OK, I have a question for Durango:
(more of asking the same question you did in your original post)
Why can't you enjoy your current rig?
It seems pretty awesome to me! :beer:
What are the cons that are making you look at a regular cab?
I'm asking this for two reasons.
1). I've had quite a few standard cab trucks, and always felt the need for at least an extended cab. So I'm very interested in your input as I am looking at moving back to the truck side of life... again.
2). It might help you nail down "nirvana" in your next rig, if you can get to the root cause.
Good question, Scott, and one Sioux asks me at least twice a day!
And one I asked myself as I drove up to the house after an afternoon of (frigid) tubing!
Actually I'm fine with the truck and I've (painfully) converted the interior of the Hawk into a thing of beauty. I've mentioned to Denny Saunders several times only I would drop 30K plus on a loaded camper and then proceed to literally dismantle it inside and rebuild almost everything! Not smart!
However (and only since you asked) here are what I hope to achieve with a new 143" WB chassis cab/ new aluminum flatbed and 8' flatbed camper. (I actually wrote these priorities down some time back when analyzing what to do.)
1) More and better under bed storage. An 8" bed (including the "shovel tray" between the rails) will give me approx. 3 times the cubic feet of storage vs. what I have now.
2) Greater water storage. (An auxiliary tank possibly built under the bed behind the cab.)
3) With the lower bed height I believe the camper will fit in to my garage with the 8' high door.
4) Roof mounted solar. (Which certainly I could add to my Hawk.)
5) A cab pass through for limited and emergency use.
6) Reposition the batteries in one of the forward under bed boxes for more interior camper space. (I never take my campers off so why not wire down to the box.)
7) Configure the interior for an easier set up of interior shower and/or a 'dedicated bath/shower space.
8) Better insulated for winter use.
9) Substantially more interior space with the Grandby including a double bed in the dinette we can easily use when stealth camping. (Which we almost never do!)
10) The 3500 vs. my 2500 will give me a 1000 pounds more payload and yes, I need it.
Now that I review the list, Scott, it does seem a bit pathetic versus the large amount of angst and labor of building out any new truck/flatbed/camper shell. Think of all the camping I could do instead!
NOTE: Why a regular cab? A) We almost never have anyone else with us and if our daughter does go on a short trip it IS an (uncomfortable) 3 seater, B) the extra under flatbed storage will more than compensate for the space I have now in the back of my crew cab, C) the regular cab/camper will fit better in my garage, D) there is quite a bit of storage for "daily incidentals" behind the seats of the regular cab and E) I'm leaning toward the Ram and sadly it doesn't come in an extended cab.
Sorry to go on and on, Scott, but you DID ask! And it has been a valuable exercise!
Sioux says thanks for the contrarian view!
Steve
Hmmm... Why AM I thinking of changing???