long bed vs. short bed - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Peregrine · 12-06-2004, 12:55 PM

But a sexy pig at that. And if you're into that kinda thing....

junkyardjohn · 12-06-2004, 01:16 PM

I LIKE SHORT FLEETS & BLAZERS. IF I COULDN'T FIND ONE, I WOULD PROBABLY BUILD A LONGBED. BUT AS LONG AS THERES STILL A FEW SHORTBEDS LEFT ON THIS PLANET....... I'LL KEEP BUILDING & DRIVING THEM.

JOHN

Mudder · 12-06-2004, 01:46 PM

Shortbeds hands down. The only long bed I would drive would be a 3/4 4x4. And that would just be for a work type truck or towing.

70 shorty · 12-06-2004, 02:00 PM

In my opinion, a street truck should be a shortbed, a work truck should be a longbed. I plan to use mine as a work truck so what I own doesnt' coincide with what I'd prefer to own, however I got the family deal on mine so you take what you can get. My real preference would be a K20 longbed.

boraxman · 12-06-2004, 02:09 PM

I perfer the shorties myself. They seem to be sportier to me

70c10 · 12-06-2004, 02:12 PM

Short Fleet / Pro-Street

**JIMs70GMC** · 12-06-2004, 02:21 PM

Like my long beds. But a 9' step would be nice.

mocwon · 12-06-2004, 02:34 PM

It's all about looks for me.... Personally, the short wide is my preference and I too had to hunt all over Hell and half of Georgia to find a good short box but I finally did. Started with a '72 GMC long bed and made a '72 Chevy short bed. My experience has been that whatever I start with is really only a good pattern. Trailers, as mentioned can haul a bunch more than a pickup bed.

**CPNE** · 12-06-2004, 02:36 PM

I prefer short wheel base.....

1 tons :p

67ChevyRedneck · 12-06-2004, 02:37 PM

I personally hate the new trend to where there is a 4 door cab and about a 4 foot box like on the former S-10, dakota club cab, tacoma club cab, exlorer "truck". I personally think they look like crap. I would NEVER buy one. Because "i've got an 8ft bed that never has to be made, you know if it weren't for trucks we wouldnt have tailgates... there's just somethin' women like about a pick-up man...." If you want a 4' box buy a car with a big trunk, because you don't really want a truck. I'd like to kick the designers at chevy, ford, dodge...etc in the you know what for even thinking that crap up. Just my personal opinion.

8door · 12-06-2004, 02:37 PM

Any way of findimg out how many of each LB, SB ,Longhorns were produced?
This may account for the shorties being harder to find if fewer were made.
Trucks have changed over the years. First one built as pick up is claimed by Ford in 1925 when they mounted a little bed on the back of a car.Chevy ,GMC ,Ford, Dodge, Fargo , Studebaker mostly followed each other in longer beds then fleetsides then added stepsides again along with the slab sides.
Now we have full sized pickups and the SUV things that are open in the back and cater to families Leather seats, vidieo players etc etc.
Still would like to know numbers of each that our trucks were produced.
For what it's worth I like both but I drive a Longbed.

**CPNE** · 12-06-2004, 02:40 PM

I also believe your box length should equal your plow length...and since they don't make 6 1/2 foot plow blades

shortymac83 · 12-06-2004, 02:41 PM

I prefer the LWB trucks. To me, they just look more evenly proportional. SWB's just look snubbed in the back. My biggest problem is not being able to find fleetside bedsides for my poor truck...

chevybill · 12-06-2004, 04:04 PM

Just real quick, I am resto/moding my grandfather's truck left to me after his death. I was 14 at the time and he bought a lwb, base model.

i wrestled with the idea of chopping it down and finally decided to stay with the lwb, so when friends see me from days gone by they will realize it is the same truck they saw me drive in high school.

I just wish he would have considered a little nicer truck, but he was 50 when he learned to drive, so I guess it is a miracle he even bought a truck. :p

dion · 12-06-2004, 04:17 PM

I like being a little different by driving a LWB C20.

The slammed shortbed thing is great and I like the way they look but it seems that everybody and their brother with old (and new) trucks are going in that direction which will result in oversaturation and become boring, just my opinion! I went to a local Auto Show a while back and there many SWB trucks, they all looked exactly the same to me. I can see eventually people seeking out LWB C10's, C20's and steps mainly for the reason of being different and standing out in the crowd.

Like I said, just my opinion.

mocwon · 12-06-2004, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPNE

I also believe your box length should equal your plow length...and since they don't make 6 1/2 foot plow blades

Do those work in sand too?

ryanroo · 12-06-2004, 04:22 PM

I have both long and short beds i like them equally. shorts look kinda funny when they get taller than 6 inches of lift i think. my prefeerence is only that it have a front axle... got my eye on a few 4x2 too though. trucks rule...period
Ryan

RON WOODGEARD · 12-06-2004, 04:23 PM

I have had both through the years, Either as parts or to drive for a while.

