Know the truck I want, but what bed setup for a new family in the mountains?

[Pikespeak]

I have my first kid on the way and Im looking into buying a new truck and thinking about the setup I would have for this new sized family. Based on our situation below, What do you suggest?

1. It will be me, my wife, 90lb lab, infant in a car seat.
2. We live in Colorado and are very outdoorsy which means at times we have a lot of gear. Mountain bikes, fly fishing gear, camping gear, hunting gear, all dependent on whats going on. We also do a lot of off-road stuff in the mountains
3. I will be getting a F150 Supercrew with 5.5 ft bed
4. Thinking if I need a bed shell, decked system, bed cover, combination of these, none of these etc. to make my life easier.

 

[Marshfly]

A. Get a 6.5ft bed. You WILL run out of room with the small bed and you will not have any issues with the wheelbase.

B. Topper. One with an integrated tent if that's your style.

This is easy. And there is a reason everyone gravitates to those two things.

BTW F150 toppers even with integrated tents like GFC, AT Atlas, etc are pretty easy to find on FB marketplace.

 

[Thinkingman]

A. Get a 6.5ft bed. You WILL run out of room with the small bed and you will not have any issues with the wheelbase.

B. Topper. One with an integrated tent if that's your style.

This is easy. And there is a reason everyone gravitates to those two things.

BTW F150 toppers even with integrated tents like GFC, AT Atlas, etc are pretty easy to find on FB marketplace.

6.5 bed with the canopy with a raised roof.

 

[Pikespeak]

A. Get a 6.5ft bed. You WILL run out of room with the small bed and you will not have any issues with the wheelbase.

B. Topper. One with an integrated tent if that's your style.

This is easy. And there is a reason everyone gravitates to those two things.

BTW F150 toppers even with integrated tents like GFC, AT Atlas, etc are pretty easy to find on FB marketplace.

Thanks for the reply, I want a 6.5 bed but I’m worried about having to park in parking garages and off-roading with the wider wheelbase. I already kinda push the limit.

Edit: not sure how I missed you mentioning the wheelbase already lol

 

[Marshfly]

Thanks for the reply, I want a 6.5 bed but I’m worried about having to park in parking garages and off-roading with the wider wheelbase. I already kinda push the limit.

Edit: not sure how I missed you mentioning the wheelbase already lol

It will not be an issue. Height is your issue in parking garages. Who cares if you stick out another foot? Learn to back in. That's the right way anyway.

On FS roads you are not taking a 5.5ft bed F150 anywhere you can't take a 6.5ft bed F150. Actually, you aren't taking either of those anywhere I can't take my F350 Tremor.

I had a 5.5ft bed Ram 1500 when I moved out here to Montana that I had bought to tow behind my motorhome. Moved to a Power Wagon and got everywhere I could ever want. Moved to the F350 and expect to have zero issues either.

Width is the issue I find mostly. You either care or don't about scratches. That is what determines where you can go.

 

[Marshfly]

Above what I said just now. Don't buy a truck based on getting places. Buy the truck that fits your family and then go where it will go. Their comfort is number one. If they aren't comfortable your trip will suck and you will be miserable.

I just shake my head when I see families of 4 trying to squeeze into Jeeps, Tacomas, and 4runners knowing that nobody is comfy.

 

[Elkdreamer]

The super short bed will not work unless you pull a trailer as I do. That shit fills up fast.

 

[h2so4]

Get the 6.5ft bed! I’ve got it on my ‘22 f150 and love it. The extra space makes a huge difference. Even my wife acknowledges how great it is.

 

[mtnbiker208]

tongue in cheek
buy diapers

 

[RockAndSage]

Above what I said just now. Don't buy a truck based on getting places. Buy the truck that fits your family and then go where it will go. Their comfort is number one. If they aren't comfortable your trip will suck and you will be miserable.

Just about the best truck advice for a father ever.

 

[Pikespeak]

Above what I said just now. Don't buy a truck based on getting places. Buy the truck that fits your family and then go where it will go. Their comfort is number one. If they aren't comfortable your trip will suck and you will be miserable.

