Bed size- any regrets?

Manufacturers are going the wrong way!! My brother in law used to own a 72 GMC C20 Longhorn. It came with an 8.6” bed! When i first saw it, i was a bit perplexed if it was a factory option or not. It was a cool truck though. The extra 6” came from extension bed panels that were attached to the front of the bed sides. It also had a wooden slat floor back then. The truck also had a large Eaton 3rd member style axle housing. I can’t remember if his truck had the standard leaf springs, or the more rare coils springs with links.

FYI, pic is NOT of my BnL’s truck.

 

5.5 works well for me

 

I came from an extended bed Silverado to a 5.5 bed tundra. I also have a Retrax Pro with a canister that eats up about 10 inches of bednspace. I must say that getting the OEM bed extender has been a life saver. Absolutely recommend it

 

If you really wanted a Tacoma but bought a Tundra instead.

 

I haul lumber, plywood, trash, or firewood in mine every week along with loading up 5 people from time to time. Only time I miss having an 8' bed over the 5.5 is if I have 12' lumber to haul.

 

I had originally requested a 5.5' bed and my exact request with a 6.5' bed was allotted to my dealership. In hindsight, it was a no brainer to go with the 6.5' bed given our lifestyle. My truck doesn't see a lot of use during the winter but we play hard from spring through fall.

 

I consider trucks to be tools.

You have to define the job you want to preform and then buy the appropriate tool.

I regularly need to sleep in the back of my truck when camping, so I bought the 6'5" bed.

 

I still miss my Silverado 2500's 6.5 foot bed. You could fit 2x4s at an angle under the bed topper. Other than plywood rarely anything that would not fit in the bed.

I don't miss the extra length parking it, maneuvering it, or garaging it for sure. The 5.5 is a compromise to those issues that works now that my hauling needs are not as demanding