OK, so I'm thinking about moving up from the 98.5 to the 03 and from the SWB to the LWB. The consensus seems to be LWB is the overall wisest choice, which I agree with. <br><br>I'm in TX now, and I very, very rarely see any 03 LWBs. 1500s, 2500s, even 3500 SRWs have the short box. You'd think in the land of the cowboy, all the trucks would be long beds, but only the duallys consistently have the long box. <br><br>Anyone have any idea what's going on here?<br><br>If it was still a 6'6&quot; box, I'd probably go with that, but that is my lower limit. Am I the oddball here? Not that I care, really, just curious.<br>

 

I didn't know that the LWB was the concensus &quot;wisest choice&quot;. Aside from hauling stuff, a lot are used as everyday drivers and it's just easier to do so with a SWB. One of them fits in most garages, one does not. If a person doesn't need it, there's no sense in spending extra money. SRW 3500 quads with an 8' box just became available in January I think.

 

I can tell you from going from a longbox supercab Fo*d to this quad shortbox Dodge, I will not be getting another long box. Much easier to park and drive, easier to swing around on the construction sites. Longbox quad feels like driving a school bus. I do miss the cargo room in the box, tho. Longer wheelbase usually means better ride, although this truck has a pretty good ride. HTH

 

The wisest choice depends on your wants and needs. Nothing else really matters. <br><br>The law of gross tonnage always applies, and it seems like the short truck has lots less of mass in tight parking lots. My last truck was a Ford CC long bed dooley, and it got to the point where I didn't like having to deal with its size. Other than pulling a boat, I don't have to haul anything that would necessitate the long bed, nor do I pull a fiver. Not that a shorty can't pull a fiver. My shorty is a daily driver.<br><br>Maybe you don't see any LWB's out there cuz they're all out workin rather than playin...?<br><br>If you can't decide, flip a coin. Either way I don't think you'll lose.

 

I agree it all depends on what you need or want. <br> I had a F-350 crewcab shortbed. Now I have a longbed quadcab dually. The overall length of the Dodge longbed quadcab is only a few inches longer than the shortbed crewcab ford.<br> Randy<br>

 

I have yet to see another Regular Cab Long Box on the road besides my Red Rig.<br><br>I have seen one or two quad cab long box trucks but in large majority it is the Quad Cab Short Box combo that is most prevalent.<br><br>With the size and comfot of the Regular Cab, the only reason you need the four door for is to haul all the kids (yuk!) or mother in law around (yikes).

 

I currently have a 2003 Laramie 2WD, SWB, with the standard diesel, 47 RE trans, and 3.73 gears. The truck gets great mileage and is easy to get in and out of parking spaces.

 

[quote author=Hummin' Cummins link=board=17;threadid=12749;start=0#120703 date=1048711631]<br>I have yet to see another Regular Cab Long Box on the road besides my Red Rig.<br><br>I have seen one or two quad cab long box trucks but in large majority it is the Quad Cab Short Box combo that is most prevalent.<br><br>With the size and comfot of the Regular Cab, the only reason you need the four door for is to haul all the kids (yuk!) or mother in law around (yikes). <br>[/quote]<br><br>Kids can get in the cab but (step)mother in law gets tied to the hitch. <br>We call her the wicked witch of the south

 

[quote author=Hummin' Cummins link=board=17;threadid=12749;start=0#120703 date=1048711631]With the size and comfot of the Regular Cab, the only reason you need the four door for is to haul all the kids (yuk!) or mother in law around (yikes). <br>[/quote]<br>My dogs demand a window of their own and I was tired of Boomer (130 pound black lab) thinking the driver side is his window... Now they get the back seat and a window each... ;D

 

Keep in mind this short bed is shorter than the standard short bed. I can't fit my ATV in the back without having the tail gate down. Where in my '01 Chebby I could fit it in and close the gate. No biggie, but you'd figure on a 3500 it'd atleast have a longer short bed.

 

I would recommend driving both and evaluating what you want. Keep in mind - going to a LWB on an '03 will be a big change from your SWB '98 as the new LB QC has a 6&quot; longer wheelbase than an equivilent 2nd gen. I am not positive but think even the SWB will be slightly longer than your current ride. With that said - I went from an '01 LB QC to an 03 - it is definately longer but I just find the long bed too handy to give up. I haul dirt bikes very often and find having 2 or 3 bikes in the back with the tailgate up to be a huge advantage. My overall theory is that even the SB is still a large fairly long rig that wont fit in any tight spaces - so if your already parking in the back of the lot might as well have the LB so your payload isn't limited? Out here in Oregon - there seems to be quite a few QC LWB around. Probably confused you more than helped but just my .02.<br><br>Mathew

 

I selected the SWB because it is a LOT easier to maneuver around tight corners or in cramped spaces. In some of the places I go into a LWB just would NOT cut it.