5.0TA Pickup Bed Length

[svbstuart]

After 16 years and 267,000 original miles on my Silverado 4.8L, a new or new-to-me 1500 pickup is on the horizon, perhaps by New Year’s Day. Towing a 5.0 is part of my calculus for deciding between a double/quad/super or crew cab. The choice is relevant to me because the fifth wheel will require me to use roof racks to carry my canoes, which will hang over the cab.

What is the clearance length at the closest point between the 5.0 and the cab, assuming a standard 6’4” or 6’6” bed? Knowing that distance, which might be shorter while making a turn, will help me figure whether a longer roof line is necessary. Otherwise, I don’t particularly need a crew cab.

I saw the photo in the previous post of a 90 degree turn in a short bed pickup. I sure won't be making any of those while carrying canoes.

[padlin]

If the boat is centered and there is only the one, the distance does not change on turns. It will change a little going over dips and bumps though. A lot has to do with the length of the boat too. I carry a 14' canoe on the roof rack with an 8' bed on an F150 supercab. I mount it about 8" from the front of the trailer and it still hangs out over the front of the truck more then the back. If I were to move it another 18" forward I think it would block the drivers view too much. I have roughly 5' from the back of the cab to the front of the camper. I can measure the exact distance if you need it but it's an F150.

I imagine a pair of the short kayaks would work fine

[svbstuart]

Originally Posted by padlin

If the boat is centered and there is only the one, the distance does not change on turns. It will change a little going over dips and bumps though. A lot has to do with the length of the boat too. I carry a 14' canoe on the roof rack with an 8' bed on an F150 supercab. I mount it about 8" from the front of the trailer and it still hangs out over the front of the truck more then the back. If I were to move it another 18" forward I think it would block the drivers view too much. I have roughly 5' from the back of the cab to the front of the camper. I can measure the exact distance if you need it but it's an F150.

I imagine a pair of the short kayaks would work fine

I currently paddle a 12’ canoe. Considering your canoe and bed length, I would have another 6” of clearance advantage compared to your 5.0 and canoe set up. As soon as I come across a good deal, I intend to purchase an 8.5’-10’ canoe and make it my primary. I’ll be toting two of that length, for the wife and me.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by svbstuart

I currently paddle a 12’ canoe. Considering your canoe and bed length, I would have another 6” of clearance advantage compared to your 5.0 and canoe set up. As soon as I come across a good deal, I intend to purchase an 8.5’-10’ canoe and make it my primary. I’ll be toting two of that length, for the wife and me.

Hi: svbstuart... I've heard of these "Seperate canoes" before!!! Some times my wife and I take separate vacations together!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[svbstuart]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: svbstuart... I've heard of these "Seperate canoes" before!!! Some times my wife and I take separate vacations together!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

The nice thing about paddling solo with your spouse is you both get to be the driver.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by svbstuart

I currently paddle a 12’ canoe. Considering your canoe and bed length, I would have another 6” of clearance advantage compared to your 5.0 and canoe set up.

Well sort of, part of the length savings is in the front. The farther you push the boat forward the lower it sits over the hood due to the canoes shape, at least mine do. Unless you have a lot of rocker, like a white water boat, the 12' should be able to fit.

[davidmurphy02]

Originally Posted by svbstuart

What is the clearance length at the closest point between the 5.0 and the cab, assuming a standard 6’4” or 6’6” bed? Knowing that distance, which might be shorter while making a turn, will help me figure whether a longer roof line is necessary. Otherwise, I don’t particularly need a crew cab.

On my Ram 1500 quad cab with 6-4" bed I have 37" of clearance between the cab and front of the trailer with a standard hitch placement directly over the axle.

[arniesea]

One thing to keep in mind, is that for a given wheelbase, most modern 1/2 ton pickups trade bed length for cab size. And the difference is between the back of the cab and the rear wheels. Generally the distance between the rear wheels and the tailgate stay the same. So for example, a 6.5 foot bed will have a cab 1 foot smaller than a 5.5 foot short bed. But the difference in bed length is forward of the rear axle.

