8 ft or 6.4 ft box on TV?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

I’m not looking at dualies since I don’t need that much truck.

Question: lots of talk about adding gas tanks here, and I’m not understanding why. I crossed the country in a gasser with a 38 gal tank no problem.

Many folks like to fill up where fuel is cheap and others are uncomfortable about entering a fuel station with their rig.

Another personal preference thing.

I'm with you, when I need fuel, I stop.

[stephndudb]

Our first truck was a Ford short bed dually crew cab. Loved the truck - perfect size - but not the 6.0 engine. Our current truck is a GMC long bed dually crew cab. Nice truck but a PITA to park and maneuver. I drive large ambulances with a better turning radius. Although the larger bed is occasionally useful, I really miss the short bed. Both tow fifth wheels. The Ford had a sliding hitch.

[Jeff from Burlington Ont]

I have had both. My previous truck had a 6.5 bed and I had a slider hitch that I never actually slid. My new F350 is an 8’ box. And I don’t carry anything different than with my 6.5. I would focus on more interior room in the cab and if that meant a 6.5 then I would be happy

[Jack350]

Super Duty 8 foot box has a 48 gallon tank. One of the many reasons it works for me. Only needs fuel once a day.

[wanderingbob]

Real men do not drive short box trucks !

[CaptnJohn]

I have a long bed dually as that makes the most sense with the 5er wifey HAD to have, I HAD to go to a bigger truck as the 2016 F350 SRW didn't have the payload needed and plenty of cushion now. With the aux tank I can pull 16,000+ more than 800 miles and start to look for fuel. Today I drove 780 miles to see my brother, fuel in PA/OH and along the trip around $2.50 with EFS, in NC $1.79 so I'll fuel again when I get home Saturday.
I pulled small Montana 5ers with 2 F350 short bed trucks. The normal Ford SB is 6'9", every inch counts. On the 2nd SB I bought an Anderson, so happy I kept the B&W slider as the $700 mistake went to the recycle center, if you love them good, I don't. I only NEEDED the slider 3 times and glad I had it. Actually, with the LB it is not needed but still being used. Had a LB long ago and many SBs after. For the 1st week of a new LB you have to think, then just like normal. With a 6000# payload no concerns about what goes in the truck.
Have a ball truck shopping. Every 3 years when the new spec sheet is out I order a new one, wifey FORCED me in 2019, but it was time as the 2016 had 147K miles.

[primo20]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

I’m not looking at dualies since I don’t need that much truck.

Lol. Oh no. You didn’t just say that. 🤦*♂️

I’ve under trucked myself too many times in the past. I’d rather have more truck that’s not needed than need more truck than I have. But that’s just me. 🍻

[hybridlife]

Not sure if it's been said, but look at the payload between the 2. That could help you decide. Good luck

m

[mnoland30]

I went from an old style f250 to a Super Duty crew cab with 6.75' bed. I miss the long bed, but I have to say even with the shorter bed, this beast takes a long time to react when you're backing a trailer. I tow trailers with my Jeep diesel, and it is a joy to back up with. I drove up a two track road to a slot canyon last year, and found there wasn't a turn around. I was wishing for a shorter truck. I had to unhook twice to get it turned around.

[ACJCF2]

Our 01 Ram 2500 was ordered with the 8' bed and now our 2018 Ram 3500 Dually has an 8' bed. Better ride, more function. I looked a SRW but the deal on the dually was to good pass. I find the dually cramps as good as the old 2500. My$.02.

Cheers,
Jim

[AFDON]

Let me toss one more thought into this mix. How often do you trade trucks? If every 2-3 years, look around and ask which truck holds value best. What is the most of the trucks around?

We have owned all three sizes, not much difference that we can tell. Have fun truck shopping

[Telstar]

I went from a long bed Ford F-350 to a Short bed Ram 3500. Loving the maneuverability of a short bed and with my Demco AutoSlide hitch I can make greater than 90° turns.

[JRBME]

Amen! My rig is a couple feet shy of 60'. While some later trucks will accept the the big truck diesel nozzles, mine will not. Car diesel nozzles are often difficult to access (as are gas nozzles for RVs) when stations are busy. My bed tank will accept the large nozzle, and it gets past the 50 gallon minimum found at some truck pumps.
As stated, I can, and do, fill up in states such as South Carolina for the deals. At 12-13 MPG towing, I can drive a long way on 95 gallons of fuel. Stop when and where I want.
I had to drop the trailer once in order to access gasoline pumps on I-77 near Statesville due to length and layout. Driving a 2500 Suburban then (Ram 3500 now). About 55' overall. Resolved that problem...at some expense...
Question for "5picker"...banjo? Do you live near Charlotte? [emoji57] All of our travels relate to bluegrass festivals around North and South Carolina. We pick year round.
For S&Gs I include a pic of my 'average' just off the interstate, unloaded, fuel mileage on a 6.7 Cummins.
I'm a diesel fan. That said, they are for heavy towing and relatively expensive to buy and maintain. Need to be used regularly. They make incredible, dependable power for towing heavy loads. If not maintained and operated properly, they can become an expensive nightmare. The technically challenged probably want to go gas. IMHO.
Cheers!

