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Correction: I would like an 8' bed, but I need a cab with room in the back and I need a short enough wheelbase to fit where I need it to fit. I also need a hidden winch which cannot be mounted with an ECO. I need the added payload offered by the 9.75. I do appreciate your offer to inform me of what I need though. I'm sure you didn't understand that I am capable of determining my own needs.
I use the bed to haul stuff. I bought a screw with 5.5' bed because I didn't want to deal with an extra foot of bed length increasing the turning radius even more than it already is, and it decreased my options for parking in the garage. The 5.5' bed is a mistake if you use the truck as a truck. Next time around I will buy a scab with 6.5' bed. Of course the trade-off there is less rear seat passenger comfort, and a lot less secured in-cab space to pack stuff into.
I guess I'm mystified as to why someone can't figure out the advantages of a particular bed size especially after owning one or the other. When we bought our 2013, which was our first truck, we wanted to fit it in the garage. Therefore, either a SCrew with a 5.5' bed or a SCab with a 6.5' bed. Parked them next to each other at the dealer, and my wife said "why would we want a short bed when we're buying this to haul stuff?" End of discussion. We've hauled over 8 tons to the scrapyard while cleaning out a relative's home, and if you do the math it's an easy decision - you increase the cubic space in the bed by 18.2%, i.e. the same increase as the length. If you ever fill the bed totally, as we have many times, we'd be driving that many more trips and that would have been very annoying.
For those wanting to carry lumber in a bed, if you're concerned about length then you should buy a load extender. I can't imagine hooking up a trailer for a few pieces of long lumber. They come in various configurations, and support various loads, so you'd want one suited to your purpose. I borrowed one a neighbor had when I bought 14' 2 x 4s and hauled 24 of them no problem along with other pieces.
why not get a screw with the 6.5 bed, best of both worlds.
This. I went from a 6.5 to a 5.5 for 3 years and yes it makes a difference. If I take my ATV anywhere I have to leave the tailgate down with the short bed.
I fixed the situation by picking up a 6.5 over the weekend.
This. I went from a 6.5 to a 5.5 for 3 years and yes it makes a difference. If I take my ATV anywhere I have to leave the tailgate down with the short bed.
I fixed the situation by picking up a 6.5 over the weekend.
Sorta funny hearing guys calling the 5.5 a shortbed, and the 6.5 a longbed. They're both shortbeds, a short shortbed, and a shortbed.
If the 8' bed didn't look so bad on a SCab F150, I'd have it. Both these last 2 150's have been the shortbed, after coming from 8' since 1991, 21 years, all on 3 SCabs. I still have a little 6X10 trailer, but if I just wanted to use the truck, one of those hitch mounted extenders would be in the barn.
IMO, the 8' only looks good on an SD.
I can't imagine how cramped a 5.5 is, but if that's all that fits, or all you can handle, that's what you're going to get.
I posted this exact question a few months ago because i was coming from a 6.5ft bed and was worried the 5.5 was too short. I was sure i wanted the screw 6.5ft but after demoing one i pussed out and got the 5.5ft and after 2 months i have no regrets. The screw 6.5ft is a longer truck so unless you use the bed all the time its not really worth the trade off for owning a truck thats longer and harder to park. The Screw 5.5 already feels big enough.
Originally Posted by jpmst3
Yes, in my practice, there is a huge difference. I just came off of two SuperCabs with 6.5' beds in a row. I now have a SuperCrew with 5.5'.
I thought I would try a SuperCrew this go 'round. I have to say I really do miss the extra bed length. I hate towing, and most of what I do involves 4x8 sheets of something. It is a bummer not having the 6.5'
The shorted bed also drastically affects the angle at which longer items rise out of the back unless you lower the tailgate.
Sorry to rub salt in your wound but cmon man, you haul 4x8 sheets all the time and you had 2 6.5ft beds. Thats a no brainer you had to go with 6.5
I posted this exact question a few months ago because i was coming from a 6.5ft bed and was worried the 5.5 was too short. I was sure i wanted the screw 6.5ft but after demoing one i pussed out and got the 5.5ft and after 2 months i have no regrets. The screw 6.5ft is a longer truck so unless you use the bed all the time its not really worth the trade off for owning a truck thats longer and harder to park. The Screw 5.5 already feels big enough.
Sorry to rub salt in your wound but cmon man, you haul 4x8 sheets all the time and you had 2 6.5ft beds. Thats a no brainer you had to go with 6.5
I just got tired of trying to find what I wanted with a 6.5' bed. The SuperCrew is just too long for me and there are never enough Lariats in the SuperCab. So, I just gave up and went with the 5.5'.
04-02-2018, 06:49 AM
