long bed or not?

[WS6]

I can't believe I'm having such a hard time deciding this. I'm honestly not even sure why I'm posting this as it's ultimately up to me. I guess I'm just venting and seeing if anyone else has faced the same dilemma and what they decided.

Within the next year I believe I'll be purchasing a truck. I love my trailblazer but need an open bed truck. I'd honestly like this to be the last truck I ever own.(Yeah, I'm only 30 but I think long term when it comes to purchases like this.) I simply can't decide if I really should go for a long bed instead of a short bed truck. It will be a crew cab duramax and either a 2500 or 3500 srw. Long beds aren't easy to find and I'm picky about what I want so that just makes it harder. I'm potentially interested in a long bed so that I can have a tool box and still put a motorcycle or two in the bed and shut the tail gate. I just feel more secure with the bed shut. I'd like to think a tail gate lock would also further prevent anyone from stealing a bike out of the back. Where as with a short bed and tool box, the tail gate would have to be down with bikes in the back and the only thing "securing" the bikes would be ratchet straps. What I am unsure of is if the extra 2 feet is worth it or should I just make do with a short bed. My company truck is a crew cab long bed 4x4 srw F350. I familiar with the size and the hassles in driving a truck this large. So has anyone else been in this situation and can maybe offer some advice or an alternative plan etc to help me in my decision?

I'll also be posting this on a motorcycle forum but figured I'd post here as well since I'll be using this to tow cars with as well. I hope.



Thanks

[Bad94]

Why buy a fullsize and not get a long bed. When i was looking at new trucks the saleman was trying to push the 4door short bed truck.

I ended up getting a 2500HD Ext cab, long bed Z71, i love the truck.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

Hey Trey - I have a 2500 ext cab short bed. Does everything I want it to do, including towing Harleys and a 8000 lb boat/trailer. For me, a short bed is better than long, although I should of gotten the crew cab. And if someone wants your scoot out of the back, they'll get it gate or no gate. I would add, if you're towing any dual axle trailer the longer wheelbase makes for a more steady ride. Triple axles don't care quite as much.

As you said, in the end it's your decision so get what you want and post what you decide. BTW it's been five good years and like you, I'm planning on keeing my truck for a very long time.

[jknight16]

If you think you might ever tow a fifth wheel trailer (camper, toyhauler, etc) you will want the long bed so that you don't have to worry about crumpling your cab on the trailer when doing tight maneuvers. My 01 SuperDuty and current 06 SuperDuty are long beds and I wouldn't have it any other way. Being able to slide sheets of plywood in back and close the tailgate is a great feeling when you think of the alternative.

[TheJDMan]

As you say, it is ultimately your decision. That said, I have an 07 2500HD Silverado Duramax Extended Cab Short Bed. I tow my 20' enclosed trailer occasionally but 95% of the time I don't have the trailer hooked up. I can tell you that the EC SB is much easier to manuver around town and in parking lots than a CC LB would be. Ask yourself how you plan to use the truck and buy accordingly.

[Daren]

Been out of trucks for years. So by long bed you mean regular cab and regular bed or an extra long bed? Bed choice really depends on what you plan on using the truck for. I see a lot of guys getting a older model single cab full sized bed and using it for a work truck and picking up a newer model 4-door truck for their toys daily driver a what not. I sold my 86 F-250 big block restomod to some guy for just that purpose. I might be the odd one out but I'd advise a 1/2 tonner. I really don't see the need for the 3/4 tons these days as they have evolved into commercial grade monsters. My father's 5.4 2004 F-150 is just as capable as my 1986 F-250 was.

[Kenova]

When I went shopping for my standard cab pickup I told the salesman I wanted a short box (6'). When the truck came in it was a long box (8'). I was ticked off at the time, but everything else was "right" so I accepted delivery anyways.
The longer box doesn't look as "cool", but has redeemed itself many times over to the point my next truck will also have a long box. Besides, the new GM's look awful with a standard cab/short box.
I can't imagine living with a crew cab/long box (must be like driving a school bus) but if you think you will need the extra room consistently then that would be the better choice.

Ken

[Samckitt]

Just my opinion, but I think the long beds look a little strange unless it is a dully. And the crew cabs look funny with the extra short beds, (5.5'?). In 2002 I bought a 2003 Silverado 1500HD Crew cab 4X4 with the short bed (6.5') and think it looks great, all looks proportionate to me.

[killer67]

Just my opinion, but I think the long beds look a little strange unless it is a dully. And the crew cabs look funny with the extra short beds, (5.5'?). In 2002 I bought a 2003 Silverado 1500HD Crew cab 4X4 with the short bed (6.5') and think it looks great, all looks proportionate to me.

I agree with Scot - I got a short bed crew cab and it seems to do everything I need

[PA Formula 78]

I think the long bed looks good on a standard cab or maybe even an extended cab truck, but for a quad cab I would think the short bed looks a lot nicer. I have had a few off each, and prefer the short bed just because it is easier to drive around. But really get what makes you happy, not what everyone else is telling you to get.

