Longbed or Shortbed with a headache rack? Crew Cab

[Rednecktastic]

Looking at new trucks. This will be used for work from time to time in construction.


I currently have a dodge quad cab short bed think it is 6.5ft and I find it annoying to work out of because of the length but also maybe the height considering the lift and bigger tires raises it 3.5 inches.


I also have a long bed chevy 2500 and find it much easier to work out of. No lift just 32 inch tires.


I'm thinking the crew cab long bed is going to be too long, I live in like downtown.



Could getting a headache rack allivate some of this annoyance because I can put stuff over the roof too?



I can in a pinch pick up 16ft long pieces of lumber with my long bed if I put them on top of the cab and on top of the tail gate, like 4 ft over each side (yeah I know not legal). So I guess with a short bed I could do the same but with 12 ft pieces I'd be maxed out. Same thing with ladders.



Anyone find a shortbed annoying to work with? This is like my going out to dinner truck but I'm a get it done guy and pick up stuff at work.

[mts678]

Crew cab trucks look the best IMO. Especially when you lift or put bigger tires on em, the short beds just look a little short.

Plus the extra room you have, ya a little harder to park, but I'd never have a short bed. I have a tool box and need the room. But even if I didn't need the room I'd still have a long bed!





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[kirbybc12]

Gonna go the opposite of the above post and say go for the short bed. If you're like me and length in lots and roads is an issue the long bed crew is not an option. I had my old truck with a toolbox and was still able to fit a lot in it. Headache racks or a full sized carpenter/ladder rack would be ideal for lumber, my boss' short bed held 2 40' extension ladders over the cab roof with a ladder rack no problem, if I remember correctly the bed of the ladder is 24' on a 40' extension so it was no problem.
My short bed is in my sig pic


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[kirbybc12]

Originally Posted by kirbybc12

Gonna go the opposite of the above post and say go for the short bed. If you're like me and length in lots and roads is an issue the long bed crew is not an option. I had my old truck with a toolbox and was still able to fit a lot in it. Headache racks or a full sized carpenter/ladder rack would be ideal for lumber, my boss' short bed held 2 40' extension ladders over the cab roof with a ladder rack no problem, if I remember correctly the bed of the ladder is 24' on a 40' extension so it was no problem.
My short bed is in my sig pic
EDIT: here's a rack you'd want


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[mts678]

No offense but them are some small azz tires for that truck. Why lift it and keep small tires?


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[kirbybc12]

White truck isn't mine lol I found that online, my truck is in my sig which you can't see on mobile


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[mts678]

Haha ok good man


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[Rednecktastic]

I don't know about the full pipe rack ha.


Something like this maybe?

Tough Country IHR1345F Industrial Series Headache Rack Ford 1999-2012 F250-F350 Super Duty TruckS



I like the look of that longbed above. Just worried about parking something that size.




I'm still shopping I have time to think..

[Korx]

I would get the ladder rack/track rack before I would get a headache rack. I don't see the headache rack being very practical for what you're trying to do.

The headache rack isn't much more practical than laying the boards over your tailgate on a short bed. If you put the boards up on the headache rack they are going to stick up much higher. Which makes them much more likely to get hung up on trees or anything else that hangs low above the road. The boards are also a lot more bound to break when at an incline on the headache rack.

My personal opinion is that if you're worried about length get the shortbed, but do yourself a favor and get a ladder/track rack instead of a headache rack.


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[asian195]

I hate short beds when trying to load plywood. I like the fact I can close my tailgate with a full sheet in it.

But, since you are worried about parking and such, I'd get the short bed. I absolutely hate driving my truck into downtown Seattle...

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