What do you tow with?

[carwheel_09]

If you tow with a SRW drive do you use/ prefer a standard bed or a long bed length? Starting the search for a new 1 ton SRW drive and input would be appreciated. Don't really want a dually at this time although it would be the best pick tow but not as a daily driver.

[concours]

GMC 3500 Long bed, SRW 2WD Duramax, with Firestone air bags never had a concern. Hope that helps

[chuckster57]

What ever you choose just make sure it has enough payload to carry everything.

Longbed keeps the front cap away from the bed, but you can overcome that on a short bed with different hitch or pinbox.

If your going to make any trips to the lumber yard, a standard sheet of plywood or 2X4 won't fit inside a short box.

Figure out what your priorities are and go from there.

[hankpage]

I have always felt that the longest wheelbase seemed to tow best so I have only had longbeds. Good luck with your search and final decision, Hank

[poncho62]

You ask what we tow with?....Yet, you dont say what you are towing.
I tow with a 1/2 ton, short bed (Oh, the shame)....but, my trailer is small.

[Desert185]

I haul stuff, so longbed for me.

[Way Of Life]

Mine is an 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW short box. The long bed with the longer wheel base may tow with a more comfortable ride but is not always the best option. Short bed trucks may provide a better resell simply because most will fit in the average garage where as the long bed will cater more towards the towing enthusiasts which is not the larger portion of the owners market. Although most of what I use our truck for is towing our toy hauler I am enjoying the short bed mobility and easier act of maneuvering with our heavy duty short bed truck.

[Way Of Life]

A simple solution to the short bed issue......With the versatile options available you shouldn't find yourself limited at any time.

http://www.pickupspecialties.com/bedextender_main.htm

[carwheel_09]

Just moved up to a Montana 3610RL.. I had a smaller fifth wheel with an extended pin box. The new rig has a shorter pin box a Mor/Ryde RPL1116. I need to move from my 3/4 ton F250 diesel short bed up to a 1 ton. Really don't want a dually, but I may need to to have enough payload. I weighed the truck and trailer and came in at 22,400 pounds. Too heavy for the 3/4 ton.

[JeffS]

We tow with a short bed but have a slider hitch though we have only needed it once in the 14 years we have had 5th wheels. In fact the design of our current Cougar provides a lot more clearance in respect to the truck cab when turning.
I understand the positives of the longer wheel base but with today's trucks wheel base varies with cab style. For example our short bed F250 crew cab at 156" is only 2" shorter than the same truck in the Super Cab with the long bed at 158".

[theeyres]

When I had fivers I had both short and long bed trucks at different times. Others are correct that the short bed is easier to manipulate, get into garages, parking lots, etc. The long bed sure was nice for having a lot more room to store stuff. I had a large storage compartment in front of the fiver that held a lot of stuff. Would never have fit in a short bed. And more room behind the hitch for barbeques, etc. If it were my daily driver and I was still working, I'd go short bed. When full-timing and even now when primarily using the truck for pulling, long bed wins out. As in all such questions, just depends on your needs.

[JRTJH]

Something to take into consideration in the "short bed/long bed" decision process is the cab size will make a significant difference. If you're looking at a crew cab, a super cab or a regular cab, the wheelbase of the truck will depend on the cab configuration as well as the bed configuration.

For example, in the F series, the supercab long bed wheelbase is 158" the crew cab short bed (regular bed) wheelbase is 156". So, if you "want a long bed" but don't want a 172" wheelbase, you can "shorten the truck wheelbase to the same as a "short bed" if you can live with a smaller cab.

Just an additional consideration to add to the mix for those who don't necessarily need a crew cab, but do want a long bed and don't want to add the almost $3000 to the cost of a crew cab.

[pawpaw]

Pulling this Fuzion 371 with my son in laws F-250. We had to use a Reese sidewinder pin box to clear the rear of the cab when making hard turns. Put some Air lift bags on the trucks rear and try to keep the trailer loaded lightly. The 6.7 diesel pulls the 14K lb trailer easily. Love this trailer so far!

