Shortbed vs Longbed

[truckgal_1971]

What is wrong with long beds? why does everyone seem to be wanting to cut them down. Good for us, the ones who keep the long beds they'll be harder to find but i was just wondering if there was some plus to have a short bed?

[lpaine]

It's just an aesthetic thing, style, look or whatever you want to call it, most people (myself included) think the shortbox looks better and is better suited to customizing. There's nothing wrong with the longbox trucks,and they will obviously haul more stuff than a shortbox. There were definitely many more longboxes than shortboxes built by gm though, so the shorts are definitely harder to find, myself, I had to go all the way to your state last year to get my short '67, you just can't find them up here hardly anymore. It was worth the trip though.

[Brad]

They're easier to parallel park.
Seriously though, they're just sportier and look better IMO. As a guy who rarely uses it as a 'truck', I want something cool to drive, but can haul more than 1 grocery bag at a time, like my other ride.

[72GMCburban]

I like the long beds for trips to the lumber yard. I can get a 10 footer in from corner to corner. SWB's are sportier looking though. But I will keep the LWB.

Mike

[70c10]

I like the look of the short beds better and was hell bent on getting a shorty myself but I'm quite happy with my longbed. I'll be happier after I get some monster tires under the rear. You don't see alot of tubbed longbeds

[aventur1]

Nice looking longbed, now that is what mine to look like!!

[Bishops Trucks]

I have one of each. My long bed is the one getting the complete redo. With everyone cutting them down, it put's us long bed owners in our own little world.

[Shyguy]

My son has had a 70 C-10 LWB daily driver for at least 15 years and always wanted to convert it into a SWB because he likes the looks better. This spring he picked up a SWB parts truck and did the conversion. Also he built a mild 454 and put in it.

The first time he tried to haul a truck on a trailer with his SWB truck he found out the disadvantage of a short bed, he almost lost the trailer with the truck because of handling problems.

Now he is building a 68 LWB truck to do hauling and trailer pulling and keeping the SWB with a 454 to use as a daily driver.

I have always had LWB trucks because I need something that I can use here on the farm as a work truck.

Like others have said it is personal preference and depends on what the truck will be used for.

Danny - Southeast Missouri

[Texasdeere]

I personally like the longbeds. Yes the shortbeds are more sporty.

Choppers are long, not sporty and they look cool!

There is nothing wrong with the look of this truck.

[ChevLoRay]

Long beds were popular because trucks were trucks and were used like trucks. When Chevy and GMC came out with the longbed fleetsides in '58, a lot of folks were happy to have the style and bed length for their job usage. Long beds were more popular than short beds, that's why more were sold. It has been the later generations that use them as pleasure vehicles that have made them more wanted. GM saw that when they created the style we like, for the '67 intro. Harry Bradley knew it and did a great job on the styling of these trucks. The short beds were for fun. The long beds were for work. At least that's my opinion.

[70 longbed]

70c10,

What do you have for rear tires under there now?

I want to do a mini tub and put some wide ones under there on my longbed.

I have been working on it again and hope to have it on the road soon.

[glock35ipsc]

I like em both, but me preference is a SWB for the sporty/hot rod and a LWB for the 4x4. That's what I own at least. My 68 SWB is not meant to haul anything, so towing/hauling capabilities are meaningless for that truck.

[1LoC10]

THis is a short bed

[bcanini]

Originally Posted by 1LoC10

THis is a short bed

I have a SWB and love it. I like longbeds also my 1st was a LWB ,our trucks IMO look the best lowered as SWB, and are the best looking LWB 4wd ever, raise em a little, bigger tires. Yep I'll have one of those after I finish mine.

Brian

[milehightoyz]

id say its comparable to having a 4 dr car or a 2 dr car. most people like the looks of the 2 drs to build muscle cars and rods out of, but some prefer the 4 drs to haul the faimly around in. personal preference really. everything is cool in my opinion short, long, 4 drs, 2 drs, 8 drs, build 'em how you like 'em.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by milehightoyz

id say its comparable to having a 4 dr car or a 2 dr car. most people like the looks of the 2 drs to build muscle cars and rods out of, but some prefer the 4 drs to haul the faimly around in. personal preference really. everything is cool in my opinion short, long, 4 drs, 2 drs, 8 drs, build 'em how you like 'em.

...and I'll add that people seem to think the shortening of longbeds is an epidemic because a number of members on this board have done it (and perhaps a hand full of non-board-members). But how many do you think have been done in the world to date? Maybe 100 Plus, people who keep these trucks on the road (shortened or not) are doing the right thing in my book. Longbeds are not at risk of extinction anytime soon.

Just don't put Furd taillights on 'em. It's a federal offense

[1LoC10]

its all about proportion, short beds just look right

[HeavyD]

For me it is because all I see are longbeds. After owning lwb after lwb I want something different.

[Woodward]

The LWB is my favorite part of the ol' 72. I like being able to close my tailgate with a bike in the back too.

[1LoC10]

a Harley fits in a SWB

[BB72CHEVKT]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

I like em both, but me preference is a SWB for the sporty/hot rod and a LWB for the 4x4. That's what I own at least. My 68 SWB is not meant to haul anything, so towing/hauling capabilities are meaningless for that truck.

and have both but given a choice I would always chose the swb. My
LWB was in good shape and a good deal so I couldn't pass.

[Jerry Jones]

I love my LWB's if nothing else, they tow much better. I like the looks of them all.

[Spanky_Pete]

Between my father and I, we own 5 long bed 67-72s. Amusingly enough, the only truck we've ever sold was a '71 SWB.

[67_C-30]

I can't see putting a ton a money into a LWB because of the value of the SWB trucks. My dually is a LWB of course, but its gonna be a one-off truck. In my area you can buy very nice LWB trucks all day long cheap, but the SWB's are getting higher by the day.