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Everyone has their own reasons for the vehicle/bed they choose. I will never own a short bed again. My '90 Ranger was an excellent vehicle (7'box) but was routinely too small to haul much, although better than some of the super short boxes today. It did make a huge difference in assisting our daughter through college (financially). I have had an 8' box ever since then and still use it regularly for not only my chores etc. but hauling and moving stuff for the others who have the short boxes and things don't fit. I like to load my Polaris in the back for longer journeys and I certainly enjoy having a full length slide in camper. I know several others with 250's and 350's and equivalents who have only rarely come close to filling their short boxes. Some even pull trailers and fifth wheels while others just tootle around in their Super Duty limousines. It is a personal choice. Neither is right nor wrong, but I still like having a truck for the use as a truck. I almost went to a CC this time but not needing the space inside meant I could keep the OAL down with the SC. If the inside space was required? Well give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around!!
I had one SB (2001). Never again. 8' box with bed extender for me thanks. Parking has never been an issue for me or my wife. We always back our vehicles into their spot. When you use your mirrors it's pretty simple to back it into a spot. Now, with tailgate cameras it's REALLY easy.
Even though I don't use it for work (I have a WT for that), I'm still doing so many side jobs and upgrades at the house, so I still find myself loading my bed to the point where I need the LB + the tailgate extender (which is a joke on the 17's btw).
Also, I think the longbox trucks look much better, probably because my idea of a truck is different, but a SB looks sawed off to me.
I plan on getting the long bed. I've parked both, and only the amount your nose sticks out when you're done is noticeably different.
The long bed (at least on the 2016) rides a lot better. Each time I take the truck out, I drive about 45 minutes and park for 30 seconds. That's about 99% of the time with a better riding truck and 1% of the time parking the extra 16". The extra range and simpler & lighter 5th wheel hitch are added pluses.
Either one fits in my garage. If the short fit and the long didn't, that would be a major factor though.
I'm looking forward to verifying the ride difference for the 2017. My dealer has 15 short beds and , one dually. The had one long bed, but it sold the day they got it.
The 2017 dually and short bed are both better than the 2016 equivalent trucks, but not nearly as nice as the 2016 long bed. I am really looking forward test driving a 2017 long bed.
Each time I take the truck out, I drive about 45 minutes and park for 30 seconds. That's about 99% of the time with a better riding truck and 1% of the time parking the extra 18".
Speaking of beds (so as not to be accused of hijacking) your percentages correlate to the human beds. People will only spend $99 to buy a mattress for their bed where they spend about a third of their lives. The ride on the highway is a good analogy to the time spent driving in comfort to the time spent parking. Too bad if you have to park as an outlier and walk across the whole parking lot on the way to the gym. I believe anyone with a $70K truck would want those spots out there anyway. I hate fighting in and out of the door in a spot designed for Mini's. And I hate even worse the pecker marks all over the side of the vehicle from the inconsiderates who pull in next to you and never learned how to open a door. And have you ever noticed that when parked with 15 empty spaces until the next vehicle some jack *** will come park right next to you anyway like some bonding or mating ritual.
Had a long bed since 08. What I like is it hauls everything. What I hate is won't fit anywhere. No garage, nor driveway, nor condo, etc...
I lived in a condo and parked in a standard lot. My parking neighbors knew to park on the outsides of the spots due to my truck. A normal exit or entry involved 3 or more turns to get it just right then have the bumper extend into the sidewalk while front end of my truck stuck out.
Had a long bed since 08. What I like is it hauls everything. What I hate is won't fit anywhere. No garage, nor driveway, nor condo, etc...
I lived in a condo and parked in a standard lot. My parking neighbors knew to park on the outsides of the spots due to my truck. A normal exit or entry involved 3 or more turns to get it just right then have the bumper extend into the sidewalk while front end of my truck stuck out.
Should have just parked like a Corvette owner. Diagonally across 3 spots!
Had a long bed since 08. What I like is it hauls everything. What I hate is won't fit anywhere. No garage, nor driveway, nor condo, etc...
I lived in a condo and parked in a standard lot. My parking neighbors knew to park on the outsides of the spots due to my truck. A normal exit or entry involved 3 or more turns to get it just right then have the bumper extend into the sidewalk while front end of my truck stuck out.
Cities suck. And condos aren't my bag of tea. I like living on several acres with a nice big driveway and a place to park my two boats, travel trailer, equipment trailer, atv trailer, and 3 atv's. Living in a place where I need 3 or more turns to get it just right with ANY vehicle is simply not living.
Seeing the two sizes side by side it is not much longer. I always laugh now because with my short bed of 5.5' on my F150 there are STILL spots where I cannot fit in a parking space...lol I have to park in my driveway anyway as my current truck is too long for parking in the garage and of course the wife has it all to herself with this parked in the garage,
Long and short both have their advantages, I think it comes down to which one is right for you. Now I have to go find a matching purse before my new short bed gets here! :-)
Long and short both have their advantages, I think it comes down to which one is right for you. Now I have to go find a matching purse before my new short bed gets here! :-)
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
