Does anyone have any problems wheeling with their long beds?

I have a Double Cab Short Bed, and I'm thinking of upgrading to a Double Cab Long Bed. The extra foot in the bed could really come in handy with large loads.

I'm just wondering if any of you out there have had any problems keeping up on the trails with the Short Beds, being that you have an extra 13" in your wheelbase? I've never seen a Double Cab Long Bed wheeling in person.

 

Your break over angle just gets worse, it will bottom out more without question. But if wheeling is just moderate bush roads no biggie. But if you really wheel the long bed is not your friend. Long bed with access cab would be more ideal for wheeling..

 

theres quite a few. you have to be a better driver ( IMO haha jk) and some turns may take a reverse or two and I rely on my sliders to do their job around turns and trees. If you're smart its not bad.

 

I've never been left behind by short bed guys! I highly suggest getting solid skids and sliders, because you will high center more often than them, you'll just have to drag your ass over some stuff that short bed guys don't. Don't let the length intimidate you.... hehe

 

Thanks for the reply. Getting high centered and braking the drive shaft was the one thing I was worried about. The LBs definitely seem more useful off the trails. Wish more people would post more videos wheeling with their LB's. I've only seen a couple posted, and one guy was running 37's, which would kill my gas mileage if I had those on my daily driver.

 

Had my Pro out to the Grand Canyon and it was the largest rig on our trip. Definitely tight where we had a lot of weaving in and out of trees and such. If it was 13" longer it would have been a PITA! Mainly depends on the trails you intend to drive. As stated, break over can become an issue but also the sheer length will come in to play if you frequent tight trails. I've spotted way to many rigs through the Rubicon in my years of running trail for the TLCA Rubithon. Width with added length causes issues, but if you are willing to take it slow and not let folks push you you can wheel with little or no damage. When my 40 had issues a couple of years ago we took an 80 series wagon on 33's with sliders in to the Springs and back out with 0 damage (OK tiny scratch on the rear flares from the same rock in and out), but we took over 5 hours to make a trip I do in under 2 in my 40.

 

Well obviously. I've seen 2 long beds (so far) that have bobbed their bed.

 

Here's one video where a long bed looks like it's about to bottom out where most short beds wouldn't have a problem, and he's using 37's.

 

Haha well when you cet a crawl box and front and rear lockers and 37's then your trail limo can do that!

 

Out here in SoCal there are a lot of trails that would be especially difficult (if not impossible) for a long bed, like the Lockwood trail leading to the Miller Jeep trail and all of it's narrow, tight switchbacks. But there are a lot too that are more wide open. Really just depends on what you prefer to wheel on, but you'll be more limited in a long bed, no doubt.

 

Haven't had too much trouble yet. Couple weeks back had to turn around on a trail. About a 100 point turn it seemed.. Lol
This trip I almost got high centred on super narrow trails.

DCLB

 

That's been my only thing that I found taking my truck off road. Switch backs are a little tight but who cares. Back up once or twice and you're fine. You can't beat how a long bed looks either.

 

Thats robertocristo (TW SN) and it was when those of us in TN went to AOP (adventure offroad park). He JUST chopped his truck, you can see his build page, went LT and flatbed(ish). He and I were the 2 trail limos in the group. hes got a sick build but now that truck is pretty much just a crawler.

AND he can drive the shit outa that truck haha

 

that's more like a dirt road than wheeling....

 

I was just checking out Levi's page (Robertocritser). Looks like driving a LB was too much of a pain. He chopped the sh** out of it. Paying that extra 3 grand for the LB option just went down the drain.



After seeing the trucks on the big island, I can't help but want to build mine up 6" like theirs. They can definitely wheel the hell out of them too. So far for a LB, (Honey)'s (SN) truck is looking the best so far for a 2016. Custom King Shocks in the front, with full Alcan's in the rear. No spacers in front or back. Hopefully someday AMP will make their steps more beefy so they can be used as sliders.



I'm really digging (orangehulk)'s (SN) front bumper too, and his 35" tires with this 6" setup on a 2016.

 

I get what youre saying, just keep in mind if you are actually going to DD your truck like the other 98% of us do haha

 

Bottom out? On a Trail Limo?

Maybe that's how my skids got like this...



Driving a DCLB just means you have to get better at driving than everyone else. Pick your lines more carefully. Or just accept the fact that you're going to tear up your skid plates.

Most of all it means watching your drive line more carefully.

Moar Lift!!

 

Skids and sliders look like they will definitely be needed. Are the two skids in these pictures both RCI skids?

 

I have a DCLB PreRunner, bone stock. The 6 foot bed has been perfect, I've had plenty of times where the 5 foot bed wouldn't have been able to handle what I needed to haul.

As far as offroading, even bone stock this truck has OWNED the 1/2 mile gravel road I have to drive every couple months. ZERO issues, its a true blue offroading BEAST...even with the 10-20 potholes that road has.