Short Bed vs. Long Bed

I am getting a 12 TRD Sport DC 4X4. I wanted a long bed for the functionality and smoother ride, my wife and son both want the short bed....because they look cooler.

I am having a hard time finding a long bed but there are a few short beds to choose from. I am considering getting a short bed but worried that I may regret it later.

A few questions....is the ride on a long bed really noticably smoother than a short bed? Anything else, other than payload size I should be considering?

Thanks

 

Long bed is slightly smoother but holds it's resale value bc they are rare. Plus Lb look way cooler lifted hands down! Love mine.

 

I went long bed for more function plus it doesn't look like a little tacked on pouch to the back of a big cab... If course I'm a fan of trucks with the full 8' beds too! Go LB.

 

Long bed. Short beds are ugly.

 

Have an '08 DCLB & having more bed room is well wroth it for me. I can haul my Honda Rancher & close the tial gate. My bro-in-law has to leave the gate down on his SB.

 

The ride on the long bed is nice! If you need the additional bed size for hauling and your wife and son only want the short bed for looks, I'd say get the long bed for sure. I only got the short bed because it's easier to maneuver around the city. It is very capable and you'd be surprised what you can jamb into a short bed pickup but the long bed is much easier to haul with (especially if you're moving lumber, plywood or drywall).

 

I would get a long bed because if I am buying a truck I want the biggest bed possible to be able to do as much as I can with the truck. And, resale value is something to consider, plus you may decide later you may want to buy a camper, bed tent, etc. and use the bed differently down the road. But, if your buying a truck as a DD and you just want to use a truck as a normal passenger vehicle, with the occasional use of the bed space then you will be fine with a short bed.

 

There was another thread a week or two ago on this topic. I love my long bed.

 

Here we go again...



DCSB FTW

Fink

 

i have SB and i kinda wish we got LB but i still love mine cause its easier to just get around town with and all.

 

I too was in the same situation as you when I bought my truck in 09. I personally think long beds look better and hands down better when lifted.

However, looks are only opinion and worth little as you will soon witness as some of our fellow TW members will inevitably starting posting "long beds are for 4#&*@#" and "Short beds look like you mama's #@*(#"...

In the end I decided to purchase a long bed quite simply because it is a truck and I didn't want to limit its primary function. Others may argue they don't haul much in the bed which is fine but in that context I would have rather purchased an FJ.

I do a lot of camping, surfing, snow boarding and biking and there have been dozens of times where someones bike, board or gear would have had to been loaded on another vehicle or simply left behind. Specifically, my last camping trip to the mojave, i would have had to leave my dogs at home if it were not for the extra ~4'x12'' space back there... and that my friend is reason enough for me.

 

I always wanted a long bed for all the same reasons mentioned above but I ended up with a short bed because I didn't really have a choice. Its funny, I use to think SB's looked stubby or "Uglier" and now that I have one I think the long beds look funny. Maybe its just me, but I learn to like what I have. One thing to consider is that you can't get a 6 speed manual in long bed configuration. I am guessing that is not important to you though, since you didn't mention it in your OP. But like it was mentioned before you would be surprised at how much use you can still get out of a short bed, plus it is much easier to park. Good Luck though you have a very challenging discussion to make, some might even put it up there with deciding who to marry or what to name your first son.

Here are a few things I have done with mine, the second one is full of concrete pavers...

 

Stubbie...Shorty..all SB

LB FTMFW. Tows better, hauls more, more truck for the money!! Rare, holds value better. shit isn't hanging off the end of the bed all the time.


Bottom fricken line is that the Chicks always like it Longer...

 

+1

Ha Ha there you have it. Of course I ran out of room with my first gen 6' bed as well.

One more bottom it works if you work it.

 

DCLB FTMFW Bitches

 

DCLB = FAIL for me because you can't buy them with a 6 speed. Stupid move on Toyota's part...

 

dclb ftw. You throw in a bed extender and you can practically haul anything

 

Toyota knows the automatic is better than the manual though

 

x1

DCSB is rare up here, everything is DCLB.

 

Long bed.. can haul normal things without buying an extender.