PerryB

To the OP, I've owned just about every permutation of cab and wheelbase Ford makes, from 117" to 172". Once you get to 145" the rate of return (in terms of stability) diminishes rapidly. The biggest argument I could make for the 157" SCREW is that I personally feel the 5.5' shorty box is nearly useless. Personal opinion, dissenters need not apply.
jp360cj is correct. My truck is max tow, but not HDPP.

MrGame

Thanks man! Then 145" it is. I have never had anything bigger than a quad in the bed and have a trailer for anything XXL. Didn't know if there would be any stability benefit to the longer truck. I'm actually going back to a 13-14 when my lease is up. I found it to be a lot more stable (although my '16 gets the job done)

PerryB

1) The 157 truck you reference may be "like" yours, but obviously lesser optioned for a lower empty weight, otherwise the payload wouldn't be greater.
GVWR-empty weight=payload. Simple as that. I fly and am constantly calculating payload, so it's a subject near and dear.

2) My truck is NOT HDPP, it's a 6-lug (mentioned in my first post) max tow with a 7700 GVWR. -- That being said, my payload isn't all that great at 1523. The truck is a heavy pig, with the 6.2 and every option known to man.
I'm not picking on you, but I am a stickler for technical correctness.

acdii

I didn't look at the year in your sig, just thought it was a 16. Yes, both trucks were 500a, 5.0 with 36 gallon tanks and tow package and 4x4. No other options. The payload in the 6.5 bed was roughly 200# higher. I didn't look at the other tag to see GVWR, just the payload tag. One was black and the other platinum white.