[WS6]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I do appreciate it. I'm thinking I may be trying to cover too many bases with my plan. We'll see. I prefer the looks of a short bed with the four full size doors and I've found a number that look great. I just know I'd like to be able to keep this truck for a long time and have it meet my needs. I also need to stay mobile for a while with my job. If I have to pull a trailer, I'll either need those bikes on the trailer or I'll need the tail gate to be closed some how. Thanks again. Feel free to speak up if you have anything to say.

[WS6]

You have to be careful with not only size by brand. For instance, Ford and Chevy are the only ones that make crew cab trucks with long beds(8'). Dodge doesn't make one. Their quadcabs are not full size rear doors. The Megacab doesn't have a long bed available. Maybe they've started to but in the 02-06 year ranges they don't. Then you throw the many different options in there for the 1500s across all makes and you can get some weird combinations. Avalanches have four full size doors but a short bed for example. Ford made or still makes a four door smaller than normal bed 1500 too. Dodge's lack of a long bed option and my dislike of the Fords is why I'm set on a 2500/3500 Duramax.

We have a "pool" truck that's a Chevy 2500 crew cab long bed 4x4. It's an older one and beat up but I honestly prefer that to the new F250 and 350s that we have. My boss laughed and said I couldn't have it when I asked. At 120k hard miles, the thing still pulls a heavy 5th wheel with ease and comfort. I'm sold on diesels because of that truck.

[PA Formula 78]

Your statement regarding the Dodge's rear door size is kind of misleading though. The interior dimensions and rear seat room are really no different than Chevy's or Ford's. Yeah the door appears to be quite a bit smaller, but the interior space isn't. Trucks are a hard thing to ask people what to get, because everyone wants something different out of it. I sold my 05 Dodge Ram 2500 last fall, which was a shortbed quad cab, with the cummins turbo diesel. It was a great truck and worked great for use as a family vehicle with 2 little kids and car seats, and pulled trailers with ease. Your really should just go drive each brand and decide which is right for you. If I was going to buy a brand new truck right now I would probably go with a GMC.

[WS6]

The differences between the crew cab chevy/gmc and quad cab dodges is enough for me to not want the dodge. I love the Cummins though. I prefer that to the Duramax. I just like the chevy/gmc trucks better. If I wasn't thinking long term or was on a smaller budget, I'd go after a dodge with the Cummins from the mid 90's on. They are great trucks so long as they were cared for. I figure if I restrict myself to around $20k, I can get a great used Duramax between 02-06 with decently low mileage. I'm confident it will hold it's value well for years to come since I know I'll care for it properly also.

[TheJDMan]

I figure if I restrict myself to around $20k, I can get a great used Duramax between 02-06 with decently low mileage. I'm confident it will hold it's value well for years to come since I know I'll care for it properly also.

Just a piece of advice, look for an 06 or 07 Classic Silverado equipped with the LBZ Duramax. They have no DPF and are considered the best of the breed. The 07.5 NBS(new body style) and up are all equipped with DPF systems. My 07 classic LBZ was rated at 360hp and 650ft/lbs of torque from the factory. I can tell you those are conservative numbers and significantly higher than even the 05.

[WS6]

Thanks. I was under the impression that it was the early 06's that didn't have any emissions stuff on them. The 06.5's and later all have emissions. Is this incorrect or is there more to the emission stuff than a DPF?

[70455HOVert]

The DPF came out for all trucks made after Jan 1 2007. I owned a 2007.5 Dodge that I lemoned due to the problems with the DPF and new emissions. Stick to prior than that if you want a truly trouble free diesel. I now own a 2006 Dodge Megacab that I love and will never sell. Megacabs keep their value like no other and are still 30K plus to buy. As far as the short vs long bed...unless you have a 5th wheel or gooseneck, I'd go shortbed. Even then, you can get the hitch adapter for goosenecks that slids the pivot point to the rear to save your cab.

[Yelcamino]

In June 2009 I bought my first diesel truck and now have about 28,000 trouble free miles on it. It's an extended cab short bed 4x4. It tows great, gets 20 mpg on the highway, and pretty much does everything I expect it to do.

[Randy67]

Personally, I love long bed trucks. I used to have a 91 F350 CC Dually longbed, and loved it. Well except for the E4OD transmission. I kinda wish I had kept that truck, except it wasn't turbocharged. At 21+ feet long, it was "interesting" to drive it, especially in parking lots or downtown streets.

[65BuickGS]

I have an extended with a short box on a 2500HD,,,I have a 50 Gallon tank in the box for long haul travel trailer trips,,add in a 5th wheel hitch,,and your left with about 2 feet of box left,,AND,,as someone mentioned earlier,,,with a 5th wheel,,short box set ups get pretty tight in turns,,,my dad found out what a rear window costs to replace!!!!
Long boxes do get kind of long,,,especially with a crew cab set up,,,try finding parking somewhere for something that big anymore!!!
Its a personal thing,,and everyone is different,,,next time around i will just opt for the regular cab with a long box,,,crew cab is nice,,how often do the other seats really get used though??