Truck bed length, Does it make adifference towing a trailer?

[Larry Nowicki]

I have a cherrokee 304 bhbl. Getting ready to get a truck to pull it. Looking at 2500 Ram. What is the difference between a short bed and a long bed in reference to turning and ease of driving and pulling the trailer?

[NMWildcat]

Bed length isn't really the question. It is more about wheelbase dimensions. The further the distance between the tires, the more room you need to make turns.
Shorter wheelbase takes less room to turn.
Longer wheelbase might be more stable and ride smoother with longer trailers.
Different wheelbases will have different payload capacities.
I always buy pickups with 6.5' (regular) beds as I prefer the looks, the turning radius, and they fit in my garage. Other folks always buy long beds.
Research it a bit more and decide what factors are important to you.

[Jim34RL]

I agree also on the wheelbase as the most important length for towing.
When you look at the 2500 Ram you might see a Mega Cab short bed only (WB160.4") or Crew Cab 8' box (169") or a Reg Cab 8'-box (WB140.2"). so, as you can see it is the wheelbase not the bed length that matters. In fact. the Crew Cab short box (149") has a shorter wheelbase than a Mega Cab.

Here is a link that might help you from Ram, https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-commer...ers-guide.html

All of the above information is from that site.

[jrschneider99]

It all has to do with off-tracking or the radius the trailer wheels take relative to the radius of the steering/turning wheels. A class A has less distance from the steering wheels to the back axle than a fifth wheel and the greatest is a bumper pull travel trailer. The longer the wheel base of the truck the greater the off tracking of the rear wheels of the truck from the front steering/turning wheels. A bumper pull recoups some of the off tracking of the rear wheels depending on how far the trailer hitch is behing the rear wheels. Then you have to account for the radius the hitch ball is traveling and the distance from the hitch ball to the rear axle to calculate the off-tracking of the travel trailer axle. A research paper from 1967 found here (https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepub...59/159-001.pdf) will explain in detail

[Larry Nowicki]

Thanks, guys. It looks like I have some research before I return to the dealer.

[BigH]

Agreed about the wheelbase.

If looking at a Ram...the long bed in the newer models has a 50 gal tank option.

[FrankG]

If you are looking at a 2500 4x4, 4dr crew cab most Manufactures only offer them with the short bed, some with the ultra short bed. The 8ft models are mostly reserved for the "Work Truck" version. I owned a 2016 Ram 2500,4x4, crew cab, CTD Laramie (One Sweet Truck) it only came with the short bed. It would fit in most parking spots, in the 20' garage with 7ft door and towed with confidence.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by FrankG

If you are looking at a 2500 4x4, 4dr crew cab most Manufactures only offer them with the short bed, some with the ultra short bed. The 8ft models are mostly reserved for the "Work Truck" version. I owned a 2016 Ram 2500,4x4, crew cab, CTD Laramie (One Sweet Truck) it only came with the short bed. It would fit in most parking spots, in the 20' garage with 7ft door and towed with confidence.

Way off the mark Frank.
You can get a 250/2500 series truck from Ford/Chevy/Ram with a long bed in any trim you want.

[Larry Nowicki]

I'll be looking at a few tomorrow. I want the wife to drive it too. We'll see what she is comfortable with. Won't be pulling the trailer until later.

[moose074]

I have towed with both short beds and long beds I haven’t noticed a big difference in towing or daily driving, other than fitting into parking spaces. Advantages of the long bed I like the larger tank that usually comes with it but not always. I like the look and convenience of in bed tool box so the long bed leaves more bed space. Short beds I prefer the look, my back seat/cab in my 2019 short bed feels bigger than my 2016 long bed both being Fords. I thought it was part of the newer design but have read that it could be the shortbed. I am not sure. If I did a lot of hauling it would be long bed all day, but those days are few a far between so i prefer a short bed

[Larry Nowicki]

I ended up not getting the long bed. We got the shorter bed 2500. I think it will work great. The wife drove it home. She likes it and that is a good thing.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Larry Nowicki

I ended up not getting the long bed. We got the shorter bed 2500. I think it will work great. The wife drove it home. She likes it and that is a good thing.

Congrats!!

[Larry Nowicki]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Congrats!!

Thanks. I'm looking forward to pulling my new travel trailer with my new truck. Retirement is looking better every day.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Larry Nowicki

Thanks. I'm looking forward to pulling my new travel trailer with my new truck. Retirement is looking better every day.

Retirement is wonderful! I have never heard anyone say they wish they would of retired later

[FrankG]

Originally Posted by BigH

Way off the mark Frank.
You can get a 250/2500 series truck from Ford/Chevy/Ram with a long bed in any trim you want.

You are correct, I should of fact checked the current offerings. In 2016 the statement i made was true. What is true is a crew cab with a 8' bed will not fit in the average garage or most parking spots, but they will tow better than a shorter wheel base similar truck.

[ppine]

A long bed with an extra cab is only a few inches longer than a crew cab short bed.

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by ppine

A long bed with an extra cab is only a few inches longer than a crew cab short bed.

That might be true but most long bed crew cab trucks will not fit in garages built for today's homes. When I had my house built, I added an extra 4 feet to the house planes for the garage (26' inside measurement) and had an 8' garage door put in.

My Mega Cab Dodge fits in with no issues, it is over 22' in length without the tag-a long trailer hitch extension in the hitch.

[reevesfamily]

Originally Posted by Larry Nowicki

I ended up not getting the long bed. We got the shorter bed 2500. I think it will work great. The wife drove it home. She likes it and that is a good thing.

You are a smart man. If momma ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy, and daddy’s days of buying new motorized man toys are over!

[RamManMN]

Originally Posted by Larry Nowicki

Thanks, guys. It looks like I have some research before I return to the dealer.

I tow a trailer a bit liter than the one you are getting with a 22 Ram 2500 6.4L gas engine crew cab with 6'4" bed. For me this was the only brand and configuration I would consider since it was the only 3/4 ton truck where I could get a crew cab and still have it fit in my garage. Chevy/GMC would be nearly 12 inches longer in overall length and I'd have to go with a double cab. My Ram has no trouble at all pulling my trailer. Personally I think if a trailer was so big and heavy that I was thinking I needed a long WB, I'd also be switching to a 3500.

[Rockwood Travelers]

Originally Posted by FrankG

If you are looking at a 2500 4x4, 4dr crew cab most Manufactures only offer them with the short bed, some with the ultra short bed. The 8ft models are mostly reserved for the "Work Truck" version. I owned a 2016 Ram 2500,4x4, crew cab, CTD Laramie (One Sweet Truck) it only came with the short bed. It would fit in most parking spots, in the 20' garage with 7ft door and towed with confidence.

Not true. All manufacturers offer crew cab trucks with long boxes. I have a Ford F-350 4X4 crew cab, long box and wouldn't own anything else for towing our 5th wheel. The longer wheelbase gives noticeably better stability and we need not have a sliding 5th wheel.