Q: Why is there so much bed shortening going on?

[cstanley]

I understand that shortbed versions of our trucks are generally more desirable, but why? for those of you who drive shortbeds or want shortbeds, it the reason a sportier look? does it handle better (besides the obvious weight difference?) i'm definitely not slamming anyone, not my intention. just trying to understand, because it seems like a lot of effort is being put into bed shortening, and i just feel like i'm missing it. aside from whether or not you think they look good/personal preference, what is being gained?

shortbed owners, correct me where i'm wrong, but from my past experience, a shortbed, when compared to a longbed:

rides stiffer/rougher, and can't tote as much (not that anyone would dream of using a truck for that!)

is it that shortbeds are just popular right now? i understand shortbeds for the reasons behind extending the cab (you effectively still have a long wheelbase truck anyway)
sport racing, autocross, etc.
maneuverability?
resale value?

right now i have a longbed and an extended cab shortbed (that i curse on a near daily basis as to what good the short bed really is.) in all fairness, my shortbed also has a toolbox on it, which makes me feel like it's got a bed the size of a hummer pickup.

[1969 C/K CST]

I'm guessing just preference. For some reason alot of 4x4's are done. One of the first things I look for.

[stepside454]

I think it depends on what your after. Shortbeds in my opinion are more "sporty". kinda like comparing 2 door to 4 door. the 4door version of say a Chevelle for exampleis maybe more comfertable,or roomy than a 2 door...but the 2 door is far more desirable. john

[HeavyD]

I just like the look of a shortbed. Up here everything is longbed, longbed, longbed. I maybe see one shortbed a year and for me it has just made the long ones boring.

[1969 C/K CST]

Originally Posted by HeavyD

I just like the look of a shortbed. Up here everything is longbed, longbed, longbed. I maybe see one shortbed a year and for me it has just made the long ones boring.

Just the opposite here. Shortbeds everywhere. A long bed is a refreshing change.

[cdowns]

i'm a dedicated longbed guy //love to haul stuff home and really like the superior highway ride that a longbed offers

[72MARIO]

The short beds look way better.


That's why so many of us are doing it.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

I like the looks of a short bed, as far as ride quality mine rides better than my long bed and my wife's car.

[Jason915]

Alot of people like the look of the SWB truck more. But some people think that short bed trucks are worthless girly trucks it's just a personal preference. I hate to see LWB trucks cut to make a SWB truck out of it, I think it takes away from the value of the originality. I feel the same about Blazers that are made into super short bed trucks. I like both Longbed trucks and Shortbed trucks and I can tell you that my dads longbed 70 can out do my shortbed in alot of different ways the longbeds kick but on shortbeds in snow, towing/hauling, ride quility, handling. But mine is faster lol.

[cstanley]

if i understand correctly based on the above responses, most folks are doing it purely for aesthetics rather than function?

[Frizzle Fry]

It's the looks. The 2-door/4-door analogy is a good one.

[cstanley]

those are good answers, thanks. i just didn't want to hear "i was able to shave a full second off my quarter mile by shortening the bed" or "gas mileage went from 10 mpg to 30 mpg" or "i was finally able to whip the snot out of that rice burner" or something like that. as long as it seems to be more aesthetic than functional reasons, i don't feel like i'm missing it anymore.

it's kind of funny, being an architect, i would think i'd have more concern for the aesthetic than the functional. guess not.

[67ChevyRedneck]

A very high percentage of these trucks will never haul anything more than a cooler in the bed. Shortbeds are a "hot" item right now. It's also easy to convert a shortbed to longbed (you can either cut the frame and buy a complete brand new repop bed, or you can shorten the frame and box.) Not many people use or haul with these trucks anymore. Heck, people don't even use new trucks for that anymore. I've driven several longbeds and several shortbeds, not much of a difference at all in handleing. I personally like the shorties and long beds, but fleetside only. I'm a sucker for a shortbox stepside (sorry longbed stepside guys, but I find them kinda ugly).


