Please help with pros and cons of Short vs Long bed

What are the pros and cons of the SHORT bed and LONG bed? In other words, which kind to even start looking for.

thank you.

 

Cons of short bed:
If you haul much bulk material that gets loaded by tractor (mulch, gravel, etc), their scoops tend to be wider than the bed is long. Unless they use very small tractors.
Long lumber might have to tie down or put weight on it at the front to keep from flipping out at the back.

Cons of long bed:
if you have an access cab, there is no con to the long bed. my opinion anyway.
if you have a double cab long bed, the wheel base is longer. Might be tougher to park. Might drag the frame more often off road.

 

I have a DCLB, and much like what totmacher has said, these are my pros/cons:

Pros:
More bed space = more stuff to fit onto bed
Looks great
Better to have than not have, but then again, if you need extra bed space, you can always rent a truck from Home Depot, etc.


Cons:
Inconvenient to park in small spaces
Extra caution when maneuvering around tight spaces, such as drive-thru at fast foods
Friends/family asking to help haul stuff


Ultimately, I have no regrets in getting a long bed and I'd do it again if given the choice. It really boils down to how you will use the truck.

 

I use my long bed regularly to haul material. I am 6`3 and it is just long enough to sleep in the bed while camping or on long trips.
The double cab long bed definitely has a bigger turning radius than the access cab or the short beds but this hasn't caused me any issues yet.

 

Do you own a home? long bed. Live in an apartment? short bed. It's a lifestyle decision.

 

I have a short bed, easy to turn for daily driving. When I buy a house, I'll buy a utility trailer if the bed isn't big enough

 

Rent the trailer, my neighbors trailer has been sitting in the same spot for 3 years, unused.

 

Pros ~ Long bed
Cons ~ Short bed

 

Ha, thats actually true. Having the short bed gets me out of helping friends move stuff.

 

Pro small bed easier to park.

Con can't haul when you need to.


Long bed con's. How often do you actually haul. I have had 2 short bed normal 6 foot lengths and have hauled dirt one time in 6 years. J got short bed double cab.

 

I had a long bed 2011 I4 Access Cab. 6' Bed was awesome. I live in Washington state though and it rains all the time so we needed more dry cargo storage space.

So I ended up going with a DCSB. I plan on getting a shell at some point but still wanted that extra cab space.

 

In all seriousness OP , more often than not Toyota makes this choice for you

Do you want either of these things ~

Offroad package ( ie locker )

Manual transmission

 

I helped a friend move with my short bed because he and his wife only had cars. We cheated a little though and he rented the U-Haul

 

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate this all. Have a great Sunday. Now the decision making will be easier.