Why convert to short bed?

[boraxman]

Here's my take fwiw, shortbeds look better and are worth more.
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[special-K]

Heavy duty trucks, such as Mack, Peterbuilt, Kenworth, etc. get lengthened and shortened as common practice when re-outfitted after it's first run on life. We have a local shop here that builds used trucks. They'll take a box van and put a horse van body on, stretch and convert from single to tandem, shorten and put a 5th wheel on. Trucks have been getting reconfigured from the beginning. Although that has been for practical reasons till now when it's purely cosmetic... except easier to parallel park

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by cletusboy

Doing a lot of researching and reading lately. Wanting to know everyone's opinion on why converting to a short bed is so popular, I've even seen that it increases value. In my opinion that would start making long beds more of a rarity and increase the long bed value right? I have a long bed and plan on keeping it that way. Do short beds drive better? Just needing some insight.

Personally I would never do it. As dollars go, I'd pay less for a cut-bed than long bed.

I LOVE my 72 long-bed. First truck I've owned I can actually close the tailgate on 8' lumber. Course it's a driver/work truck. I suppose I'd feel differently if I wanted a "sport truck", which I have as well.

[Swar]

I typically like 2wd lowered trucks to be short beds, while 4wd higher riding trucks to be long bed. There are exceptions, of course.
Odd enough, though, my truck is an original short bed, but the previous owner at some point cut the frame and welded a new one on the back half, behind the cab.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Swar

I typically like 2wd lowered trucks to be short beds, while 4wd higher riding trucks to be long bed. There are exceptions, of course.
Odd enough, though, my truck is an original short bed, but the previous owner at some point cut the frame and welded a new one on the back half, behind the cab.

I wonder if your cab is an original swb cab but maybe your frame was not the original?

Anyways, its funny I actually love the look of the short 4x4's. - this is why I bought a K5 Blazer... If Shorbeds are 'cooler' than a longbed, then surely a SHORTER bed must be cooler than a shortbed! This is rock solid logic!

[birdkilla2k1]

I left my long-bed long for the same reason why I won't ever swap the I6 for a V8--originality.

[indymachinist]

IMO, long beds are ugly.

[66clow]

Here is my before and after. I hope that helps explain it. you can make long beds just as cool. For me they are sportier and easier to maneuver. I have no need for all that bed. Also was a whole lot cheaper to find and convert.

[hamjet]

Boy, it sounds like the long beds are the minority. most like short beds, many like the extra long longhorns, I'm sad, me and my poor old long bed....... LOL

[rsgt]

I think most people like what they get use to looking at. I like the proportions of the whole vehicle to look right. I like that the back of the cab is the center, the same distance to the front and the same distance to the rear on a long bed.

[Hubscrub]

I've had both like both, but would rather have a suburban. looking now

[72 tigger]

I like all of them- even the long steppers don't look bad to me- especially the K versions

[special-K]

I'm a true 67-72 fanatic. Therefore, I like them all.




Over

[flashed]

I own 1 longbed , a 72 4x4 just recently bought it and love it ,if the upholstery shop would just finish my seat . I have a few shortbeds that I love too and then there is Ton ,my 72 Dually ,I love them all .

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'm a true 67-72 fanatic. Therefore, I like them all.




Over

I am a square body guy that fell into the 67-72 trap

[Grumpy old man]

Nothing other than a 67 short bed ... all the rest are parts trucks !

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Nothing other than a 67 short bed ... all the rest are parts trucks !

Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[Boog]

We all have our favorites but the one thing we have in common is we are all here because we love our trucks. Well, except for one or two who I am not sure why they are here.
There are even songs about our love of trucks like this one by Glen Campbell.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=i+love...177eb966d5f239

[Tx Firefighter]

You guys bickering over long vs short beds while the we have much larger issues to contend with. Like, what's up with those men who have hair buns and wear women's jeans ?

[96blazr]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

You guys bickering over long vs short beds while the we have much larger issues to contend with. Like, what's up with those men who have hair buns and wear women's jeans ?

EXACTLY!! "man buns" = Doucheflute. And they're starting to wear Rompers too. manbun, womens jeans and/or rompers; turn in your "Man" card.

And I've owned my 68 SWB since 04 and the Short Fleets have always looked better to me. My first "Antique" was a 1960 SWB. My Daily driver back in the 80's was a 86 long bed and while it did it's job and I got my monies worth out of it, for a Hot Rod I've always loved the 68 SWB. That's why I own one and always will. The SWB market has been HOT for the last 3 to 4 years, so it makes sense that conversion kits have come out and are all the rage. I say "fine with me", cause it makes a true SWB more valuable.
Short wide, Long wide, short step, narrow step: I love them all

[Tx Firefighter]

And, just for the record, I wear no man bun or skinny jeans and my project for next week is to cut a LWB 74 C10 down to SWB.

[Swar]

Originally Posted by Maximus

I wonder if your cab is an original swb cab but maybe your frame was not the original?

Anyways, its funny I actually love the look of the short 4x4's. - this is why I bought a K5 Blazer... If Shorbeds are 'cooler' than a longbed, then surely a SHORTER bed must be cooler than a shortbed! This is rock solid logic!

Judging by the condition of the truck when I bought it, I doubt it was ever a frame off restoration. The cab bushings were almost gone when I got it. It had the 250 inline 6 and 3 speed on the column. Just a farm truck, originally bought new in Monticello, NY. My guess is the frame rotted out in the back, so they just welded a new one on. But yea, the outline of the short bed is perfection, IMO. But I do like 4wd long beds. Stock, with skinny tires looks good too.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

And, just for the record, I wear no man bun or skinny jeans and my project for next week is to cut a LWB 74 C10 down to SWB.

What the hell is a man bun? Eh... maybe I don't want to know.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Swar

Judging by the condition of the truck when I bought it, I doubt it was ever a frame off restoration. The cab bushings were almost gone when I got it. It had the 250 inline 6 and 3 speed on the column. Just a farm truck, originally bought new in Monticello, NY. My guess is the frame rotted out in the back, so they just welded a new one on. But yea, the outline of the short bed is perfection, IMO. But I do like 4wd long beds. Stock, with skinny tires looks good too.

I always forget that frames rot out. In cali, we get our share of rusted bodies, but i RARELY see a frame rusted. good call, its very possible that the rear was just repaired. Ya still got the I6/3OTT? Fun little combo.

Overall, I bet thousands of trucks have been dragged out of fields, just to convert down to a short bed and enjoy. those truck otherwise may still be sitting in that field, (or worse, end up in a pick-n-pull yard)
Every longbed that gets shortened may put one more truck back on our roads when it could have easily suffered a fate of rotting away or worse, being sold to China to become a new waffle maker, only to be resold back to us......

If it helps keep these trucks on the road and out of wrecking yards, I am all for it.

[Spullar]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Well now, then that's a horse of a different color!

Or maybe a truck of a different size?