Super tall pickup beds

[frugalangler]

I have to think I am just one of many that is really sick of the height of new pickups. You need to carry a ladder on board just to reach them!

I had a '05 Chevy 2500 4X4 Duramax for over 10 years as my tow vehicle, and YES I (and I'm 6'3" tall) carried a step stool in the back of the bed budgie tied to the side, open tail gate, remove step-stool, then proceed. Crazy, because it was actually lower bed height than my buddies F150 4X2, but Ford has always been the tallest of the big 3 from what I saw.

 

[bcp]

Lifting trucks to fit bigger tires started off the pavement and moved to town.

.

Not just a recent fad.




Bruce

 

[robertsa]

Not just a recent fad.


View attachment 540210 View attachment 540211

Bruce

I didn't say it was.

 

[newbury]

I have a 2006 Ford F350 and a 2000 Chevy S10. The S10 is so much easier to load. Even the new Colorados or F150s are way higher.

Why did you buy the trucks? I bought my F350 to haul loads, like drive to the gravel pit and get two tons of #57 in the bed, or drive to Lowes and pick up 2 tons of pavers in the bed.

<snip> The truck has never seen a load or even a dirt road.

So true for many suburban trucks.

Tailgate ladders or steps in the corners of the bumpers are fine for helping get a human up into the bed, but they are not worth a spit for loading a heavy object from the ground into the truck bed using 1 human or 2 humans as the lifting power to lift heavy cargo into the truck bed.<snip>

I bought a HF truck crane, fastened on to sheet of plywood w/ braces underneath. I've used it when I bought a 500 lb planer. I've also got a pair of 90 inch ramps rated for 3,000 lbs and a HF winch to pull stuff up the ramp. Both the crane and the winch fit in the truck. Otherwise I'd need a trailer and a forklift.

I bought my truck to haul loads.

 

[k0ua]

You need thisView attachment 540093

Looks pretty darn handy to me.

 

[TMGT]

I use my 2500 to haul a trailer most of the time.

 

[k0ua]

I think it has more to do with getting older and not being able to jump up in the pickup bed like I used to 40 years ago. My 3/4T tailgate is over 3' off the ground and the truck is all stock. Needed a 3/4T for towing my larger trailers that are above my 1/2T's rating. And yes, my 3/4T tailgate is higher off the ground than the 1/2T.

I know that applies to me. I have to sit on the tailgate, and then get up to get in the bed. I can't jump up there any more. And I can't jump down from the tailgate without risking knee damage.

 

[Peter 315]

Stock height for me

 

[Doofy]

I know that applies to me. I have to sit on the tailgate, and then get up to get in the bed. I can't jump up there any more. And I can't jump down from the tailgate without risking knee damage.

I'm with you there! Far to many years of jumping down from truck beds and flat beds. Takes a toll on the body. Sure is a pain, this ageing crap!

 

[k0ua]

I'm with you there! Far to many years of jumping down from truck beds and flat beds. Takes a toll on the body. Sure is a pain, this ageing crap!

I know. 20 years ago, I wouldn't have thought for a second about jumping down from a 4x4 pickup bed onto concrete. But not now. I have injured my knees and when I do something stupid it can take months to heal. I have to think now before I act or I will suffer for some time.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Apparently some people think that a truck or piece of equipment needs to be beat up and scratched up to show others that you use it, I paid to much for every truck and tractor that I have ever bought to treat them carelessly and I use mine but am very particular about taking care of them maintenance wise and visually, and I have always treated my employers trucks and equipment the same as my own, one bright side is whenever I decide to get rid of a truck or tractor I don't have to advertise on Craigslist or such I just put out the word and people will come out of the wood works to buy at top dollar.

 

[timswi]

Apparently some people think that a truck or piece of equipment needs to be beat up and scratched up to show others that you use it, I paid to much for every truck and tractor that I have ever bought to treat them carelessly and I use mine but am very particular about taking care of them maintenance wise and visually, and I have always treated my employers trucks and equipment the same as my own, one bright side is whenever I decide to get rid of a truck or tractor I don't have to advertise on Craigslist or such I just put out the word and people will come out of the wood works to buy at top dollar.

I'm the same as you there. No point in ruining stuff.

 

[jajiu]

You need thisView attachment 540093

I have one of those! I love it! Like Thomas said, when you're over 60 you need help options.

 

[Wolfy]

Newbury, I bought my F350 because I have several tractors that I haul around, plus several more for my father and brother. So at times I am pulling a 10,000 lb trailer. That truck also hauls quite a bit of firewood, got to fill up the tailgate, then hop in and move it to the front, repeat until full. I had a Buick Lesabre that I loved, but it got old and rusted out. The S10 came along just at the right time, and real cheap. That one is the go getter. So both trucks have plenty of uses.

 

[Wolfy]

At work we have a 2016 Chevy 2500 4x4, today as it was parked on concrete, I measured it. Unloaded, from the top of the tailgate to the concrete was 59". Not to mention the huge gap between the rear tires and wheel well...I enjoyed reading the replies but Im sorry, no way should it be that hard to reach into the bed.

 

[bcp]

Here's a tall 4x4 from about 1959. Even the short guy could reach the bed floor from the side.

This bed side would be about waist high when empty.

Remember leaning down across the hood to sight in a rifle?

Bruce

 

[Wolfy]

Nice photos. Kind of proves my point, that you could have a fully capable pickup with a reachable load height. Not to mention, those old 2wd rigs probably saw as much rough terrain as the new high 4x4s that urban cowboys have to own.

 

[ovrszd]

At work we have a 2016 Chevy 2500 4x4, today as it was parked on concrete, I measured it. Unloaded, from the top of the tailgate to the concrete was 59". Not to mention the huge gap between the rear tires and wheel well...I enjoyed reading the replies but Im sorry, no way should it be that hard to reach into the bed.

It's all cosmetics. Has nothing to do with necessity. GM has been doing the huge fenderwells and little tires since the Duramax started. This cosmetic thing is bleeding down to the 1/2T models as well. Look how high the waist is on all pickups built today. Is there a logistical reason beyond cosmetics?

 

[ovrszd]

Nice photos. Kind of proves my point, that you could have a fully capable pickup with a reachable load height. Not to mention, those old 2wd rigs probably saw as much rough terrain as the new high 4x4s that urban cowboys have to own.

Oh my, you gotta be very careful about statements like these in a thread like this. Neither of those trucks can compete in any manner with trucks of today. They are both very cool. They are both very limited on what they can do.

But if that low bedside is important enough I'm sure for less than the cost of a new truck either of these can be purchased today!!!!

 

[Peter 315]

At work we have a 2016 Chevy 2500 4x4, today as it was parked on concrete, I measured it. Unloaded, from the top of the tailgate to the concrete was 59". Not to mention the huge gap between the rear tires and wheel well...I enjoyed reading the replies but Im sorry, no way should it be that hard to reach into the bed.

2016 f350 4x4 srw 59'' top of gate to ground