I Prefer the short beds, More sporty, Tougher looking when lowered,and it evens out the hood to cab/ cab to tailgate..
I don't haul anything with my truck. Even though I did have a Hitch in the bed for my 4 horse Gooseneck.. talk about looking stupid... But it pulled it. I now have a F-350 to do that job with... and I have a car hauler and a few other trailers to haul the bigger or dirtier stuff with..

But, there are some very nice longbeds out there that look nice.

Bottom line,, It goes to the Lower, Raise, Or leave alone Debate.. custom, or stock.. It's yours , do as YOU see fit... :p

**raggedjim** · 12-06-2004, 06:05 PM

Everytime I go to a show and there is a longbed truck, someone will usually say "nice work, too bad it's a long bed" There is definately some longbed prejudice out there...

Me, I like all of them and I've had long, short, lowered, raised, 4x4, 2wd, blazer, panel (well, never a burb but I ain't dead yet!) It's easier to find longbeds so that is a bonus, but I like having something odd, that's why I got the 2wd blazer/jimmy thing going on.

They are all cool, Rg

8door · 12-06-2004, 07:11 PM

dion and raggedjim: Ya you guys are right. I also like both but prefer the long bed for my own use and reasons as does anyone else.
When you go to shows you see alot of what I call belly button cars, "Everbody has one".
Trucks are a little different at least in mixed car truck shows that I've been to. Very few trucks but loads of 55,56 ,57 Chevys Mustangs 37 Fords 32 roadsters and on and on. Nice but when something different comes into the place guess who is looking at them.
Don't get me wrong I like all kinds of old iron including old working trucks that are restored to original.
These are pieces of art and are appreciated by us gearheads.
Keep on trucking and do what you want. It is yours not anyone else.Be glad the other guy puts a truck together and drives it. You now have another one to look at even if you don't own that particular model or color or style it is now part of your hobby.
Good thing we are not all the same or drive the same how boring would that be!!!!!!

Bamm · 12-06-2004, 09:14 PM

SWB all the way. I passed up at least 25 long bed trucks before I found my short bed. I got a trailer to haul the big stuff................Jerry

12-06-2004, 12:55 PM	#26
Peregrine Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, Ky Posts: 329	But a sexy pig at that. And if you're into that kinda thing.... __________________ Brian 72 C10 longbed 350/th400 Let the world change you and you will change the world.

12-06-2004, 01:16 PM	#27
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,425	I LIKE SHORT FLEETS & BLAZERS. IF I COULDN'T FIND ONE, I WOULD PROBABLY BUILD A LONGBED. BUT AS LONG AS THERES STILL A FEW SHORTBEDS LEFT ON THIS PLANET....... I'LL KEEP BUILDING & DRIVING THEM. JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

12-06-2004, 02:00 PM	#29
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,772	In my opinion, a street truck should be a shortbed, a work truck should be a longbed. I plan to use mine as a work truck so what I own doesnt' coincide with what I'd prefer to own, however I got the family deal on mine so you take what you can get. My real preference would be a K20 longbed. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

12-06-2004, 02:09 PM	#30
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	I perfer the shorties myself. They seem to be sportier to me __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

12-06-2004, 02:12 PM	#31
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Short Fleet / Pro-Street __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

12-06-2004, 01:46 PM	#28
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Shortbeds hands down. The only long bed I would drive would be a 3/4 4x4. And that would just be for a work type truck or towing.

12-06-2004, 02:21 PM	#32
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Like my long beds. But a 9' step would be nice. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

12-06-2004, 02:34 PM	#33
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	It's all about looks for me.... Personally, the short wide is my preference and I too had to hunt all over Hell and half of Georgia to find a good short box but I finally did. Started with a '72 GMC long bed and made a '72 Chevy short bed. My experience has been that whatever I start with is really only a good pattern. Trailers, as mentioned can haul a bunch more than a pickup bed. __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....

12-06-2004, 02:36 PM	#34
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,662	I prefer short wheel base..... 1 tons :p Attached Images __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

12-06-2004, 02:37 PM	#35
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	I personally hate the new trend to where there is a 4 door cab and about a 4 foot box like on the former S-10, dakota club cab, tacoma club cab, exlorer "truck". I personally think they look like crap. I would NEVER buy one. Because "i've got an 8ft bed that never has to be made, you know if it weren't for trucks we wouldnt have tailgates... there's just somethin' women like about a pick-up man...." If you want a 4' box buy a car with a big trunk, because you don't really want a truck. I'd like to kick the designers at chevy, ford, dodge...etc in the you know what for even thinking that crap up. Just my personal opinion.

