Tow Vehicle bed length for 5th wheel

[bspickler]

I'm planning to buy a Chevy 2500HD diesel to tow a Cedar Creek 34RLSA.
My question is do I need the long bed (97.8") to avoid a sliding hitch or
can I get by with the "standard" bed (78.8")? If the shorter bed requires a
sliding hitch what are the pros and cons of that setup?

The crew cab long bed is long (wheel base = 167.7")
The extended cab long bed is not so long (wheel base = 158.2")
Does it matter? Is the 167.7" wheel base more difficult to manuever, park, turn etc.?

I'll appreciate any expert advice.

Bill, Denver

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by bspickler

I'm planning to buy a Chevy 2500HD diesel to tow a Cedar Creek 34RLSA.
My question is do I need the long bed (97.8") to avoid a sliding hitch or
can I get by with the "standard" bed (78.8")? If the shorter bed requires a
sliding hitch what are the pros and cons of that setup?

The crew cab long bed is long (wheel base = 167.7")
The extended cab long bed is not so long (wheel base = 158.2")
Does it matter? Is the 167.7" wheel base more difficult to manuever, park, turn etc.?

I'll appreciate any expert advice.

Bill, Denver

Bill imo short bed with a slider crew or extended.
That's how I roll and I'm not looking back.

Should you get a slider with a sb? Probably
Is it do-able with-out a slider ? Yes
Will there be an instance you'll have to use the slider ? Sooner or later.

A crew cab lb is a monster for turning.


Turbs

[3 Happy Campers]

I have the Silverado 2500HD extended cab w/long bed.
I recommend if you have the option when buying & can handle the added length to go with the long bed.

I’m pulling a 39’ 5er weighing in @ 12K ready for travel & I hardly know it’s back there.

A lot of folks don’t like the extra length especially in a parking lot.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by 3 Happy Campers

I have the Silverado 2500HD extended cab w/long bed.
I recommend if you have the option when buying & can handle the added length to go with the long bed.

I’m pulling a 39’ 5er weighing in @ 12K ready for travel & I hardly know it’s back there.

A lot of folks don’t like the extra length especially in a parking lot.

IMO, If I had to buy a LB truck it would be setup like "3 Happy Campers"...I would not have a crewcab LB, that is a workout just daily driving that guy around town

[RickV]

I have a SB Ford F250. When we bought the 5ver I had a sidewinder hitch put on the 5ver and just went with a regular hitch in the truck. It moves the pivot point back about 20".

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

IMO, If I had to buy a LB truck it would be setup like "3 Happy Campers"...I would not have a crewcab LB, that is a workout just daily driving that guy around town

Meh - crew cab, long bed AND a dually. It's not so bad.

You get used to it.

[Av8orLou]

I have a 2500 hdcrew cab sb with a 2013 34rlsa. You will need a slider if you go short bed because the 34 rlsa has the square front cap not the angled cap. I would also go with the automatic slider, it is worth the extra money.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by RickV

I have a SB Ford F250. When we bought the 5ver I had a sidewinder hitch put on the 5ver and just went with a regular hitch in the truck. It moves the pivot point back about 20".

While I am perfectly happy with the PullRite Superglide (slider) on my 2500HD SB CrewCab, I have seen the Sidewinder on a Cedar Creek and would not hesitate going that route.

[Oaklevel]

Sorry a short bed truck is just a big car......... Never owned one never will ....LOL the bigger the better..... When I go on a car lot & a salesman shows me a short bed... I tell him.......... I asked to see the trucks................(Actually I really do that)


Seriously.......... either is fine for towing ..... you may need a slider hitch though with a short bed for tight turns.................. Alot depends on what you need the truck for other than towing.........

[puff]

IMHO I would go big or go home.

Consider how much time your going to be behind the wheel with and with-out the 5er behind you. LB Dually will handle better and a diesel will pull anything.

Buy what you can afford and plan ahead for what your going to pull. Check the CGVW on the trucks as they will all be different and make sure the truck you choose can handle it..!

Hope that helps..!

[BarryD0706]

Originally Posted by puff

...
Check the CGVW on the trucks as they will all be different and make sure the truck you choose can handle it..!

GCVW is not the important factor for 5ers. Cargo Carrying Capacity will be the limiting factor.