Also the term “long bed” usually means a longer wheelbase. So a full sized crew cab with a long bed will have a longer wheelbase than a regular full sized crew cab. (Each manufacturer calls their cabs something unique to their brand.)

[Jim Bennett]

My solution to the canoeing need is to bring along my 16' Sea Eagle inflatable canoe. If needed for fishing I can mount an electric trolling motor. While not as fast on smooth water as my 17.5' touring canoe it is just fine for paddling about.


A disadvantage to having two shorter canoes is that they are much less directionally stable than a longer one requiring more correctional strokes, and your speed will be slowed quite a bit, but when it comes to it having fun is what it is all about.

Originally Posted by arniesea

One thing to keep in mind, is that for a given wheelbase, most modern 1/2 ton pickups trade bed length for cab size. And the difference is between the back of the cab and the rear wheels. Generally the distance between the rear wheels and the tailgate stay the same. So for example, a 6.5 foot bed will have a cab 1 foot smaller than a 5.5 foot short bed. But the difference in bed length is forward of the rear axle.

Also the term “long bed” usually means a longer wheelbase. So a full sized crew cab with a long bed will have a longer wheelbase than a regular full sized crew cab. (Each manufacturer calls their cabs something unique to their brand.)

Motor size matters too, at least for Ford. If you want the 6.5' bed and a SuperCrew cab, you have to go to the 3.5L EcoBoost. This is the combo I insisted on, as even a 6.5' bed is short to me. You can only get that cab with a 5.5' bed if you buy the 2.7L, or a 6.5' bed with a Supercab or Standard Cab as you describe in your example.

[DanandDaphne]

We haven't brought the canoe along because of how far it has to stick out front blocking the view. It would also require a support at the front bumper with our truck.
I really want one of these https://www.aire.com/kayaks/traveler.html but at $3,000 it probably won't happen. I really like Aire boats I used to have a white water kayak and they are incredibly rigid for an inflatable boat.
I would prefer a canoe like how you sit up higher in a canoe. The Sea Eagle looks more like an inflatable kayak and would maybe be better paddled with a kayak paddle than canoe paddles. But it looks like with the inflatable seats you do sit up higher than other kayaks. kind of between a kayak and a canoe.

This Inova inflatable canoe looks quite nice https://www.seaeagle.com/RazorLite/4...f6004e0a1c0e0c but it is no longer available.

I also really like the looks of these seaeagle kayaks https://www.seaeagle.com/RazorLite/4...f6004e0a1c0e0c It looks like they would be fast and they are quite a bit more affordable than the Aire canoe.

[DanandDaphne]

I was looking at the lower end sea eagles like this https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Eagle-SE3...s%2C374&sr=8-3


This Sea Eagle Travel Canoe16' looks really nice Sea Eagle Travel Canoe 16 Review (TC16) | Inflatable Kayaker

Is this what you have Jim? Does it have a motor mount, or did you have to rig something up?

[padlin]

I tried one of the front mount T's, with the roof rack mounted a where Thule says to mount the front roof rack it's just over 9' between that and the front T in a front mount receiver. Won't leave much of the 12' canoe under the straps, only the narrow tips.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by DanandDaphne

I was looking at the lower end sea eagles like this https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Eagle-SE3...s%2C374&sr=8-3


This Sea Eagle Travel Canoe16' looks really nice Sea Eagle Travel Canoe 16 Review (TC16) | Inflatable Kayaker

Is this what you have Jim? Does it have a motor mount, or did you have to rig something up?

That is my canoe. I rigged up my own support for the trolling motor, holding it on with two wide straps that go all the way around the hull.

[svbstuart]

Originally Posted by davidmurphy02

On my Ram 1500 quad cab with 6-4" bed I have 37" of clearance between the cab and front of the trailer with a standard hitch placement directly over the axle.

David, I looked at that exact Ram model last week, color and everything. That's the perfect visual for a quad cab/5.0 TA configuration.