A question: do the longer wheel-base trucks (long bed) pull better or safer than do the short-bed trucks? <br><br>I sold my '99 a while back and everyone who said they were going to use it mainly for towing declined buying it because it was a short-bed truck. Finally a guy bought it who was going to use it mainly for a work truck and pulling his flats fishing boat. <br><br>Gosh I miss that truck! Planning on ordering a '04 (NOT with EGR though!) and wondering if wheelbase really does make a big difference in towing.

 

I think a longer wheelbase provides more stability than a shorter one. I can't quantify how much more.

But you should factor in what you intend to do with your truck? What do you want to tow, how often, and how big is it? Is it a tag-along trailer or a fiver/GN? Lotsa guys pull 5th wheels with shortbeds, but more pull with long beds due to clearance issues when manuevering it tight places. I think shorter trucks are easier to manuever.

I traded in my longbed dooley for a shortbed 2500 RAM for pulling my 27' boat, and have no complaints. I like the shorter truck for daily driving too.

There has been lots of discussion here on the merits of longbeds vs shorties.

 

I agree with Bulabula. It all depends on your towing issues. I personally like the long bed. To me, it &quot;feels&quot; more stable. Downside is needing more room to manuever. Wife likes to kid me about &quot;needing 40 acres&quot;. I have had both, but I like the long bed. If you do not need the payload area, you will be fine with a shortbed. Remember to keep your weight properly distributed.<br>Ed

 

Check out this thread.<br><br>https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=13299

 

;D ;DI pull everything from tag-alongs, Fiver's, Gooseneck, in all weights up to 29000 lbs all with a short bed....I have only slide the slider 5th wheel once in 2 years and that was because I got into a really tight spot in a camp ground,<br>In other words, a short bed will do as much if not more that any long bed out there,<br>As far as being more or less stable....I have done both and there is no difference, I like the short wheelbase better.<br>I pull for Keystone RV, and Forest River RV, Carriage RV...and I have yet to find anything I cant pull, or that is unstable do to the shortbed.<br>Allen

 

As far as bumper pulling I have'nt seen much difference. I pull with both. SWB trucks are sure alote easier in spotting trailors &amp; U-turns. Look how short tractor rigs are compared to their trailors. The real key is the distance your hitch is behind your rear wheels. The closer to axle your hitch is the easier it is to manage your tow load. that's why 5vers tow so well. The most incredible differance I've personally noticed between trucks wasn't the short or long wheel base It was the differrence from the singe to duell wheels on the rear. If they offered a short bed duelly - I think you would have the best of both worlds. Towing stabilaty &amp; spotting your trailor.<br><br>db

 

Here's a little info about turning with a short bed and a 5er<br><br>https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...=13353;start=0

 

I prefer the long bed ;D but only because I need extra room in the bed and the big ole tack room on the Gn horse trailer would be too close to cab on turns as far as ride and stability, the shorty should do just fine<br>my$0.05

 

I've towed with both SB and LB, both 5er and tag-along. Long bed is much more preferable for 5er as hitch weight is placed ahead of axle. SB hitch wt of 5er is placed over axle which may raise nose somewhat on takeoff. Long bed is much more stable at all speeds. Short Bed requires special slider hitch which is $100s more expensive. The slider hitch if needed is worth the extra cost. I've arrived at a campground late in the day with only site left. Without the slider it was impossible to back into that one site. Next RV Park was almost 100 miles away. You don't value a slider hitch until you NEED a Slider. <br><br>In towing tag-along trailers, the longer the wheelbase the less tendency to sway. Long wheelbase gives a better ride with less bounce.

 

I have never towed a fiver with a long box but I agree with Sierra Phil that you need a slider with a short box. I have to slide mine to the rear most position ( about 6&quot; behind the axle to park it at home). I also had to slide it back about 4&quot; to get into a site at a campground. I find that towing with it right over the axle is very stable but like I said I have never towed with a long box. I sure like parking the short box at a shoping centre a lot better.<br>Jim O

 

commtrd<br><br>i have friend at work who has a 03 ctd ho short bed quad cab he and his wife tow a 30ft 5er that they just got.no previous exp pulling a 5er.They got one of the slider hitches and say it works great. the wife does alot of the driving.

 

Just remember on tight turns always put slider back. Rember, sliders don't allow you to jacknife the rig, the just give you an extra 10-15 degrees sharper turn with popping out the glass in rear side of truck, bending up your pretty truck cab,destroying the 5ver's overhang corner, and giving all the people in RV Park a good story for around the campfire. :'( :

 

phil:iasked my friend how his worked did he have to flip a switch or something to avoid a crunch of the cab.He said no it adjusts automaticly as you back up . <br><br>

 

Sounds like a Pullrite Superglide. Nice hitch.