I have the 6.5' and personally I think the 5.5' looks unproportional. It would be nice to be able to fit in the garage and park easier though.

 

I have an 06 Scab and from what I can see compared to Screw is the door size. Both the Scab and the Screw look like they have the same size seats. There might be a little more leg room. As far as space for a car seat, they should be the same. With a small child though, the doors on the Screw may be a better deal.

 

I have the scab and 6.5 bed, the room in the back seat is not as much as an issue as the scab door is, as others have mentioned in a parking lot it can be a real pain getting someone in the back seat. I love my truck, but if I had to do it over I'd have got the supercrew.

Good luck over there and come back safe, I appreciate the sacrifice you are making.

 

Ditto on the THANKS to all of you over there putitng it on the line.....stay low and come home soon!

The choice is really up to you and how you will be using your truck. I have an '05 Lariat 4x4 SCREW 5.5' bed and really like it. Before buying the SCREW I parked two identical 4x4 Lariats side by side - a SCAB and a SCREW and I liked the profile and extra 6" of rear cab space better on the SCREW.....and the shorter wheelbase is a godsend when parking, backing, etc. Another thing about the SCAB that I didn't really like was the lack of a "B" Pillar for rigidity.....I could feel the flex in door joint by pressing on the doors. All said and done, I use the interior space (hauling clients, family, etc.) much more than the bed - but when I haul my dirtbike or on Home depot runs - it has plenty of room and I can always lower the tailgate and use the bed extender.....now if on the other hand you are going to be using that bed for hauling 4'x8' building materials, etc - then the SCAB wins hands down!

 

I've got the SCab with 6.5 ft bed. Two kids under two. I have no challenges with room in the back seat; however, the challenge that was mentioned before is more with the doors rather than the seat. It has been frustrating a few times in tight parking lots, etc getting the kids out of their car seats having to 'step' in front of the door to open it, then squeeze past with the 'suicide' door. So, my complaint would be with the doors more than the seats. Bed length..My Harley fits better in the 6.5 although it doesn't fit with the tailgate closed.

 

I too think Supercabs look odd with the 5.5' bed. I've got an '04 with the 6.5' bed, and after helping a friend move the past couple weekends, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

you can get all 3 bed sizes with the supercab. i think the 5.5 bed in a supercab is the most useless package and shouldn't even have been offered. if you don't need a 6.5 bed get the supercrew.

 

And I absolutely LOVE my SCAB with a 5.5 box.

I'm a single guy, no kids. I don't haul a lot of stuff, but I do travel. I wanted a bit of dry and lockable space to put luggage, but I also wanted space to haul "dirty stuff". Further, I wanted a "real" truck, but not a "big" truck... and my truck fits all my requirements perfectly. Far from "the most useless package".

 

Sometimes people just don't get it. Not everyone has the same needs. Selling around a million units a year, they can afford to reach out to non-typical users. What may seem stupid to you might be just what someone else needs.

As someone mentioned before, a great reason to go with the Supercab 5.5' bed is that the shorter wheelbase makes the truck easier to park and drive, especially while towing and having to negotiate tight spots and corners in town. It would also handle off road situations a little better.

The shorter bed doesn't matter to me and I probably use my truck as hard for work as anyone. I don't haul plywood, but I do need a bed to carry stuff in. I've had trucks with wheelbases from 119 to 144 inches, and I can tell you that it makes it a lot easier to back in and out with the shorter wheelbase, doubly so with a trailer behind you. And if your garage size is limited, you might appreciate parking your truck inside instead of out in the driveway.

Finally, I saw a 5.5' bed supercab on ebay (they're very rare I bet) and actually preferred its proportions to the longer bed supercab models. It's all in the eye of the beholder.

 

I like the supercab with the 5.5' foot bed better than the 6.5' bed too. I think it's a neat little configuration for a full size truck. Much easier to garage and pilot around town. If I didn't get my supercrew that would have been my next choice.

 

Get at minimum the 6.5' bed, go for the 8'

The 5.5' bed is for wimps, soccer moms and scabs

 

Please...

 

Me too!
Plus the 133 inch well base is WAY more nibble than the 6.5.

Here is mine...

 

That kinda talk is bold and a tad bit on the assholic side. There are some pretty opinionated folks on these boards. With 129 posts, wow, you'd think you'd have learned that by now.

To the topic, the 5.5' bed is quite useful. It can haul pretty much everything I need, and since I have to park in a garage for work, it is very nice to be shorter for turning and parking. And if I'm not mistaken, for the 2004 MY, Ford only made 1% of the trucks as the Scab 5.5' bed combo. It's kind of nice having a less-than-typical model.

 

I tow a fifth wheel so the 5.5' wasn't an option for me. I waited and waited for the supercrew 6.5' to replace my 98 Scab and when they finally came out I went to the dealer and started looking. I was so impressed with the interior space of the Scab that I just couldn't justify the difference in price for a Screw, much more roomy than the 98 and I rarely have back seat pasengers anyway. Love my new truck!