Originally Posted by 5picker

Many folks like to fill up where fuel is cheap and others are uncomfortable about entering a fuel station with their rig.

Another personal preference thing.

I'm with you, when I need fuel, I stop.

[PatrickY]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

For my personal truck I always have a 6.5' bed. The Sidewinder hitch I use allows me to turn 90° and is the perfect solution to towing fifth wheels with shorter bed trucks. Very simple solution.
For the farm, we always buy long beds as we install auxiliary fuel tanks and tool boxes in the beds and use them for towing goosenecks.
I don't like the looks of long beds, the horrendous turning radius, and the frustration of parking them in crowded parking lots designed for much smaller vehicles. But if you need the bed room, or only use them for towing, they are great.
It mainly comes down to your personal preference. Either bed will work fine for towing fifth wheels.

100% in agreement with everything NMWildcat has said.

I think short bed crew cabs "look" better, and while I've only driven a dually long bed once in my life, when I stopped at the local grocery store to pick up some beer to thank my buddy for letting me borrow his truck I found it extremely difficult to park in a spot meant more for a Mini Cooper.

You don't need an expensive slider hitch if you have a Reese Revolution (aka "Sidewinder") pin box on a 5th wheel trailer.

The turning radius advantage of a short bed was the main attraction for me - I live on a fairly narrow street with a pretty tight gate to back the trailer into - an 8 foot bed would have been a nightmare for me.

Don't get me wrong - a long bed dually has advantages as well - much more stable, generally a larger payload, it will pull just about anything, more storage (or optional external fuel cells) and no need to worry about a special pin box or sliding receiver.

For me, neither one - short or long - will fit in my garage ... just something you might want to think about.

But, as NMWildcat said, it's purely personal preference.

[dalford]

Originally Posted by mfeeley

Not sure if it's been said, but look at the payload between the 2. That could help you decide. Good luck

m

True, I would not buy a long bed unless it was a dually. The long bed truck has less available payload than an equivalent trim short bed by at least 500 lbs. Bigger truck, more curb weight, same GVWR. Also those big fuel tanks in long bed trucks also subtract from the amount of pin weight you can load on the truck. Big or aux tanks are great but extra fuel comes on at 7 lbs/gal.

I have a F350, shortbed, with an Andersen hitch and can do 80+ degrees on turns.

Also, I don’t carry many 2x4’s...

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

I’m not looking at dualies since I don’t need that much truck.

Question: lots of talk about adding gas tanks here, and I’m not understanding why. I crossed the country in a gasser with a 38 gal tank no problem.

No problem on fuel. I have a 34 gallon tank and went across country no issue. Remember also, fuel is added weight which subtracts from available pin weight you can add as payload when you do get that 5ver.

Save that room that an aux tank would take up in the back of your truck for the cases of bourbon you might find a deal on...

[Arnie M]

We have a 2017 3500 Ram Diesel Crew Cab with a 6'4" bed.
We use it for our 42' 5th wheel with no issue.
Purchase of this truck was with thought of resale value and parking when not towing.
Love the Ram with its power but to this day I curse the short box because of limited storage.
It still takes up a lot of real estate in parking lots and a rough ride when not loaded (have aftermarket air bags and 20" wheels).
I took a 2019 3500 Ram Crew Cab long box for a test drive. So much smoother riding and more payload than ours.
My suggestion is take a long box and short box out for a test drive. Go to parking lots and whatever to see the difference.
Our next truck will be a long box.
FYI, am told the Ram Box feature on Ram Trucks will not allow a 5th wheel.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by JRBME

Question for "5picker"...banjo? Do you live near Charlotte? [emoji57] All of our travels relate to bluegrass festivals around North and South Carolina. We pick year round.Attachment 230499

I'll not hijack this thread too much...
I don't, PA boy but have picked a time or two in Charlotte passing through.
We do lots of bluegrass festivals too and even had our own on our 32 acres here in PA for 15 years. Last year was our last as we want to travel more now.

[Tundra 2014]

With the 8' bed you also get the larger fuel tank. Nice for long days w/o worrying about stopping as often for fuel.

[Beachbourbon]

Originally Posted by AFDON

Let me toss one more thought into this mix. How often do you trade trucks? If every 2-3 years, look around and ask which truck holds value best. What is the most of the trucks around?

We have owned all three sizes, not much difference that we can tell. Have fun truck shopping

I tend to keep vehicles 10 years on avg. just got rid of one we had for 15 years, still have one I’ve had for 17 years and one for 5. If the economics of trading every 2-3 years was in my favor financially, I may consider changing, but I have only seen the opposite to be true.