I just shake my head when I see families of 4 trying to squeeze into Jeeps, Tacomas, and 4runners knowing that nobody is comfy.

Well the problem is that the job that pays for all of them requires me to go into corporate parking garages.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Megacab fwiw. Plus the best interior going.

 

[mgray]

Congrats on the little one! You’re overthinking this. Whatever you have will work just fine, but I agree with the longer bed and a topper. I have the Decked system in my work truck and think it’s great for work, but I’m I wouldn’t put it in a hunting truck. It never fails, every year I think the roads are horrible, and here comes a Subaru. Your truck will be fine.

 

[Marshfly]

Well the problem is that the job that pays for all of them requires me to go into corporate parking garages.

You asked for advice. Every single person said the 5.5 bed is too small for a family traveling like you want. But you do what you have to do.

Separate question. Have you ever owned a full size truck? I feel like these hesitations pretty much always come from people that have never owned full sizes before. They aren't as bad as they seem. But you absolutely need to learn the back into parking spots game.

 

[Elkdreamer]

Well the problem is that the job that pays for all of them requires me to go into corporate parking garages.

Any stock truck will fit into corporate parking garages. However, one might fit your families needs better.

 

[JFK]

Get the 6.5 bed. The short beds are good for nothing. Different truck, but I have two kids (6 and 2 yo) and I drive a tundra with the smaller cab and 6.5’ bed. Never been an issue.

Congrats on the kid.

 

[Pikespeak]

You asked for advice. Every single person said the 5.5 bed is too small for a family traveling like you want. But you do what you have to do.

Separate question. Have you ever owned a full size truck? I feel like these hesitations pretty much always come from people that have never owned full sizes before. They aren't as bad as they seem. But you absolutely need to learn the back into parking spots game.

No, I didn’t ask that AT ALL. Every time I ask a question on rokslide people start answering and debating over a question I didn’t even ask and don’t answer the question I’m asking. I even BOLDED what my question is around.

I’ve driven full sized trucks my whole life, have you seen all the corporate employee parking garages? They aren’t what you see at the airport or the mall, some in the Seattle area you can’t even get into due to the height of a normal truck. I have many clients, many different garages, in different states. Also, I don’t agree with the poster who said the wheelbase won’t matter based on the amount of center hits I’ve had and the state of my side rails. I may go down worse stuff than most in a f150. So now we are debating a question I didn’t even ******* ask! Seriously…W…T…F

There seems to be consensus from the people who did answer my question that I need a cover..got it. Now I want to know should I run a decked type system with it.

 

[swavescatter]

Someone get this man a Cybertruck.

 

[Marshfly]

No, I didn’t ask that AT ALL. Every time I ask a question on rokslide people start answering and debating over a question I didn’t even ask and don’t answer the question I’m asking. I even BOLDED what my question is around.

I’ve driven full sized trucks my whole life, have you seen all the corporate employee parking garages? They aren’t what you see at the airport or the mall, some in the Seattle area you can’t even get into due to the height of a normal truck. I have many clients, many different garages, in different states. So now we are debating a question I didn’t even ******* ask! Seriously…W…T…F

There seems to be consensus from the people who did answer my question that I need a cover..got it. Now I want to know should I run a decked type system with it.

Quote," based on my situation, what would you suggest?"

I changed my mind. You need a Subaru Outback.

Find a weed shop on your way home. Hopefully they have big parking spots.

 

[Hnthrdr]

No, I didn’t ask that AT ALL. Every time I ask a question on rokslide people start answering and debating over a question I didn’t even ask and don’t answer the question I’m asking. I even BOLDED what my question is around.

I’ve driven full sized trucks my whole life, have you seen all the corporate employee parking garages? They aren’t what you see at the airport or the mall, some in the Seattle area you can’t even get into due to the height of a normal truck. I have many clients, many different garages, in different states. So now we are debating a question I didn’t even ******* ask! Seriously…W…T…F

There seems to be consensus from the people who did answer my question that I need a cover..got it. Now I want to know should I run a decked type system with it.

Haha I’d temper my expectations a touch on all the outdoorsing with a little and a post partum wife just until they are settled and comfortable haha go ahead and run that decked system brother