12-06-2004, 02:37 PM	#36
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	Any way of findimg out how many of each LB, SB ,Longhorns were produced? This may account for the shorties being harder to find if fewer were made. Trucks have changed over the years. First one built as pick up is claimed by Ford in 1925 when they mounted a little bed on the back of a car.Chevy ,GMC ,Ford, Dodge, Fargo , Studebaker mostly followed each other in longer beds then fleetsides then added stepsides again along with the slab sides. Now we have full sized pickups and the SUV things that are open in the back and cater to families Leather seats, vidieo players etc etc. Still would like to know numbers of each that our trucks were produced. For what it's worth I like both but I drive a Longbed. __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

12-06-2004, 02:40 PM	#37
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,662	I also believe your box length should equal your plow length...and since they don't make 6 1/2 foot plow blades Attached Images __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

12-06-2004, 02:41 PM	#38
shortymac83 hmm... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Culver, Indiana Posts: 1,631	I prefer the LWB trucks. To me, they just look more evenly proportional. SWB's just look snubbed in the back. My biggest problem is not being able to find fleetside bedsides for my poor truck... __________________ 1983 Oldsmobile Delta 88 1967 Chevy C-10 stripper www.fcrperformance.com - wanna go...faster? talk to FCR.

12-06-2004, 04:04 PM	#39
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	The choice was made for me. Just real quick, I am resto/moding my grandfather's truck left to me after his death. I was 14 at the time and he bought a lwb, base model. i wrestled with the idea of chopping it down and finally decided to stay with the lwb, so when friends see me from days gone by they will realize it is the same truck they saw me drive in high school. I just wish he would have considered a little nicer truck, but he was 50 when he learned to drive, so I guess it is a miracle he even bought a truck. :p __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint

12-06-2004, 04:17 PM	#40
dion 72 Cheyenne Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,086	I like being a little different by driving a LWB C20. The slammed shortbed thing is great and I like the way they look but it seems that everybody and their brother with old (and new) trucks are going in that direction which will result in oversaturation and become boring, just my opinion! I went to a local Auto Show a while back and there many SWB trucks, they all looked exactly the same to me. I can see eventually people seeking out LWB C10's, C20's and steps mainly for the reason of being different and standing out in the crowd. Like I said, just my opinion. __________________ Burnout Idle 1972Cheyenne 1966/67Stouts



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12-06-2004, 04:22 PM	#42
ryanroo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: sw colorado Posts: 2,720	I have both long and short beds i like them equally. shorts look kinda funny when they get taller than 6 inches of lift i think. my prefeerence is only that it have a front axle... got my eye on a few 4x2 too though. trucks rule...period Ryan __________________ 72 K20 12v build 72 K20 "parts truck" A place for your diesel swap questions

12-06-2004, 04:23 PM	#43
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	I have had both through the years, Either as parts or to drive for a while. I Prefer the short beds, More sporty, Tougher looking when lowered,and it evens out the hood to cab/ cab to tailgate.. I don't haul anything with my truck. Even though I did have a Hitch in the bed for my 4 horse Gooseneck.. talk about looking stupid... But it pulled it. I now have a F-350 to do that job with... and I have a car hauler and a few other trailers to haul the bigger or dirtier stuff with.. But, there are some very nice longbeds out there that look nice. Bottom line,, It goes to the Lower, Raise, Or leave alone Debate.. custom, or stock.. It's yours , do as YOU see fit... :p

12-06-2004, 06:05 PM	#44
raggedjim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Murray, Kentucky Posts: 3,476	Everytime I go to a show and there is a longbed truck, someone will usually say "nice work, too bad it's a long bed" There is definately some longbed prejudice out there... Me, I like all of them and I've had long, short, lowered, raised, 4x4, 2wd, blazer, panel (well, never a burb but I ain't dead yet!) It's easier to find longbeds so that is a bonus, but I like having something odd, that's why I got the 2wd blazer/jimmy thing going on. They are all cool, Rg __________________ Roger '68 Short step - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=849675 '69 ('70?) 2wd Blazer '70 GMC Jimmy 2wd '73 Firebird - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=853203

12-06-2004, 07:11 PM	#45
8door Not too old to learn Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 617	dion and raggedjim: Ya you guys are right. I also like both but prefer the long bed for my own use and reasons as does anyone else. When you go to shows you see alot of what I call belly button cars, "Everbody has one". Trucks are a little different at least in mixed car truck shows that I've been to. Very few trucks but loads of 55,56 ,57 Chevys Mustangs 37 Fords 32 roadsters and on and on. Nice but when something different comes into the place guess who is looking at them. Don't get me wrong I like all kinds of old iron including old working trucks that are restored to original. These are pieces of art and are appreciated by us gearheads. Keep on trucking and do what you want. It is yours not anyone else.Be glad the other guy puts a truck together and drives it. You now have another one to look at even if you don't own that particular model or color or style it is now part of your hobby. Good thing we are not all the same or drive the same how boring would that be!!!!!! __________________ 1968 C10 a way to long restoration.

12-06-2004, 09:14 PM	#46
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	SWB all the way. I passed up at least 25 long bed trucks before I found my short bed. I got a trailer to haul the big stuff................Jerry __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

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