I typically spend over 99% of my truck-time driving and less than 1% parking. I find that a long bed is superior at everything but parking, thus better 99% of the time.

Unlike Rodney, I chose door #1 (F450) and love both daily driving and towing with this truck. With the great backup camera, mirrors, and wide-track, parking is no problem.

BTW, I have the 360* camera, which is cool, but I find the backup camera and mirrors are my primary parking helpers.

 

Mine's 55 gallons...

 

2017 long bed OEM is 48 gallons. Rodney's doesn't count. He's cheating with an aftermarket in-bed fuel tank.

 

Excuse me, I abhor in bed fuel tanks. Mine is a direct replacement mid-ship fuel tank.

 

Ah, I didn't realize it was replacement for your dinky short bed fuel tank. I'm not a fan of in-bed tanks either.

 

I just couldn't get by with a SB, just not enough room to carry all my stuff

Denny

 

The only thing in my bed is my 5th hitch. That's one benefit of having a TH besides the ability to carry toys....

 

Since the shortbeds are 6'-6"ish? The difference really isnt as big as it used to be(1'-6" vs 2'). I like having the extra space of a LWB for toolbox and building materials. I also like the improved ride loaded and empty over a short bed. Injust rode about 700 miles last week with my boss empty in his SWB crew 4x4 250, very notiacble diff in ride vs my truck.
Towing a long bed Has a noticable advantage when handling heavy bumper pull trailers , 5th wheel/ goose applications its not as Noticable to me.
I am talking crew cab trucks.

Go to a reg cab or super cab the dynamic changes in my opinion. The shorter trucks a change is more noticable. A crew cab short bed still has a good sized wheelbase.

 

6' 9" vs. Ram's 6' 4".

 

I would be more concerned about the pin weight of the toy hauler you describe, the actual weight on the rear axle of the truck, and the remaining capacity of the two single rear tires. Unless there is some information you haven't shared, I would not be comfortable with that fifth wheel on a SRW truck. 25% of the trailer's GVWR is not uncommon for a loaded pin weight across the CAT scales.

Rob

 

There is absolutely no way in the world to tell what an RV's pin weight will be without weighing Rob. The old % trick is seldom right. Mine weighs about 18k with the garage empty and over 20k with the garage full. My pin is under 2600# with the garage full and around 2800# with it empty. So, I'm at around 13-14%...

 

My last truck was a SB. It did just fine with a 12K 5er. The '11 is a LB. It too does just fine with a 12K 5er. Both used the same B&W hitch. The LB is a smoother ride with that longer wheelbase. The SB was a LOT easier to drive around town and park. The LB holds a 4x8 piece of plywood with the tailgate closed, the SB ..... . Both trucks were equipped with an anti sway bar and identical 12K suspension regardless of the F series badges on the fenders. The OEM sway bar sure ain't much but better then none. Soooooo OP, get what works for you as either will do the job with both having some limitations that may (or may not) affect your needs

 

Thanks for the Input and your Service !
I have 2495 hours on the Generator in my 5th wheel Victory Lane. I have no idea how many miles, but 90% of them have been behind my SRW, LWB w 35 or 37" Toyos on 20' factory wheels. We were using it almost every other weekend for the first 5 years we had it, but have slowed down as of late. I have had NO issues at all. The airbags and 12.5 " tires give a very stable ride. I have literally put it on cruise at 75mph and hurtled down the Interstate until I needed fuel, more times than I can remember.
I DO think bigger is definitely better when towing and would prefer to have a Volvo tractor w the Condo sleeper, but just hate to buy such a dedicated rig.

 

I'm a bit late to the party here, but take a close look at payload capacities before you buy. There are really big differences by cab configuration, bed length, and 4x4. I was going to buy a crew cab but ended up extended cab long bed for the payload.