6.4' or 8.3' Bed length in TV?

[KiraR]

Hi all:
I've done my research and decided on a Dodge Ram 2500 SLT with a Cummins Diesel engine. It took a lot of work and test driving and reading and talking to experienced towers to finally arrive at this decision.

What I can't decide is which length bed: 6.4 or 8.3.

I'd PREFER a shorter bed since it is easier to maneuver for side trips, but the A/S is a 30' Safari and I want to be safe on the road.

Any advice today (I'm driving a 6.4' today and making a decision) would be so greatly appreciated.

Kira

[dznf0g]

The wheelbase on a 6'4" is perfectly fine for towing, especially if you are looking at an extended or crew cab. The question is really only confined to, "how much bed space do I need for gear?"

If you were looking at a regular cab, I'd probably opt for the long bed.

[Bill M.]

We have a 2007 with the quad cab and the 6.5 bed and have been very happy with it. The bed is plenty long. The back seats are too tight to be useful for people but the dog likes it back there.

[Skater]

We have the crew cab with the 8' bed and it's a looooooong truck. Longer than our B190 motorhome was, in fact. The short bed will tow the trailer just fine - in fact I'd say I see more of those than the long bed.

[GeocamperAS]

Is the wheelbase longer on the 8' ? A difference in wheelbase may make a difference in a porpoising effect when towing the AS on a concrete highway. Although it may not matter anyway from one town to the next if they space the seams differently.

[Al and Missy]

We recently drove a 2013 Ram 2500 Laramie Megacab 6-4 and a 2012 Ram 2500 Laramie Supercab 8'. The 8' bed on the supercab felt like an aircraft carrier and I was used to an F150 Supercrew 6-5 bed.

We picked the 2013 6-4, for several reasons, one of which was the bed length. Unless you need the bed space, I'd go with the shorter bed.

Al

[daved20319]

I have an old Ford F-250 Super Cab long bed, it's just my trash truck, but it drives and tows well. What it doesn't do is maneuver worth a damn, the thing has the turning radius of an aircraft carrier. And yes, I've actually driven an aircraft carrier . I've never actually towed my AS with it, but I've used it to tow a variety of utility trailers. Straight towing is fine, but backing is a major hassle, much less user friendly than my Suburban. So I agree with dznf0g, standard cab go long, extended, go short. Good luck!

Dave

[Gneiss Guy]

I tow an AS 30' with an F-250 extended cab and long bed. This TV is a relic of my 5th wheel days. I guess it depends on what you are used to. The rig is not easy to get into tight spots, but I try to stay out of those places. We carry some toys, i.e., kayaks on top, bikes inside the cap, etc. To me, the storage makes the trade-off worth it. Of course, I am used to the beast. When I am older and not carrying all the toys, I may opt for the short-bed. Good luck.

[slowmover]

It's not the bed length, it's the truck wheelbase that is of concern.

Mines an eight foot bed, but 163" wheelbase. IFS plus rack & pinion steering makes it fairly easy for one of the larger pickups.

I wouldn't care to trade off bed storage capacity.

Any wheelbase above 130" gives no real advantage, and truck spec is key to use. With storage and extended range fuel tanks the longer models are just that much more able.

[KWN306]

Originally Posted by slowmover

It's not the bed length, it's the truck wheelbase that is of concern.

Mines an eight foot bed, but 163" wheelbase. IFS plus rack & pinion steering makes it fairly easy for one of the larger pickups.

I wouldn't care to trade off bed storage capacity.

Any wheelbase above 130" gives no real advantage, and truck spec is key to use. With storage and extended range fuel tanks the longer models are just that much more able.

1+++, the longer the wheel base the better the tow vehicle..........bed length doesn't make a difference.

[Zigidachs]

We downsized from a 3500 Ram dually with our fifth wheel to a 2013 2500 SB Ram after we traded for our AS...I initially questioned if we could stow all our goodies in the SB, but we have had no problem at all, and we appreciate the shorter turning radius, easier parking, and overall better maneuverability...plus we tow at 14+ mpg and 20-22 mpg on the open road...17-18 around town. Hope that helps.

[KiraR]

You are all so amazingly helpful. I can't wait to run into my fellow A/S'ers on the road.

I bought Ram 2500 Diesel SLT with Big Horn package truck!!!

I LOVE it, actually. I ultimately went with the shorter bed. It rides SO nicely. It's comfortable, unlike the 8' bed I was driving around yesterday. The experience went from hating the idea of spending money on an uncomfortable, noisy truck (Ram 2500 SLT 8' bed) to looking forward to sitting for hours on a trip. (Ram 2500 SLT/Big Horn package 6'4" bed)

I couldn't have made the final decision with out everyone's input.

Thank you.

I'll bake you yummy vegan goodies when I'm on the road....

[Jack46]

Congrats on your new purchase. We haul our 30' FC with a standard bed Silverado 2500 HD Duramax and find that it pulls more than great. I think you'll find the same to be the case. Good luck.

[KiraR]

Slowmover, you've stumped me!
How does one measure the wheelbase? (and here I thought I did all my due diligence!)

[tjdonahoe]

I sure like my short bed diesel ram......

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by KiraR

Slowmover, you've stumped me!
How does one measure the wheelbase? (and here I thought I did all my due diligence!)

Wheel center to wheel center down the length of the truck. Usually a published specification.

And I should have emphasized that front end design and steering type are the closest related factor; as in "turning circle radius" (also usually published).

Long wheelbase coupled to large turning circle radius is what makes a long bed truck difficult to turn around. It to back while towing.

Some brands will be better than others AND there will be differences between two and four wheel drive. Etc.

[larryglarson]

Unless you have lots of stuff to haul you will like the 6.4 for turning radius. Believe me an 6.4 is plenty hard in a tight parking situation. I have a fair amount of stuff to haul and get by real well with the 6.4.