Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-13-2016, 05:27 PM   #1
Member
 
LoveCamping58's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Anaconda
Posts: 44
Long box vs short box

We are considering buying a different truck and having a tough time finding what we are looking for. We want a long box truck, as we have heard they are better for pulling the fifth wheel. Our current truck is a long box. Do any of you have personal experience in short box vs. long box?
__________________

Deb, Dan & Missy (mixed breed rescue dog)
2015 Eagle Touring 28.5RKDS
1995 Ford Diesel
LoveCamping58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2016, 05:45 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Grumpy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 15,950
In most cases you are talking 14" SB vs LB as to pin position over the axle so I went with the LB. That way I don't have to worry about a slider hitch.
__________________
DISNEY LOVERS
Grumpy is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2016, 05:52 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
jayfowler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Breese
Posts: 146
Concur was th Grumpy. Elimates concerns with slider hitch. If you forget to adjust you have a chance the front of your trailer hitting your cab on turns.
__________________
Jay - Southern IL
2015 Jayco Pinnacle 36FBTS
2015 GMC 3500 6.6L Duramax Diesel/Allison Trans
jayfowler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2016, 07:30 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
I agree with Grumpy and Jay, a LB will remove the tight turn concerns. We bought a SB which I chose for drivability while not towing. It's still a LONG truck. If you go SB think slider unless you can verify the front cap shape will let you make the tight turns (do not listen to the sales person).
I bought a non-slider B&W which is an excellent hitch but discovered we cannot make a full lock U-turn without buying a new rear window.
To do over I'd still get the SB but would pick a sliding hitch.
__________________
Cheers,
T_

2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
2013 Eagle Premier 351 RLTS
-SOLD- 2012 X23B
-SOLD- 2003 Ford Expedition 5.4, Bilstein shocks
RedHorse1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2016, 08:43 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 1,448
Long box vs short box

While I agree with the other posts, as a counter point, if your LB is your main TV, it can be challenging finding parking at the market/mall.
__________________
2013 Jayco JayFlight 26RKS
2013 Ford F150 Ecoboost FX4

2003 Coleman Bayside / 2011 Jayco Jayfeather X20E -- RIP
2012 Tacoma Sport DCSB / 2013 Tundra SR5 - RIP
Heady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2016, 09:50 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Gilmer, Texas
Posts: 1,053
Had one 2500HD short bed and went back to longbed.I will never have a short box unless quit towing.But that's me.
__________________
S.A.Young
2011 321RLTS
2012 Chevy duramax dually
poohbear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2016, 10:17 PM   #7
Member
 
LoveCamping58's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Anaconda
Posts: 44
Thank you everyone! You all validated our thoughts. We would be lucky enough that its not our main vehicle.
__________________

Deb, Dan & Missy (mixed breed rescue dog)
2015 Eagle Touring 28.5RKDS
1995 Ford Diesel
LoveCamping58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2016, 12:14 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Kennewick
Posts: 320
I have had short bed Fords and now a short bed GMC and have thousands of miles logged with a fifth wheel. I have never had to turn the rig so tight on a roadway or service station that I was in danger of hitting the cab with the trailer. The new Jayco we have has even more clearance in turns than my previous trailer. The only time I have needed the slider hitch is when parking in a tight location. I also need to leave the tailgate open when the slider is in the rear position and I need to turn the trailer very sharp on a steep slope otherwise the pin box may contact the tailgate cap. I like the short bed better for non towing driving parking and it gives me more room in my garage.
__________________
2014 Eagle Premier 361REQS
Mor-ride pin box
SuperSprings
2013 GMC Sierra 2500 CC SB 4x4 Duramax
skijlw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2016, 01:08 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Gunnar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Princeton BC Canada
Posts: 278
I have only towed with a short box. I have a slider hitch but have never had to slide it.
__________________
2003 F350
2006 301RLS
Gunnar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2016, 08:20 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: OKC
Posts: 403
I think 'tight turn' technology is helping the short bed guys. Probably will never eliminate the potential for a cap crash.

I'm curios to find out what you decide to purchase.....
__________________
2016 Road Warrior 355
2015 Ram 3500 Cummins SRW 4x4 MegaCab ShortBed
2011 F150 ecoboost - Traded
2015 Jayflight 28 BHBE (sold)
2009 Jayflight 26 BH (sold)
hboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2016, 08:28 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
BigJohnD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Florien, LA
Posts: 1,872
Long box for us regardless. When we had a fifth wheel, no worries on turns, the longer the truck the better the ride, 8' plywood fits with tailgate closed, ATV fits (With tool box) and tailgate closed. Parking, no worries, I always park way out there anyway. If I could afford the conversion, it'd be a 6 door long bed.
__________________
John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-13 / Little John-10 / Iva-7
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat FX4, CC LB PSD, DRW
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE (#8)
BigJohnD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2016, 11:36 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Bobx2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Colorado
Posts: 282
I have a 6 1/2' bed and a slider. Wasted my money on the slider. I have never used it, and don't think I ever will. I will replace it with another 6 1/2' bed when I buy my next truck.
__________________