[ChooChooMan74]

I am still not use to this regular beds are now long, the short beds are now standard, and these new shorter than short beds.

My old 91 dually was a monster, but towed great. If I was to go the FW route again, I would get the 8' bed. I like to keep the most crucial part, the hitch, as simple as possible.

[puff]

Originally Posted by BarryD0706

GCVW is not the important factor for 5ers. Cargo Carrying Capacity will be the limiting factor.

Well cargo capacity from a 2500 sb will be far different to a 3500 lb dually 4x4 and everything in between.

You want the long story, get the weight of the 5er you think your going to buy...wet weight or loaded what ever you want to call it.

weight of the truck including fuel, occupants and anything else you might add, tool box, winch, hd bumper, etc.

add the 2 weights together and see if your truck is rated to haul/carry/tow that specific weight.

Plan for adding extra's to either your truck or the 5'er so your not maxing out the weight.

Then factor in # of days your going to be camping/pulling your 5'er and if the truck is also going to be a daily driver. What can you afford / like etc.

In the long run your the only one who knows you and what your going to be happy with.

[bspickler]

Thanks everyone. I like the 3-Happy-Campers extended cab-long bed. that is a nice picture. I think the four-legged traveling companion will be okay on the back seat if he can't get shotgun from my wife.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Sorry a short bed truck is just a big car......... Never owned one never will ....LOL the bigger the better..... When I go on a car lot & a salesman shows me a short bed... I tell him.......... I asked to see the trucks................(Actually I really do that)


Seriously.......... either is fine for towing ..... you may need a slider hitch though with a short bed for tight turns.................. Alot depends on what you need the truck for other than towing.........

I have done Lots of Research on P/U truck bed Length & Capacity! Since they Both haul only (AIR) 99.7 % of the time. Buy what (YOU) like! Youroo!

[jnamadison]

If we are going with the bigger is better mentality, get yourself a singled HDT. Twice the Torque of a 1-ton dually. At least twice the stopping power. Turning radius is about 6' smaller. Same width as a dually. And it's only about 1' longer (when shortened).

This is all if you're ok with a 13' tall truck to drive around town. (Note you can get models only 10' tall)

You can grab a 5-600k used model for 30k. Not bad when they are rated to 1,000,000 miles before a major overhaul of the engine.

[AquaMan]

I have 2500 crew cab, long bed, 4x4 and use it as a daily driver and can put my 42' 5er in any spot big enough for it, including the current spot I have in Ft Myers Beach. If 4x4 isn't an issue, the 2 wheel drives turn a little tighter.

[bakken]

Originally Posted by bspickler

Thanks everyone. I like the 3-Happy-Campers extended cab-long bed. that is a nice picture. I think the four-legged traveling companion will be okay on the back seat if he can't get shotgun from my wife.

If your only passenger is your pup, the extended cab long box is the way to go. That gives you the best of both worlds, some extra cab space, but the long box for extra room to haul stuff and the elimination of the need for a slider hitch.
And it is easier to see the hitch when hooking up the fifth wheel. With a crew cab, I doubt you could even see the hitch in the box.

[3 Happy Campers]

Originally Posted by bakken

If your only passenger is your pup, the extended cab long box is the way to go. That gives you the best of both worlds, some extra cab space, but the long box for extra room to haul stuff and the elimination of the need for a slider hitch.
And it is easier to see the hitch when hooking up the fifth wheel. With a crew cab, I doubt you could even see the hitch in the box.

The extended cab actually has four functional doors.
Just the front two need to be opened for the rear two can open.
The rear doors open a full 180 degrees which is a nice touch!

We have already had four full size adults in the truck & everyone had plenty of room & was comfortable for the 2 hr drive.
I do have to keep a step stool in the back for when my folks go camping with us. Mom can’t make the climb into the cab even with the nerf bars added.

It’s always better to have more truck than realize you need more.
I set out to buy a 3500 dually but couldn’t find any in the tri state area.

One more picture just because I like looking at my truck!

[Coops1]

Originally Posted by 3 Happy Campers

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]The extended cab actually has four functional doors

This is true until you're in a parking lot and trying to load 4 people or gear into the back of the cab... it's a royal pain in the you know what