Short Wheelbase Pickups - Montana Owners Club

Searchers · 04-11-2005, 06:48 PM

I know quite a few are towing with crew cab short box trucks and wondered if anyone tows with the shorter wheelbase extended cab short box. If you are, have you noticed any stability problems?

Glenn and Lorraine · 04-12-2005, 01:42 AM

I as well as many other MOCers tow our rigs with the short box extended cabs and I have never heard a single comment about stability. I for one love the shorter length and have no problem recommending it.
If you do go with the short box I would also recommend the PullRite SuperGlide hitch.

sreigle · 04-12-2005, 11:35 AM

Our two prior tow vehicles were supercab (Ford's version of your extended cab) shortbed trucks, single rear wheel, and nary a stability problem. Not a single time. We towed probably 30,000 miles total between the two trucks. I would NOT recommend standard cab shortbed, however, since they usually have a short wheelbase and that can affect stability. Note that most supercab shortbed trucks will have a longer wheelbase than their standardcab standard bed counterparts, so don't let anyone tell you a shortbed is bad because of a short wheelbase. They're mixing terms when they say that.

Bill Hill · 04-12-2005, 01:10 PM

I'm with Glenn & Steve, no reason why you can't use a short box truck to tow your 5er. Get a sliding hitch (I Love My SuperGlide!!) and you're good to go. As far as short box standard cab trucks go, I've only seen those as 1/2 trucks, never as a 3/4 or 1-ton model.

richfaa · 04-12-2005, 01:29 PM

Don't have one myself but know plenty of folks in our local camping group and FCRV camping group that do. Have never heard of any serious problems..That superglide hitch that is recommended is really nice..worth the extra money. Never cut corners on safety....

Searchers · 04-12-2005, 01:59 PM

Thanks for the input guys. Just curious as at some point I'll replace my current truck and would like to have one that allows a little better fit in the garage than current long bed.

sreigle · 04-15-2005, 05:39 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Bill Hill

As far as short box standard cab trucks go, I've only seen those as 1/2 trucks, never as a 3/4 or 1-ton model.

Bill, I had to dig out my Ford Towing Guide to confirm but you are correct, Ford does not offer a shortbed standardcab in the SuperDuty. Only the F150. I don't know if that's true for the other brands but it is for Ford. I learned something today! Thanks.

Wordsmith · 04-15-2005, 09:48 AM

I will heartily endorse the SuperGlide. It is worth every penny!

Bill Hill · 04-15-2005, 06:03 PM

Steve,
Thanks. It stands to reason that the heavier duty trucks are very likely to be used to tow, and as we all know, there's no subsitute for wheelbase when it comes to stability.

DiananColin · 04-19-2005, 02:14 PM

No problem with our short wheelbase quad cab! The superglide is awesome! With my very good (but very short) memory it is essential to have a slider hitch that doesn;t need my personal attention.

sgtpp214 · 04-26-2005, 06:20 PM

Our swb quad cab is a dream, fits into the garage just fine and I don't regret getting the superglide by pullrite. The Dodge is very stable and I hardly know when a semi goes by.

Montana_2785 · 04-27-2005, 03:11 AM

In the Ford line, I wanted the long bed due to the larger fuel tank size vs the short bed (39 gallons vs 29 gallons). OTOH, it really hurts to fill that sucker when its empty. Got close to $90 one day

Eric

kdeiss · 04-27-2005, 10:15 AM

Gas tank was one of my main reasons to go with the 8Ft bed 34Gal/25Gal(GMC/Chevy) a big deal when you are towing less fuel stops.And that 8Ft bed comes in handy.The only negative is parking and if you have a small garage.Not sorry I got the 8Ft the ride is great!

sreigle · 04-27-2005, 05:33 PM

Our last three tow vehicles all had the 29 gallon tank. Never a problem for us. I can't go any longer than that without need for stretching a bit, anyhow. Or a nature stop.

jpkelpe · 04-27-2005, 07:04 PM

we have an extended cab short box on our new pickup. Just towed the 5er in winds of 20-40 mile an hour wind with gusts coming mostly from the side--only once did the 5er wiggle a little bit when a semi went by, we were on a two lane hiway. there was no problem with stability of the pickup. we were amazed at how well it towed in the wind--glad since we get a lot of wind here in Nebraska.

sreigle · 04-28-2005, 12:14 PM

Paul and Jan, my experience towing with shortbeds, both supercab and crew cab, is the same as yours. Not a problem. As an addendum to my earlier posts, our supercab shortbeds had a longer wheelbase than the same model in standard cab longbed. I said standardcab shortbed earlier. Senior moment.

Native Tex · 04-28-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Searchers

I know quite a few are towing with crew cab short box trucks and wondered if anyone tows with the shorter wheelbase extended cab short box. If you are, have you noticed any stability problems?

Hey guys we have the crew cab short bed on the new truck , but the old truck was a short bed, super cab F-250 Power Stroke. We never had any problem with stability pulliing the Mountaineer 335RLBS or the 3400RL 5er we currently own.

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