[vampress_me]

To me, that is a definite personal preference. What do YOU plan on doing/ hauling with the truck most of the time? That may/will determine what you want in bed length because my wants and needs are probably different than yours.

We currently have a long bed crew cab, before that a long bed extended cab. We went to a crewcab for room for the kids when on long trips. My hubby would have been happy with a short bed, but I haul everything from plywood, 2x lumber, and hay with the truck. And when I go to haul something (except all the hay ), I want it to fit in the truck without monkeying around or having to bring the flatbed trailer. But, on the other hand, when I worked in downtown Minneapolis, parking the truck in the parking lots down there was a major pain with the long bed. Those lots are made for cramming in the most vehicles possible, not for maneuvering and parking a larger vehicle. Driving/ parking downtown Seattle was the same. Big cities aren't made for big trucks.

Another consideration may be where you plan on parking at home. Many times, long beds don't fit in garages, so you have to park outside, which I would hate in winter with scraping ice and snow. But, for what we use it for, I wouldn't give up my long bed.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by carwheel_09

Just moved up to a Montana 3610RL.. I had a smaller fifth wheel with an extended pin box. The new rig has a shorter pin box a Mor/Ryde RPL1116. I need to move from my 3/4 ton F250 diesel short bed up to a 1 ton. Really don't want a dually, but I may need to to have enough payload. I weighed the truck and trailer and came in at 22,400 pounds. Too heavy for the 3/4 ton.

If you don't have an extended pin box, I'd go long bed. I used to think a dually wouldn't be good as a daily driver, but bought one because of the weight of my 5er, I drive it daily without issues. It took the DW a bit to get used to it, but now she reaches for the keys on a regular basis to make a grocery store run. I always like the short bed with a tonneau cover, but now with the long bed I was able to add a tool box and a 5th wheel hitch cover. I like the fact that I can put a few things in the tool box and keep them out of the elements while towing. There are times that I wish I had a tonneau cover, but the deep tool box is really nice to have.

[Javi]

I like being able to have my toolbox and still put a 35gal dumpette in the bed in front of the hitch, leaving me the space behind the hitch for firewood, ice chests, grills ect.. You just can't beat a long bed, especially with a 5th wheel...

[Desert185]

We use a big, plastic tub in the forward part of the bed with a tonneau cover that still provides cover to the forward third of the bed when folded forward.

The 74# Andersen hitch is easy to remove with no remaining rails to obstruct the 8' bed. Quad cab (short, suicide doors), long bed works well for our needs, and I'm glad for the options available. We don't do much city driving...and I'm glad for that, too.

[Campy]

2008 Silverado 3500 HD crewcab 4x4 longbed single rear wheels. I would have preferred a shotbed but when buying used you take the deals you find. I just purchased this truck from a dealer with 59k on the clock and the previous owner hauled a 5th wheel with it. I came with the 5th wheel tailgate and a 74 gallon aux. tank in the bed plus it was drilled for a hitch, which he kept.

[OldCountryBoy]

I prefer the long bed for towing, but for daily driving it's a bear to park. I wanted a dually by dw said no. I went with a F350 Super Duty, jacked up a bit and 20 inch wheels. Downside besides parking, is the old man climbing up into it.

Got a friend pulling with a F450 dually and another forum friend that uses a Freightliner. I have seen all kinds of vehicles, and most everybody loves what they got. The field is wide open, enjoy the hunt.

Best of luck.

[Bill & Deb]

Originally Posted by carwheel_09

If you tow with a SRW drive do you use/ prefer a standard bed or a long bed length? Starting the search for a new 1 ton SRW drive and input would be appreciated. Don't really want a dually at this time although it would be the best pick tow but not as a daily driver.

Carwheel

I drive a F250 SD crewcab with 6.5 ft box. I pull a 37 ft. Laredo.
I purchased a Pullrite Superglide hitch and absolutely love it. With my old trailer I touched the cab a couple of times but with this hitch I can 90 degree it and not touch a thing.

http://www.pullrite.com/products/sup...uper-glide-16k

Cheers
Bill