All the chicks are right…. Size does matter.

 

6.5' is more useful for hauling stuff around and if you tow a trailer the crew cab with the 6.5' bed should be a bit more stable due to the longer wheel base. personally the crew cab and 6.5' bed looks better than having the 5.5' bed.

If you don't haul anything or need the truck to fit in your garage, then maybe consider a 5.5' truck.

 

i had a 2014 crew cab with the 6.5 ft bed..never again

 

There are literally dozens of threads over the years regarding bed length. Each person's needs are his/her own. One big issue is fitting in a garage. A standard sized garage in many houses can fit a SuperCab with a 6.5' bed or a CrewCab with a 5.5' bed, and have only a few inches to spare. Get a CrewCab with a 6.5' bed and you would be parking outside.

How the truck "looks" is generally not on someone's list of issues - it's the utility of the vehicle. Ford has decided that the F-150 Lightning will be a CrewCab with a 5.5' bed only, which should tell you what the popular configuration is.

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/bed-lengths-412451/

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/f-150-5-5-6-5-bed-135452/

 

I've owned trucks with 5', 5.5', 6.5' beds, even an old Jeep truck with a 7' bed and I've had 8' beds. I currently have a Tacoma with a 5' bed and my F150 has the 5.5' bed. I've had the Tacoma almost 15 years and have yet to find anything that wouldn't fit where anything less than 8' would have helped. If it won't fit in the trucks I have, there is the 6'X10' utility trailer. It is easier to load/unload bulky, heavy stuff anyway.

With the tailgate down I'm about 2" short of 8' in my F150, about 6' with the Tacoma. I have fold out bed extenders for both trucks. I can easily haul stuff up to 12' long in either truck. You'll have less hanging out the back with a 6.5' bed, but you still can't haul 14' lumber until you get to an 8' bed.

The only practical reason to buy the 6.5' bed crew cab 1/2 ton is to tow a 5th wheel. And if I'm doing that, I'll just buy a 3/4 ton. To me the 6.5' bad looks right on a Superduty, but looks goofy on a F150. The wheelbase is just too long for a light duty truck. If I had to have 6.5' of bed then I'd buy a regular cab or extended cab version.

To me, maneuverability is the deal killer. I use my truck for hunting and already find the 145" wheelbase cumbersome on some roads/trails I have to travel. Anything longer is just too much of a handicap.

 

My current 2007 is a regular cab 8’ bed. I decided to try a Supercab 8’ bed this time. So far I actually really like this new setup. Both are definitely far more useful than a 6.5’ shortbed.

Compared to my 2007 (144.5” wheelbase, back when Regular cabs had 4 doors), the 2021 Supercab is about 19” longer (163.7” wheelbase). It’s actually not that noticeable of a difference driving and parking, though there are a select few situations that I do notice I can’t turn as sharply. Having the reverse (and also 360 degree) camera really helps, so if anything, I’m just as willing to try and fit in a spot as before.

I would absolutely go with a regular cab 8’ bed if the Supercab 8’ bed was not available. I would miss the rear doors of my old regular cab and extra space, but it wouldn’t be a big loss. Though having the extra rear space of the Supercab is actually much more useful than I had imagined. Also, cramming 5-6 people into a regular cab cabin isn’t exactly the easiest thing, though I’ve only ever done that a handful of times.

 

As others have said... Cab and bed length choices depend on your needs and usage. Having to move around older couple = Supercrew. Having to move ATVs and other ranch stuff = 6.5 bed. Now I did build my garage longer so I can fit it in a bay.

As far as turning radius I test drove both before deciding.... just to ensure the 6.5 was not awful compared to the 5.5. In my tests the 6.5 supercrew took about 2.5 more feet over the 5.5 supercrew. So not a deal breaker.

FYI... my 2008 Tundra turned about 3 feet sharper than the 5.5. Per a long time Toyota employee apparently Toyota has a patent on the 4WD steering setup.

Found actual measurements you can peruse.: https://www.autopadre.com/turning-radius/ford-f-150

Your mileage may vary!

 

I agree with prior comments; depends how you intend to use the bed (as a truck or a trunk).
Appearance-wise, I prefer shorter cab but also like having storage behind the seat and ability to accommodate passengers -- so SuperCab (not SuperCrew or regular cab).
I like to be able to carry stuff in the bed (kayaks, bikes, wood, etc), so 6.5' bed (I also pull a boat trailer, and park it in tight quarters so need the maneuverability of shorter-wheelbase, so 8' bed was off the list).
And to top it off, I like having a Bench seat in front (more practical than a center console) and it lets my dog comfortably ride up front.
So Lariat (highest trim level that has bench option) Supercab, 6.5' bed. I love it.

 

Posted this in a related thread. Also seems relevant here.

Comparison between 5.5’, 6.5’, and 8’ beds on a 2010-ish Supercab F150:

 

6.5' Super Crew. Love it. Would not go to the 5.5'...unless its a Raptor ;-) I think with the right leveling and wheel/tire combo you can achieve the desired "sporty" look as well as the functional qualities of the slightly longer bed.