Short-Bed Pickups vs. Long-Bed Pickups: Which Is Right For Me?

Defining size in short-bed vs. long-bed pickups

Pickup trucks come in many makes, models, and configurations, so there’s no universal answer for what size short and long truck beds are. 

Truck manufacturers sometimes label pickup beds differently, using terms like “regular cab,” “extended cab,” and “crew cab,” when others don’t. That means one manufacturer’s “short bed” pickup isn’t always the same length as everyone else’s. Because bed length options vary based on make, model, and cab, it can be helpful to take measurements yourself rather than relying solely on marketing labels.

Space

As you can probably tell from the name, longer truck beds have more usable space, so they’re well equipped for hauling large, bulky, or long items like lumber, kayaks, and ladders.

Because long beds have more mounting space, they provide more flexibility. There’s more room to attach accessories, such as toolboxes and auxiliary fuel tanks. In a truck with a short bed, these attachments may occupy too much space to justify. Other tools like mobile workbenches, ladder racks, sliding-bed platforms, and drawer systems also don’t always fit in short-bed trucks, significantly limiting versatility. 

Though short-bed trucks are still helpful for groceries or small camping gear, smaller pickup beds aren’t practical for contractors, tradespeople, or heavy/bulk haulers. If space is your biggest concern when truck shopping, you’ll want to opt for a long-bed truck.

Drivability

Because short-bed pickup trucks are smaller overall, they’re also easier to maneuver than long-bed trucks are. If you’re navigating a tight parking garage or zipping through compact city streets, you’ll find it easier in a short-bed pickup than a long one.
This is due in part to the fact that long-bed trucks have larger turning radii, meaning they require more room to execute turns. 

Long-bed trucks typically have more even weight distribution from front to back, improving stability when carrying loads. This stability is also helped by their longer wheelbases–the distance between a vehicle’s front and back axles. However, the longer wheelbase can also make these trucks feel less responsive at higher speeds.

By contrast, short-bed pickup trucks are often more responsive to last-second steering decisions because of their shorter wheelbases. This responsiveness is helpful when you’re driving through areas with heavy traffic. If you spend a lot of time in the city, you may want to choose a short-bed pickup for its agile steering, easy turns, and quick responsiveness.

Towing

As addressed above, long-bed pickups have longer wheelbases. One benefit of these longer wheelbases is that they reduce vehicle pitch, or back-and-forth rocking of a car’s nose. This leads to more stable rides, as road bumps and dips are spread across a greater length. This stability can help prevent trailer sway and improve control when towing.

Long-bed pickups are especially preferred to tow large vehicles, such as fifth wheels.
When you tow bigger vehicles like fifth-wheels using a short-bed pickup, you’ll probably notice the trailer making contact with the truck’s back window. This can be particularly hazardous when backing up and can cause the window to shatter. 

When there isn’t enough distance between a truck and trailer, like when you’re driving a short-bed truck, the trailer can push the truck more and make it harder to control. Short beds also reduce the turning radius between a truck and the vehicle it's towing, so even a slight mistake while backing up could cause the towed vehicle to jackknife or hit the truck.

Because long-bed trucks provide enough bed space for 5th‑wheel setups, you can tow without sacrificing as much cargo room as you would with a short-bed truck. If solid towing is a must-have, you’ll be happier with a long-bed pickup. 

Though long-bed pickups are generally better for towing, it’s important to remember that bed length isn’t the only factor to consider when analyzing a vehicle’s towing capabilities. Suspension, hitch type, trailer weight and balance, and overall vehicle specs are also important to note.

Off-roading and outdoor performance

When you drive a vehicle with a longer wheelbase, you can sometimes encounter a situation called high-centering, where the vehicle’s undercarriage gets stuck on an obstacle with all the wheels off the ground. This can be particularly dangerous when offroading, especially if you encounter a rock or ridge.

Not only are short-bed trucks less susceptible to high-centering, but they are also great at navigating tight forest trails and corners because of their smaller size. If you enjoy exploring wooded or rocky terrain, this agility can be an asset. 

When you purchase a long-bed truck instead, you benefit from more cargo space for hiking gear, tents, camping chairs, portable grills, and other items. Longer wheelbases provide more stability and better weight distribution to tackle deserts or long stretches of gravel, and they also have more space for adding aftermarket gear like bed racks and water tanks. 

Since they won in the towing category, it’s also safe to say long-bed trucks are a better fit if you want to bring boats and trailers to your outdoor activities. 

If you do mostly city or everyday driving and value agility, a short-bed pickup is the better choice. If bringing lots of gear and solid stability are your top priorities, long-bed pickups are the superior choice.

Price

Long-bed pickups tend to be pricier than short-bed trims of the same model, as they require more materials and are often paired with high-end configurations and heavy-duty components. 

Some manufacturers only offer long beds on work-truck packages, heavy-duty trims such as the 2500 and 3500 classes, or specific cab styles. On the Ford F-150, for example, the 8-foot bed is only offered on the regular cab and XL trim.

Higher trims come with sturdier frames, upgraded suspensions, and bigger engines, so it’s no surprise that long-bed trucks are often more expensive.

Though price ultimately depends more on things like engine and trim level than bed length on its own, long-bed pickups are typically more expensive.

In this category, short-bed pickups come out on top.

Fuel economy

The more capabilities a vehicle has, such as bed size, towing capacity, and a heavy-duty build, the more fuel it consumes. Every extra pound of weight on a truck requires it to consume more fuel to accelerate, climb hills, or maintain a consistent speed. 

Heavier vehicles like long-bed pickups require more engine demand, which reduces fuel efficiency. Larger trucks also experience more air resistance, also known as drag, while driving. Drag demands more power from the engine, which burns fuel and hurts MPG. Due to their smaller size, short-bed trucks experience less drag, resulting in better fuel economy.

If fuel efficiency is important to you, short-bed trucks are the winner, but remember, you’ll be losing out on some of the capabilities that come along with long-bed pickups.

Short-bed pickups to consider

• Ford F-150 –Available in a 5.5-foot bed size, the F-150 is popular for everyday driving. It can even perform light to medium towing, with a towing capacity of 13,500 pounds when equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine and the Max Trailer Tow Package.
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 –At 5 feet and 8 inches, the Chevy Silverado 1500’s short bed option moves smoothly through tight city streets.
• Ram 1500 –The Ram 1500 short bed measures 5 feet 7 inches and is known for its wide range of engine options and excellent interior, featuring heated and massaging seats in the Tungsten trim.

Long-bed pickups to think about

• Ford F-350 Super Duty –A heavy-duty option that measures about 8 feet and 2 inches and has an impressive towing capacity of 30,000 lbs.
• Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD –Also about 8 feet 2 inches, the Chevy Silverado 2500HD’s bed is ideal for carrying large equipment. Towing capacity varies based on engine, cab, bed length, and hitch type; however, the maximum towing capacity is 22,420 pounds when equipped with a 2WD and the Max Trailering Package. 

Pick up a pickup at Transwest

At Transwest, we have a wide selection of short and long bed pickups from industry-leading manufacturers.

Stop by a location today or view our inventory to find your next ride.