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Old 10-08-2020, 06:27 AM   #1
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Long bed versus Short bed

Ordered a 2021 F350 DRW. Production start is November 1st. It is also my daily driver. Can't decide if I want Long or Short. I have a 6.75 box on my F250 and Pullrite Super Glide. Will be pulling a 40 foot 16,000 5th wheel
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Old 10-08-2020, 08:28 AM   #2
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I'd go long bed.
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Old 10-08-2020, 08:30 AM   #3
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I'd go long bed.
X2
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Old 10-08-2020, 08:38 AM   #4
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Since you already have the slider hitch, I would go with the short bed truck! Also you are use to the short bed truck and the limitations of the short bed truck!

To me the deciding factor is the wheel base on the new Ford truck, do you know what the wheel base is?

My current truck has a wheel base of 160.5" for my short bed truck. This is longer than a regular cab, long bed truck which has a 140.5" wheel base. So, for a better ride the wheel base is what matters to me.
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Old 10-08-2020, 08:45 AM   #5
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I don't believe the dually is available in a short bed
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Old 10-08-2020, 08:53 AM   #6
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You have the best short bed auto sliding hitch. So a longer bed is not necessary.

The longer bed is harder to park always. Turning radius. Advantage to the 450. Different steering set up. If you drive it daily you will care.

All hd trucks ride rough. I doubt you would notice a difference.

Long bed is better for hauling lumber!

No bad answer. Both great.
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Old 10-08-2020, 09:30 AM   #7
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I don't believe the dually is available in a short bed
Correct...DRW is only available on the 8' bed
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Old 10-08-2020, 01:37 PM   #8
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As has been stated above, DRW = 8' box. Period.

If you're going with a Ford DRW, then I'd personally go with the F-450. Stance, ride, and dimensions will be about the same, but you get bigger tires (pros and cons), bigger brakes, and, most importantly, the wide-track front axle. It will have the turning radius of a mid-size SUV ... you'll be doing full turns where even a short bed truck will be doing 3-point+ turns. Plus, the wide-track has burly fender flares that complement the massive DRW fenders.

F-350 SRW or F-450 DRW would be my personal considerations for a large 5er.
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Old 10-08-2020, 01:56 PM   #9
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I don't believe the dually is available in a short bed
X2. The long bed rides much better anyway. You'll get used to parking it.
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Old 10-08-2020, 02:11 PM   #10
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Will the 2021 SD have the larger screen on the center dash?
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Old 10-08-2020, 03:38 PM   #11
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Long Bed. My F350, Crew Cab, Long Bed is wonderful. Not problem carrying full sheets of dry wall, plywood, etc. Rides like a luxury car. Guess I don't understand the short bed craze.
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Old 10-08-2020, 04:20 PM   #12
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The dually Ram 3500 Mega Cab has a 6'4" bed.
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Old 10-08-2020, 04:29 PM   #13
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The dually Ram 3500 Mega Cab has a 6'4" bed.
Cool story.
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Old 10-08-2020, 04:33 PM   #14
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Long Bed. My F350, Crew Cab, Long Bed is wonderful. Not problem carrying full sheets of dry wall, plywood, etc. Rides like a luxury car. Guess I don't understand the short bed craze.

Definitely a long bed for that truck. I had the short bed F250 as well and went to an F350 DRW long bed and don't regret it. I simply could not put as much in the bed of the F250 as I can with the F350, including dry wall, plywood, 2 x 4 x 8's and other longer building materials too.

You'll be able to put a bed tool box in the F350 and still have plenty of room for your hitch, which would be really tight with the short bed.

One of the other selling points for me with the long bed is I have lots more clearance from the front cap of my 5'er to the cab. Now I can make unbelievably sharp turns with it I could not with my F250 without hitting the cab.
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Old 10-08-2020, 08:58 PM   #15
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I have owned both short and long bed. I have settled with a F350 long bed, single rear wheel crew, diesel. My fifth wheel is about 14000#. I would go with DRW long bed on the next purchase and may consider a F450. I did not have a slider in my short bed and there was no problem.
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Old 10-09-2020, 10:36 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by star52656 View Post
Ordered a 2021 F350 DRW. Production start is November 1st. It is also my daily driver. Can't decide if I want Long or Short
If you have already ordered it how can you not know what you are getting? Don't you know what you ordered?
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Old 10-09-2020, 11:04 AM   #17
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Real men do not drive short beds !
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Old 10-09-2020, 11:19 AM   #18
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Real men do not drive short beds !
Real trucks don’t have spark plugs !
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Old 10-09-2020, 11:37 AM   #19
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Ordered DRW today and got Coach

You are absolutely right. Doesn't come in short bed. I ordered it long but if I need to change any details I have until November 1st. I sometimes post and make mistakes. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.
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Old 10-22-2020, 07:31 PM   #20
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Go long my friend, I just upgrade to a GMC Sierra, 3500 with the Duramax, I was lucky to find a great deal on what I call never used truck, 4 years old and it only had 22,000 miles on it.

Point is you will never go wrong by having the extra space to cary those items your wife can't camp without. Not knowing what trailer you have or plan to buy you will never have to get a slider hitch if you go t a fifth wheel which is a considerable savings.
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