I've had the short box on the last 3 trucks...for about 10 years now.
Yep, I'm usually hauling tools. Every week or two I haul the equipment from job to job, 24ft poles and staging planks, various ladders etc.
Scratch
Yea the first scratch is painfull. I went a year and half with out a scratch or dent on my last truck.
You're right, it's hard to get top dollar if you bid a job and you are driving and old clunker.