I would like to bring on this age-old question, but in a different manner then normal.

I am thinking about getting a 34-foot toyhauler sometime within the next 3 years and was wondering if a shortbed will tow this, or if I should just get the longbed for more stability.

The thing is that the toyhauler thing could go either way with me. I may get one, I may not. But I have a bunch of different types of utility and dump trailers that I can use if I need them, so, options for me are limitless.

What do you guys think here?

Keep in mind, I say that the toyhauler thing can go either way because my buddy has a huge one and we all go camping togeather if we go at all. Which is also not that many times a year. I honestly think I have answered my own ?, but lets see some opinion.

 

Lots of guys have a short bed and wish they had a long bed. But rarely do you ever read about a guy with a long bed who wishes he had gone with the short.

Either will pull the Toyhauler fine. The LB should give a slight edge in ride and towing stability, but not enough to factor into the decision. Just get whichever one you prefer for looks if you don't need the bed space.


My vote goes to LB.

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Are you going with a 5th wheel or trailer?

Anyway, I'd also vote long bed. With a 5th wheel you don't have to worry about a slider. With a tow trailer it will be more stable, and you can haul more in the bed.

The only disadvantages to a long bed I can think of is in some tight RV parks there isn't much room for the tow vehicle to swing to make the turn to back into a slot, and secondly if you need a mega-cab your only choice would be a fairly expensive conversion to long bed...

 

i LOVE my short bed. my dad has a long bed, if i was to buy a new truck tomorrow i would seriously look into a mega, i have 2 small kids and a golden retriever...i would not buy a long bed. i like the manueverability of the short bed and like the ride quality of my truck over my dad's. they have they same shocks and springs. if you're getting a fifthwheel don't even think about getting a regular hitch. Get a slider, look into the superglide hitch made by pullrite or get a regular fifth hitch and get the sidewinder pinbox made by fifthairborne. the one thing to think about is the width of the fifth wheel...

if the fifthwheel is 102 inch wide then even with a slider you'll hit the cab with the nose of the trailer at full 90 degree turn on a short bed. if you get a trailer that is 96 inch wide no problem with a short bed. but if you do get a short bed then get the auto sliding hitch or the sidewinder pinbox otherwise it's big dollars everytime you forget and kiss the cab. I did it once and it cost me $500 deductible but that would have been better spent on the auto slider or pinbox, but i didn't know about them or this forum when i was buying my setup...

 

If you live in a city the shortbed is nice but if parking and traffic is not a problem then go longbed.

 

Only go short bed in a Dodge if you buy a Mega Cab, it gives the longest wheel base. You do lose some weight capacities in the MC but worth it if you want a short bed. Best capacity Dodge truck is the CC longbed.

 

I won't own another shortbed. The 4 trucks I owned prior to this truck were shortbeds. I hated the way longbeds looked. About a month after buying every one of the SBs I was cussing the lack of bed space. It took my dumb azz 5 trucks before I finally gave in and bought a LB.

The LB really isn't any harder to drive or park. I live outside Seattle and live with some of the worst parking and traffic in the US. If I can manage with a LB in Seattle,anyone can.

When I'm towing my fifth wheel,I can still carry my Lab in her kennel,generator,and a weeks worth of firewood in the bed. Good luck accomplishing that with a SB.

 

if you have lots of stuff to haul with your fifth then by all means get the long bed you can't go wrong... or pull doubles like me then all your troubles are solved...lol!!!!!!!!!!!

 

L o n g b e d That is the largest tool chest that Weatherguard makes...Still have room to spare..

 

A lot will depend on the style of the trailer especially if it is a Fifth Wheel. If a short bed is used you may have to get a sliding fifth wheel adapter to get cab clearance when turning. I have a long bed dually and love the way it tows as well as having room to haul stuff. I have a forty-five gal. aux. fuel tank which looks similar to the truck posted with tool box. Still gives me a seven foot bed. Tank came from ATT in Mansfield, TX. Also, the longer wheel base gives a little smoother ride.

 

I have a short bed and every time i use it i wish i had a long bed. just get the long bed and be done.

 

ive never understood the point of buying a truck and gettin a short bed. We have one at work and it sucks, especially if you put a tool box in it, then it becomes really useless.

 

The only valid "functional" reason I've ever heard for buying a shortbed is that a longbed truck won't fit in the garage. The long ones ride better, pull better, and haul better. Some guys prefer the looks of a shortbed, but I prefer more "truck" than "car".

 

On 4wd trails I tend to go, sometimes my short bed is a bit too long. Forget the long bed on those, no way.
My friend has a LB and says that he likes my SB better in parking lots. He likes his LB better when he is hauling hay bales though - not surprisingly.
For my use (some city, occasional hardware store/cement, sand; some 4wd, hunting; travel trailer pulling) the SB works great. I am not wishing for a long bed. If my stuff does not fit in the SB, I have packed to much.
-P

 

Well said, I completely agree. I bought a LB so I wouldn't have to worry about what I chose to tow. No issues with LB but some 5vers could be problematic for a SB. Yes, you can buy sliding hitches but why not get a LB and forget about it.