Becky, Bob and Taylie & Bode
2009 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
2014 Heartland Sundance XLT 245RL
His and Hers Polaris 570 Touring ATV's
2018 Polaris General 1000
Bobx2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2016, 06:18 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
fielro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Trussville, Al
Posts: 2,093
I just bought a long box even though I have a travel trailer
__________________
Ron, Barbara & rescues Beamer (Lab mix), Buddy (Cavalier spaniel), Ruger (Golden retriever), Stanley (Bassett/Springer mix) and 3 grandsons
2012 Jayco Feather 29L BH
2015 Chevy 2500 HD Duramax and Equalizer WDH
fielro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2016, 10:30 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Aero_Dave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Boston
Posts: 319
I upgraded our TV 1st before even knowing weather or not our new camper was going to be another TT or 5th Wheel. So I decided to get a LB anyways. Now we have a 5'er on order and can't wait. Yes, my TV is Very long and I just park way out in the boonies when I go to the stores. It's not only because it's just easier, but I don't need 'another' person backing into me because They can't judge how long my truck is.

Dave...
__________________
2015 Ram 3500, CTD, CCLB Dually, Aisin, 4x4 in Maximum Steel, Andersen Ultimate Hitch (v2)

2013 Ram 2500, CTD, CCLB 4x4 in True Blue - SOLD

2016 Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS Picked-up 4/1/16
2007 Rockwood ROO 21SS - SOLD
Aero_Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2016, 10:42 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
NVGun40's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Eagle River, AK
Posts: 900
Back when I had my 5er, my TV was a long box. No slider hitch. Never had an issue with turns. Even had to do a couple of hitch ups from the jack knife position. The only issue I had involved my standard tail gate. I either had to raise the king pin above the tail gate, or drop the tail gate, back up till the pin cleared, and then close the tail gate, and finish hooking up.
__________________
We are just a humble drinking couple with a hunting and camping problem.
2018 Jayco Octane 260
2019 Dodge Ram 2500, 6.4 Hemi, 8 spd A/T
2021 Argo Aurora 8x8/2008 Arctic Cat M1000 SnoPro
Previous: Komfort 5er/Jamboree MH/Lance Cabover/Jayco Whitehawk 25BHS TT
NVGun40 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2016, 10:47 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Asheville
Posts: 138
"Normally", the long bed offers a little more GCWR than the short bed, not much, mind you, but there is normally some difference. Having owned both SB and LB trucks, I like the towing experience more with the long bed, and usually, you have a larger capacity fuel and with the long bed. They both have their pros and cons...just a matter of choice.
__________________
Jim & Kathy
2016 Ram 3500 DRW/crew cab/long bed/4X4/Cummins/Aisin/4.10/rear air assist. Pearl White
2016 Jayco Seismic 4112, WD/Trav'ler Direct tv SWM satellite, slide covers
B&W RVK 3600 hitch
USAF Viet Nam Vet
NC Hauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-17-2016, 01:59 PM   #17
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 8
Go Long Bed!! Here's a few more points.

I had a short box with the Pullrite superglide hitch. The hitch was an auto slider and worked great. However the downside is you can only hitch / unhitch from straight on to 16 degrees max. I have had several occasions that required greater than 16 degrees.


Plus the hitch is heavy and even though you can remove it in three pieces it still takes two. It also was recommended to spray lube on the slide rails each trip.

My long bed truck has more bed storage, larger fuel tank, and a hitch I can lift solo. Plus the hitch was half the price of the slider.

The cost difference between short to long bed new was 800 if i remember.

I had a 2012 F350 with a 26 gal factory tank my new long bed is 35.

There is nearly no difference to in parking either truck. Both are big! Park in the back of the long and enjoy a the walk!

If you have any doubt go with the long bed you won't regret it. Good luck!
wcampbell1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2016, 04:49 PM   #18
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Des Moines
Posts: 6
I've owned both short and long bed trucks. While owning the LB I've never said I wish I had a SB. However on the 3 occasions that I've owned SB's I've wished I had a LB. I will NEVER again own a SB pickup. The ride is much better, You can haul a FULL sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed.
My choice of truck would be a long bed Megacab. However Dodge won't build it.
Rockram is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2016, 05:23 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
tuckerdog1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: TX
Posts: 279
On my Ram 2500 4x4 crew cab, the wheelbase difference between a shot & long box is a full 20 inches. That could make turning & backing a tad more difficult. But should also translate to a more comfortable ride going down the road.

Tuckerdog1
__________________
2012 X213
2016 RAM 2500 Cummins SLT Lone Star LB SRW
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy.
You live and learn, or you don't live long.
If you don't punish your children, life will.
tuckerdog1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2016, 07:43 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
BigJohnD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Florien, LA
Posts: 1,872
There is a company that will stretch the frame and build you a long box mega cab, for a fee. I've always been tempted to go that route since I like the mega cab, even though I'm a ford fan. I'd own either.
__________________
John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-13 / Little John-10 / Iva-7
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat FX4, CC LB PSD, DRW
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE (#8)
BigJohnD is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:05 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.