|
|
07-22-2014, 03:55 PM
|
#1
|
Rivet Master
2005 31' Classic
Garner,
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,031
|
long wheel base issues..
so the truck i was looking at 7.3L Ford Superduty 2002 extended cab short bed 142" wheel base sorta frizzled out.
now i am looking at another one same motor etc but it a crew cab with 8 ft (long) bed at 172" wheel base..
the crew cab is more upfront room for people and stuff plus the longer bed is more storage area when on road and i understand about the GVW limits.
what are the plus and minus of longer wheel base vs shorter.. most likely going with 28-30 AS or SOB depending on what happens in the future.
__________________
Carl, Raleigh NC
2-24-16 got a 2005 Classic 31D 460 watts solar, lithium 230 AH, 16" LT's, pulled by:
2003 F-250 SD, CC, 7.3L PowerStroke
WBCCI#1691, Piedmont Airstream Club, Unit #161, Region #3
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 04:00 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
|
The only downside to an 8' box is that it is 2' longer- 2' more truck hanging out of the end of the parking space- harder to turn tight-
Upside- more carrying capacity, possibly smoother ride, and possibly more stable towing-
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 04:07 PM
|
#3
|
4 Rivet Member
1972 25' Tradewind
Hopkins
, Minnesota
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 458
|
It all depends on how comfortable you are maneuvering a truck that long plus the AS. Could get into some tight spots that would make a shorter wheelbase better. Also, with more room in the bed for stuff...you will be getting closer and closer to your max tongue weight pretty quickly.
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 04:42 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
|
The only reason I have always stayed away from the 8' bed is the short bed always looked better to me. The 8' bed always looked more like a government truck or construction crew truck. Also, they do take more room to turn.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 04:54 PM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2005 31' Classic
Garner,
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,031
|
i have extended vans now we drive for work and drove tractor trailer some years ago so i am comfortable going backwards.. and longer wheel bases. my friend that has one says it like the Titanic, big comfortable and you have to plan your turns.
also wanted to add we will be trying to camp in a lot of national parks campgrounds.
__________________
Carl, Raleigh NC
2-24-16 got a 2005 Classic 31D 460 watts solar, lithium 230 AH, 16" LT's, pulled by:
2003 F-250 SD, CC, 7.3L PowerStroke
WBCCI#1691, Piedmont Airstream Club, Unit #161, Region #3
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 04:58 PM
|
#6
|
TinCan
2016 30' Classic
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 880
|
I agree with m. hony. Short beds look better to me also. Not sure about this but I believe with the longer wheel base you get higher payload and towing. You should really nail that down with the dealer. Payload is critical. Most of us carry too much stuff around with us.
__________________
TinCan
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 06:22 PM
|
#7
|
Retired.
Currently Looking...
.
, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
|
That extra length does add a lot to turning radius. I used to have one with that wheelbase, and took a 4 lane road, plus turn lanes, to make a U-turn. I think the newer models may be better, but they still have the turning radius of a battleship.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 06:47 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
2012 30' International
Vintage Kin Owner
Bad Axe
, Michigan
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 564
|
We have always had crew cab, short bed F250s because they fit in the garage.
__________________
2012 30' International Serenity
1947 Spartan Manor
2005 28' Safari LS - traded
1977 31' International Sovereign - sold
2012 Ford F250 Superduty Crewcab
WBCCI# 1007 Air#2158
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 06:53 PM
|
#9
|
Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
|
What everyone has said about turning radius. It takes 61.60 ft to turn the 8ft bed truck F250 2002. You'll be making a lot of 5 point turn in your future with that truck.
Compared to the 6.2ft bed available in that year at 53.7 ft.
And compared to the 43.6ft of the F-150 crew cab with 5.5ft bed.
BTW, Dodge has better turning radiuses. And when Ford switched from solid axle to coil springs the turning radius on the F250 improved a little. The year you are looking at is solid front axle.
Have fun with that ride!
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 07:50 PM
|
#10
|
2 Rivet Member
2008 30' Classic
Town
, Iowa
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 27
|
It's all personnel choice. I want and like the long wheel base and bed. In the near future hopefully, we will be doing extended travel. The 8 ft bed will basically be my garage, so the extra 2 ft is important to are setup. I enjoy the ride and don't have a problem with backing and turning.
__________________
Norm
2008 30FB Classic Limited
2015 Ram 2500 6.4L Crew
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 08:56 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
1997 30' Excella
1961 26' Overlander
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1981 28' Airstream 280
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,436
|
I have a 31' Wide-body. I towed it with a crew cab 8' bed and a crew cab short bed.
If you can live with the increased turning radius I would opt for the long bed. The stability and smoother ride more than mad up for the inconvenience of the turn radius. To say nothing of having that extra little bit of storage room. Both truck by the way had camper shells as well.
__________________
Bruce
WBCCI# 9259 AIR# 38927 TAC-TX 14
Stop Littering-Spay & Neuter-- Adopt From Rescue
No amount of time will erase the memory of a great dog.
|
|
|
07-22-2014, 09:07 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
|
The only advantage of the long bed is hauling more stuff, the disadvantage is maneuverability with and without the Airstream.
We had a 140" wheelbase Tundra and I still disliked the ability to move our 25' Airstream into tight spots or use as a daily driver. Didn't need the rear seat for our retirement travels so we got a 120" reg cab and it's a dream to maneuver the trailer.
No difference in stability with our ProPride hitch, rock solid in any weather or traffic condition.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 05:39 AM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
|
We have a crew cab. We don't need it for people, but we travel with a cat and her apparatus- food, water, litter box- goes on the floor in the back seat.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 05:53 AM
|
#14
|
3202 Ellie
1975 Argosy 24
milan
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 52
|
I had 8' box crew cab great truck just need more room, I now have a short bed but like the 8' better but you do need more room for turns and parking plus it's like washing a bus
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 09:20 AM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
|
I prefer an 8 ft bed in a pickup truck. I use a truck for more than just pulling a trailer. The 8 ft bed is nice to put plywood and other things in. If you ever want to use a full size slide in camper you will need a full size bed. Also if you haul stuff like motorcycles it works much better. I think I would rather have an SUV like my Excursion than a truck with a short bed. The Excursion is not that long but I can get 8ft boards in it with the doors closed and 12 ft boards in it all the way up to the windshield.
Perry
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 09:46 AM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
|
We have a Supercab with an 8' bed, and I don't think I've ever made a "5 point turn" as claimed in this thread. Sure, a tighter turning radius would be nice, but I've never had a major issue. Backing into spots is often easier than pulling in, though.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 10:35 AM
|
#17
|
Retired.
Currently Looking...
.
, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skater
We have a Supercab with an 8' bed, and I don't think I've ever made a "5 point turn" as claimed in this thread. Sure, a tighter turning radius would be nice, but I've never had a major issue. Backing into spots is often easier than pulling in, though.
|
You do know there is a difference in length between a Supercab with an 8 foot bad and a crew cab with an 8 foot bed, right? Like another couple feet in length.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 11:01 AM
|
#18
|
Rivet Master
2007 28' International CCD
Springfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,423
|
Long box only for me
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 12:33 PM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
|
The Long, Long Trailer with The Long, Long Truck-
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
|
|
|
07-23-2014, 12:51 PM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63
You do know there is a difference in length between a Supercab with an 8 foot bad and a crew cab with an 8 foot bed, right? Like another couple feet in length.
|
According to this, for the 2015 model, it's 15" longer. So, it's longer, but not "another couple feet." Unless crew cab + 8' bed meant something very different back in 2002.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|