Technical Trucks - Long beds vs. Short beds

Hello -

Have been looking at a few early 60s F100s, all fleetsides (I prefer Fleetsides in the early-mid 60s Fords). Some long bed, some short bed.

It seems to me that short bed trucks are more desirable - more people hotrod them than long bed trucks, but how much difference does bed size make in desirability, really?

I'm not against long beds at all. It seems to me that a long bed usually has a better profile in that it seems more in proportion to me.

Thoughts? Also, in terms of resale...

Chris

 

Probably an even number of likes and non likes in each camp but personally I like the more balanced look of short bed trucks. Other advantages as far as hot rodding them is the short beds are lighter, cheaper to paint and easier to park in a small garage.

 

Long bed


Short bed



If you are concerned about resale stick to the short bed.

Personal opinion, but I prefer the short bed. HRP

 

for working i like a long bed with the exception of plowing.
for a hot rod a short bed looks sportier but the long beds are still nice.

 

I've owned and sold several short beds, and a few long beds...but I still have the long bed I started out with 39 years ago. I've hauled some building materials with it over the decades, too.

 

Long beds are Work Trucks

Short Beds are HOT RODS!​

 

All good.

I like long cabs and short beds, but only because they are different. If they all came that way, I'd probably want the opposite. However, there are many times I could use the back seat, and short bed has never stopped me from hauling anything I needed. A 4'x8' sheet of plywood or drywall or whatever fits just fine with the tailgate down.

 

All my 3/4 and 1 ton trucks were long beds, great for hauling stuff. For a running around truck, I like short beds, easier to maneuver in traffic and park.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Short bed always had better proportions to my eye.
The best resale gig it to get the cherry short bed at a bust out long bed price.
Desirability, I like a short bed and the prices you're seeing reflect that also.

If you like the long bed better then you have a win win scenario and you're not settling.

 

Didn't you mean Beer holder???

 

Long beds will ride better.
Joe

 

But long beds can be cool..

 

long live long beds.

 

I'm sorry, but long beds like 4-door cars were never cool.

 

I only like Long beds lowered.

 

Short ones for me. But a lowered long bed is close to pretty good.

 

8 ft beds are made for haulin my kind of "building materials" ( I use them for work too!)

 

Put me in the short bed group.

 

Just Kiddin. I like a short bed for hot roddin around but I like a long bed if I actually have to get any work done. Short bed is more fun. Long bed is more practical.

 

The ones who don't like long beds make them less expensive for the people who do like them. Only long bed I ever owned was a '72 Ford F100, longer wheelbase made it ride better, most comfortable vehicle I ever drove on a long trip.

 

Depends who you're askin'. Carpenters, plumbers, contractors, etc, wouldn't be caught at the coffee shop with a short bed. Hotrodders, motorheads, & general car guys, shortbeds at least two to one I'd say. Only long beds that get my attention are the mid-60s C/10s & F-100 fleetsides. Those can be made into pretty cool rides. Otherwise, make it a shorty for me. Like 31Vick says, prices reflect it. There's a slightly OT long bed fleet C10 been for sale here for 3 months at least. Real decent, and well built driver. Guy can't milk $6K outa it. If it were a shorty, he could put $9K on it and it'd probably be gone in a day or two.

 

Short beds for me!

 

^^^^ I rest my case! Shweet Arkie!!

 

Funny----just thinking about this subject earlier today:

i would never want a shortbed, because i've always had longbeds (have one now like brother Bowling's) and i'm so use to it; If i got a shortbed it would feel like something is missing and it would be of no use for me.

However IF i was building a rod then shortbed all the way. Not just shortbed, but fenderside/stepside as well.

 

If the bed is shorter than 8 feet, I call it a car.

 

Exactly---i see a lot of these newer 4 door crewcabs with the box so small. What's the point? Might as well get a car............

 

On the new stuff currently available a 6' bed is a long box, unless its a 3/4 or 1 ton.
If I'm hauling stuff with it, I want an 8' box.
If I'm building a Hot Rod, I want a step side bed, and most of them are 7 1/2 ' long.
Anything 6' or shorter is just a decoration with no useful purpose. Gene

 

8' bed is a work truck.

6' bed is a hotrod.

Anything less is worthless.

Devin

 

My 1959 F-100,
Only "shorty" I ever owned, multi-purpose work truck/ hot rod ( 400 small block).
Getting ready to haul roof shingles here. (Speedy Delivery!)

And I agree with the view on new trucks today- extended or crew cab, short bed, "back rack", jacked up---USELESS!!