Not that short of a bed! 🛌
Everybody keeps telling me the 6′ 8″ bed on my SuperDuty is super-short. Maybe by SuperDuty standards where 8′ 2″ long beds are popular but it’s no 5′ 6″ bed found on some half tons and the 5′ bed on short bed Toyota Tacoma.
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Here is a comparison of the short bed (6.75′) for the shortbed Ford F-350 and the standard bed (6.5′) for the 2011 Chevy Silverado standard bed:
| Specification | 2011 Chevy Silverado (Ext. Cab / 6.5′ Bed) | 2017–2026 Ford F-350 (SuperCab / 6.75′ Bed) |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 144.2 inches | 148.0 inches |
| Overall Length | 230.6 inches | 231.8 inches |
| Bed Length | ~78.8 inches | ~81.9 inches |
- Size Gap: With the 148-inch wheelbase, the Ford is about 1.2 inches longer overall compared to the 2011 Chevy.
- Bed Space: Even with a similar footprint, the Ford F-350’s “short” bed is actually about 3 inches longer than the Chevy’s standard box.
More Bed and Clearance Dimensions
| Measurement | 2011 Chevy Silverado (Ext. Cab / 6.5′ Bed) | 2017–2026 Ford F-350 (SuperCab / 6.75′ Bed) |
|---|---|---|
| Bed Length (at floor) | 78.9 inches | 81.9 inches |
| Bed Width (at floor) | 62.4 inches | 66.9 inches |
| Width (between wheels) | 50.6 inches | 50.5 inches |
| Bed Depth (rail to floor) | 21.0 inches | 21.1 inches |
MX Cap Vertical Dimensions
The A.R.E. MX Series is a “mid-rise” cap, meaning it features a sloped roof that starts at cab height and rises toward the rear. On both trucks, this design provides roughly 4 to 6 inches of additional height above the truck’s roof line. The total interior height (from bed floor to the cap’s ceiling) is significantly greater on the modern Ford F-350 because its cab and bed rails sit much higher off the floor than the 2011 Silverado.
| Measurement | 2011 Chevy Silverado (6.5′ Bed) | 2017–2026 Ford F-350 (6.75′ Bed) |
|---|---|---|
| Bed Depth (Rail to Floor) | 21.0 inches | 21.1 inches |
| Cap Height (Rail to Cap Top) | ~28.5 inches | ~28.5 inches |
| Total Interior Height (Floor to Cap) | ~49.5 inches | ~49.6 inches |
| Rise Above Truck Cab Roof | +4 to 6 inches | +4 to 6 inches |
- Headroom vs. Cab Height: While the interior “box” height is nearly identical (~49.5 inches), the Ford F-350 feels much taller because the entire truck sits higher. An F-350 with an MX cap will typically exceed 7.5 feet (90+ inches) in total exterior height, which may prevent it from entering standard 7-foot (84-inch) residential garage doors.
- Cargo Access: The MX Series on the Ford provides a larger rear door opening compared to the Chevy. Because the Ford’s cab is taller, the cap must be built taller to maintain that 4–6 inch rise, giving you a more “walk-in” feel when reaching for gear.
- Aerodynamics: On both trucks, the sloped front of the MX Series is designed to reduce the “sail effect” common with high-rise toppers, though some users report a slight decrease in MPG at highway speeds.
For a 4×4 configuration, the Ford F-350 has a higher roof line relative to the bed floor than the 2011 Chevy Silverado. While the bed depth (floor-to-rail) is nearly identical for both trucks, the Ford’s cab sits taller above the bed rails.
Bed Floor to Roof Line Comparison
The following table shows the vertical distance from the bed floor to the peak of the truck’s roof.
| Measurement | 2011 Chevy Silverado (Extended Cab) | 2017–2026 Ford F-350 (SuperCab) |
|---|---|---|
| Bed Depth (Floor to Rail) | 21.0 inches | 21.1 inches |
| Rail to Roof Peak | ~21.5 inches | ~23.0 inches |
| Total (Floor to Roof Line) | ~42.5 inches | ~44.1 inches |
- Total Interior Space: The Ford F-350 offers approximately 1.6 inches more vertical space from the bed floor to the top of the cab. This is often noticeable when hauling taller items that need to stay below the roof line for aerodynamic reasons.
- A.R.E. MX Cap Impact: Because the A.R.E. MX Series adds about 4–6 inches of height above the cab, the total interior height from the bed floor to the peak of the cap will be roughly 48.5″ on the Chevy and 50.1″ on the Ford.
- Garage Clearance: While the Ford has more room inside the bed, its total height from the ground to the roof is also much higher—often over 81 inches. Adding an MX Cap to an F-350 typically brings the total height to roughly 86–87 inches, which may exceed a standard 7-foot (84-inch) garage door.
