A little trivia question: Do you own a long or short bed Gen1 and why? Preference? Looks? Practicability? Performance? And have you owned both?

And does anyone know which were produced more over the other?

I guess I’ll go first… I’ve owned both short and long. In the 80’s it was short, I guess because it seemed the way to go, it was more common to see and availability. At least where I lived in Southern California. Today I own a long bed. And now I prefer it for reasons of both looks and practicability? I do a lot of camping and bike building which for hauling bikes is very practical. And for whatever reason my preference in the overall looks has changed to the long bed. Really strange, but I often wondered why people choose what they own.

 

I have a 83 longbed but I inherited it so I didn't have much of an option. Overall I prefer a shortbed for pure looks but a longbed is much more practical for work/use.

 

I own both, the shortbed is ok the wheelbase is good on 33's. But now that its on 38'sthe its a little short fir my liking. The long bed dd is very practical since I am always toting something around not to mention in myopic opinion longbed look better. The big truck has to be longbed if it were a shortbed the driveshaft angles would be horrible. To sum it up I like longbeds for their looks, practical purpose, and wheelbase offroad.

 

I've owned the 82 in short box, 83 in short box, 84 extended cab which is short box long wheel base and the 83 long box. The only one I searched for was the extended cab. Otherwise whatever came my way. Beggers can't be choosy, comes to mind.
Like I mention to people before they buy; decide what purpose you're going to use it for. They all have their unique purpose.

 

ive only owned the shortbed but for looks id prefer it over the long bed they just kinda look streched. for work and hauling stuff i think the longbed would be better but i can fit a bike (motorcycle) in my short as long as my tailgates down. and anything else i need to haul ive always been able to fit it all in there.

 

I have the short and looked for the short. Bought it when I thought I was going to get out of construction. I haven't really hauled a ton with it, but it holds my motorcycle and all my tools. Fits in parking easily too, which is a plus since I live downtown. A long bed would have been more practical for work, but I haven't needed it yet.

 

Move all of these posts to a separate thread...no pics?

 

Shortbed is my preference for looks, but obviously a long bed has more space, and I hear the ride is a lot smoother. If I were even one inch taller, it would be a bit uncomfortable sleeping in the back of my shortbed.

 

Trekker is my preference short box

 

i had a 79 shortbed on 33's, and a 83 longbed parts truck.

now i wheel an 88 xtra cab and they both have different advantages, guess it comes down to what you need.

i think it also depends on how big you go. longbeds look better if you go bigger than say
35's, shortbeds look better with 33's or 31's to me.

 

I have a long bed, which I think is great for a DD, camping/trails and using for utility work. Been good to me. I would think the short beds are best for building crawlers. Either way, Yotas are the best, especially 1st gen's. JMHO

 

longbed for me...rides better to me.[IMG][/IMG]

 

I have a 82 long bed but its bobbed to the short bed length. So do I have a long bed or a short bed???? LOL!

 

I have a 1979 longbed I searched for it, I prefer the longbed for looks as well as functionality.

 

I have always owned the short bed versions because I like the look. Even all of the Cadillac Escalades that I have purchased through the years have been short versions (Standard size).

 

Ha. As far as ride quality, I'd say you've got a longbed, since it's more the wheelbase than the actual bed length affecting the ride. But I guess as far as storage and overall length, you've got a shortbed!

 

Now let's see them! Here's my preferred '83 Longbed. Night shot.

 

I will have to disagree the weight of the 12" of bed 4" of frame and rear bumper all removed makes this thing ride like a cob!!!!! the shackle angle is to vertical now. but when I put the short bed fiberglass shell on it it should squat it back down to ride smooth.

 

Yeah, I could see all that weight making a difference. I just assume my rough ride is more from the actual wheelbase length, not the weight, but I have no way of comparing!

 

My little brother has an 83 long bed but we thought it just looked goofy with the long bed so we bobbed it 16in and it looks a lot tougher now but I think short boxes always look tougher. An when it was still long on steep hill climbs the rear end would drag.