB (COA Member)
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"Well done is better than well said"....Ben Franklin
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09-11-2020, 09:26 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,443
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Quote:
Originally Posted by falcon404
What are the pros and cons of short bed trucks vs long bed trucks
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I can't really answer this as I have only had Long Beds.
I like;
The smoother ride
More cargo space
If towing a 5er no need for sliding hitch.
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Russ & Paula, Portland, OR. The Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW Aisin 4X4 14,000# GVWR.
2005 Keystone Copper Canyon 293FWSLS Rear Kitchen 12,360 GVWR
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09-11-2020, 09:57 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 785
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Longer wheel base also helps control trailer sway.
Only few cons I can think of:
1) larger turning radius,
2) needs bigger parking spots
3) related to two.. not uncommon that a short bed might squeeze into your garage while long bed won't.
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09-11-2020, 10:03 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 148
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Long bed Ford F350 diesel has a significantly larger fuel tank than short bed.
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09-12-2020, 06:37 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jshopes81
You can lay a 4x8 sheet of plywood in a longbed and close the gate. You can fit alot more mulch or topsoil, a toolbox at the front and have as much open space as a shortbed and even an aux fuel tank and still mount your hitch. You can have an aux tank, a toolbox, and a full size pallet. The list of pros for a long bed is longer than the bed is. The only advantage a shortbed has over a long is turning radius, which effects things like parking. My work truck has an 8ft bed and so does my personal. Not one single time have i wished i had a shortbed. Ive wished for a smaller vehicle in some instances, but never a shortbed.
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Yup.
I will never own a truck I cannot get a sheet of plywood into and close the tailgate.
The alleged penalty of harder to park etc is far outweighed by the additional room.
They ride better as well.
Soccer Mommy trucks.....yuck!
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09-12-2020, 06:46 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 21
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Short bed will fit in your garage. Long bed probably won't.
Dave
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09-12-2020, 10:15 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,942
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8' bed is better. You can haul more and you don't have to worry about the trailer hitting the back of the truck. With the hitch in place, you have plenty of room to put a tool box in the bed without crowding the hitch.
With a 14,000# trailer, you will have a loaded pin weight of 2800# or more. 14,000# sounds light for a 39 foot trailer. Are you sure of that number? I would expect 15,000 to 16,000#.
Lately I have been seeing brochures that do not list the trailer GVWR, They will list a dry weight and a cargo carrying capacity. You have to add these two numbers together to get the gross weight rating for the trailer.
In any case, I'd look for a minimum of a 1 ton single rear wheel, long bed truck that is properly equipped for the pin weight plus the hitch, plus any cargo and passengers.
Ken
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Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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09-12-2020, 10:31 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Northeastern Nebraska
Posts: 969
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Just FYI An extended cab long bed is the same wheelbase as a crew cab short bed. Crew cab long bed are the ones that are way out there. I had one for years. I would never pull a 5er with a short bed. Plenty of extra space. I went even longer and now I have room for two 4 wheelers in front of the hitch.
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06 forest river Cardinal 34 TS towed by 03 freightliner Columbia HDT 435 hp 60 series Detroit, 10 speed, 3:55 gears with full locker. 260 inch wheel base. I am a Father, Farmer, and A Trucker.
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09-12-2020, 11:07 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Oswego IL
Posts: 2,381
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I have a question for all of the long bed users? For the model years 2006 through 2012 for Dodge did a Reguar Cab Long Bed Truck have a longer wheel base than a Mega Cab Short Bed Truck?
I will only pull with a Mega Cab Short Bed Truck! Why? The ride is great tows my Cedar Creek with no issues, since I have an auto sliding hitch I don't worry about turning radius at all. The cab of the Mega Cab truck is enormous with the bed carrying everything I need. I am a woodworker and I am constantly carrying 8 FT boards in the bed with no issue.
Now for the answer to the above question! The Dodge Mega Cab short bed truck has the same wheel base as a Quad Cab Long Bed Truck. Dodge only offered three styles of cab for those model years, Regular, Quad and Mega Cab.
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Jim & Jill
Sold: 2010 318SAB Cougar:New: 2016 Cedar Creek 34RL. 2008 Dodge 6.7LCummins the original 6.7L engine, w/68RFE Auto
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