Long-bed vs Short-bed

Nothing to do with different strokes, but is this not a Tacoma thread? Did you post a photo of Tacoma’s navigating a semi- hairpin turn?

 

Indeed, not everyone takes that switchback seriously. But what's a couple dozen rolls back down to Telluride among friends? Some are lucky and only do one roll and stop.

 

DITTO ^^^^^^

 

Different strokes because I recognize not everyone is as worried about squeezing their junk down trails, just like I'm no longer worried about the ideal wheel base of 110" because I carry more camping stuff than I once did. I just can't imagine a DCLB ever being much fun on trails with switchbacks.

 

What does this have to do with Tacoma SB Vs LB??

 

And not speaking of either a SB’s or LB Tacomas, there’s those who try switchbacks like Elephant Hill, Utah with their expedition trailers... a lot more work, but they eventually make it. This guy jacks his trailer sideways and backs down the next turn. I’ve seen full sized LB trucks do the same instead of turning the corners. They can do it, just with more effort.

 

You're right.

 

I use my full size work truck to haul stuff and I use my Toyota to beat the hell out of it. Glad you got the long bed . Sounds like you need it.

 

I remember going to the Toyota Dealer in 1985 and test driving that very truck.

 

#longbedislife

 

As a DD, I prefer the short bed. I don't find that I'm missing much with the short bed. I can about haul the same stuff, I just have to let it hang out the back a little more.... or use a utility trailer.

 

Not for me. I find the LB with the bed extender is a must for me plus a utility trailer. Hauling some sheetrock today. I'm an occasional off-roader and the places I've been so far have been fine, fun, and exciting. I look at a SB and scratch my head. Bottom line tho is get what suits your needs. If something happened to my DCLB OR and I couldn't find another one in a reasonable amount of time, I'd probably go back to a full-size truck regardless how cool the Taco's are.

 

My first truck was that same model but with the single cab. What a great toy, except for towing. Just a bit under powered for that.

 

There is no right answer for this.

Most of my offroading is open country, corn/soybean fields and pastures. My scab shortbox F-150 hasn't had much of an issue for maneuverability really.

My std cab longbox (7') Ranger is like a gocart compared to the F-150. Handy for moving things around the barn lot. Parking even in a tight parking lot is a non issue. It isn't going anywhere though, I am thinking about updating the F-150 not the Ranger.

I do haul lumber and stuff sometimes (not a lot). Given my druthers I would have no issue losing 6" of bed for the Taco longbox... but the manual trans is very tempting too and you can't get both for whatever reason.

Been thinking a lot on it, 90% of the time I am hauling something it is a can of gas which is not huge. My Ranger barely fits in my garage (where it will continue to live) but it would be nice to be able to pull in my dd if I needed to work on it in foul weather. I think the couble cab shortbox Taco would fit too. My F-150 would rip the light off the ceiling and the door wouldn't shut.

I have a long box Ranger, I have a longbox Ranger pickup box trailer... so that is why I am thinking I could make do with the shortbox. Still not 100% sold on it, downsizing that much (all around) is still a gut churner.

 

When I bought my 80 Series Cruiser in the mid-nineties, with a 112" wheelbase IIRC, the guys with Wranglers/CJ's, FJ40's and first-gen shortbed minitrucks stared at it like it was a stretch limo. My DCSB still feels big off pavement, though a lot of that is corner visibility not wheelbase.

 

True, but I usually use 8' boards. And my post and rail front fence has several 12' long rails. So the bed is never long enough for lumber, tailgate up.

 

DCLB for me.
The arguments for maneuverability & daily driving are lost on me, my previous truck was a lifted Dodge MegaCab 4x4 & I drive a FD ladder truck for a living .
What I bothers me is the aesthetics of the shorter bed. The body line and contour of the bed do not match the body line and contour of cab. The shorter bed almost looks like an after thought with its gap. I guess once my OCD brain saw it, I can’t unsee it.

 

Daym, same here bro!

 

I understand what you're saying, the minivan crowd has moved to the double cab short bed trucks, 4 door Jeeps and 3rd row SUVs because interior space is more important to them, not exterior space.

With the short bed it lets them say "I have a pickup truck too, see the little bed back there? I know it's a people hauler first but I can put little things in the back or even haul a little trailer around to make up for it."

That's why the 6ft bed was installed on the single cab, the access cab and eventually added to the Double cab, the 6ft bed has always been the "correct" bed. The 5 foot bed has always been the bed for people that don't "need" a bed.

You know, "Jeep people".