Your question has no real answer other than asthetics. You might as well also ask do you prefer an I6 or V-8, auto or manual, stepside or fleetside, gmc or chevy, stock or modifeid, lowered or stock height...the list goes on and on.

EDIT: I understand what you mean though. I have I think 6 or 7 original ads for the 67 trucks and every single truck shown is a longbed fleetside. Also, a higher percentage of fleetside trucks sold were longbeds.

[cstanley]

i suppose i should have phrased the question :
What functionality is gained, if any, by shortening the bed, on a typical 2wd?

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by cstanley

i suppose i should have phrased the question :
What functionality is gained, if any, by shortening the bed, on a typical 2wd?

It fits in my garage now!

[cstanley]

Originally Posted by Alvin

It fits in my garage now!

best reason so far

[Frizzle Fry]

Better turning radius

[73737373]

I'm w/you cstanley; ya just can't beat the look and ride of a long bed pickup. I just sold my body off resto 72 Cheyenne Super SWB and bought a mediocre 72 GMC Sierra Grande BB LWB. I couldn't be happier.

[BigMike]

Originally Posted by 73737373

I'm w/you cstanley; ya just can't beat the look and ride of a long bed pickup. I just sold my body off resto 72 Cheyenne Super SWB and bought a mediocre 72 GMC Sierra Grande BB LWB. I couldn't be happier.

And I am sure you got a pretty penny for it, much more than you would have gotten out of a longbed with the same resto...Am I right? Lol . SWB trucks are more popular and they bring a premium compared to the longbeds, just check any Truck Trader, Craigslist, ebay, etc...

I too love the SWB trucks, but I agree that the longbeds are more functional for hauling/towing. It is like some have said, personal preference. It is as popular of a debate as the; do you like lowered or stock trucks

My $.02 for what its worth

Mike

[shifty]

For me, I think the shortbeds look better, the turning radius would seemingly be better for me on a shortbed (w/swb) and, well, the longbed would never fit in my garage

Oh yeah and longbed stepsides are really an acquired taste

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Originally Posted by shifty

.......... Oh yeah and longbed stepsides are really an acquired taste

I agree I've been going past one(73-80ish)For about 6 years 5 days a week during the school year (well 6 counting Church).Blue cab orange bed front clip removed.Its actually starting to grow on me.(so's the 70 is green cab/front clip white bed Long fleet)Maby I should do my "civic( not that type) duty "and offer to remove them from the premicises Of corse if I were gonna do that I should have done it when the Barracuda was still there.I just hope that they dont rust away...or become "post consumer recycled materal"aka tin cans.
Later
Shane

[greenhorn male]

I luva the looks of 8-lugs I think nicely fixed up 3/4 ton longbed 2wd's look awesome. They look like trucks. Specially with nice truck wheels. Specially with chrome caps and chrome long lugnuts, wide truck tires (no low profiles) and a shiny aluminum toolbox on the bed. They even look better with a matching trailer towed behind them (boat, car hauler, etc) w/ matching toolbox. Add air horns and you're all set. TOOOOT, TOOOOT!!!

I think short wheel base trucks are preferred for rock crawling over long wheelbase trucks, that's why people change blazers and shortbed 4x4's to 8-lugs for function. Did I just mention 8- lugs again

[Daubs]

Originally Posted by shifty

Oh yeah and longbed stepsides are really an acquired taste

Now that would be cool! In all my years I think I have seen one long bed stepside. It was a mid 70's 4x4 (think it was even a 3/4 ton). I liked the looks of it.

[RicksTrucks]

Originally Posted by Daubs

Now that would be cool! In all my years I think I have seen one long bed stepside. It was a mid 70's 4x4 (think it was even a 3/4 ton). I liked the looks of it.

I have seen at least two long stepsides running around this town. They are different.

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Originally Posted by Daubs

Now that would be cool! In all my years I think I have seen one long bed stepside. It was a mid 70's 4x4 (think it was even a 3/4 ton). I liked the looks of it.

I believe that one that I was talking about is a 3/4 ton too