Outdoor gear
Picture what needs to stay together and what needs to be separated. Think about how you’ll reach a tackle box or a cooler without unloading everything in front of it.
Will Your Fishing Gear, Hunting Equipment and Weekend Projects Fit?
Brown’s Guttenberg Ford • Used Truck Research
Will Your Fishing Gear, Hunting Equipment and Weekend Projects Fit?
Choose the bed around the things you carry—not the biggest number on the listing.
The truck that hauls fishing gear on Friday might pick up mulch on Saturday and take everyone out to eat on Sunday. A used F-150 needs to fit that whole routine, not just the one load you pictured when you started shopping.
Before choosing a bed length, think about what you carry often, what you carry occasionally and what would be easier to deliver or haul another way. Then compare the actual space left after any toolbox, cover or other accessory is accounted for.
Start With Your Three Most Common Loads
Write down the items you move repeatedly. Coolers and tackle boxes? Hunting equipment? Yard tools, bags of soil and a mower? Long materials for home improvement projects?
For each, ask whether the problem is length, width, height or access. A load that fits on paper may still be awkward if you can’t reach what you need or close the cover. Photos and measurements of your usual equipment can help us compare trucks without turning the test drive into a moving day.
Home and yard projects
Measure the bulky items you move regularly. Also consider how often you need that space: weekly landscaping work and one annual project may justify different choices.
People coming along
Don’t choose the bed and leave passenger space for later. Decide how many people usually ride with you and which cab arrangements you’re willing to consider.
Cab and Bed Choices Go Together
You can’t assume every cab comes with every box. As one useful example, the 2024 F-150 XL configuration chart pairs Regular Cab with 6.5- or 8-foot boxes, SuperCab with a 6.5-foot box, and SuperCrew with 5.5- or 6.5-foot boxes. Trim, drivetrain and model year narrow the combinations further.
That’s a reason to check the listing and original equipment information—not a reason to memorize every combination. Tell us the passenger arrangement and cargo space you need, and we can help identify trucks that offer both.
Look at the Bed With Its Accessories Installed
A toolbox can keep the things you reach for close at hand, while a cover or rack may suit the way you use the truck. Look at how those accessories work with your usual loads and how much usable bed space they leave.
For a cover, check its opening, folded position and usable clearance. For a toolbox, ask for the space between it and the closed tailgate. If a previous owner added equipment, check its fit and condition separately from the truck’s factory option list.
Think About Loading, Not Just Fitting
A bed that holds your gear is useful. A bed you can load, reach into and organize comfortably is more useful.
For a 2024 XLT, the optional Bed Utility Package includes a tailgate step, tailgate work surface, pickup-box tie-down plates and LED box lighting. If those features matter, verify that the particular truck has them and try the controls when you visit.
Space and Weight Need Separate Answers
A load fitting inside the bed doesn’t establish that the truck can carry its weight. Ask for the truck’s carrying-capacity label and compare your intended load with the applicable limits. Follow its loading and cargo-securement instructions.
If the heavier part of the weekend travels behind the truck, our boat and side-by-side towing guide explains the information to gather. For rough-road equipment questions, see 4x4 versus FX4.
Friday Afternoon, and You’re Headed for the Campground
The workweek is behind you, the camper is hitched, and the kids are already asking whether there will be s’mores. Once you get there, you’d rather settle into a chair than unpack half the truck to find it. A little thought about what rides where can make the start of the weekend feel more like a getaway and less like another project.
Maybe you like keeping what you’ll need first within easy reach, or leaving room for bikes while the camper holds the overnight bags. Picture your own arrival at the campsite, then compare the bed with its cover, toolbox or other accessories in place. The gear traveling in the truck still needs to fit its carrying-capacity limits, even when there’s room to spare.
Still dreaming about which camper would make those weekends yours? Explore Brown’s RV and marine website alongside your truck search. Thinking about both together helps you plan the space you’ll use; our towing guide walks through the separate weight and equipment checks.
Check the Everyday Fit Too
Visualize the truck in your garage, driveway and usual parking spots. Give the frequent trips some weight in the decision instead of letting a rare oversized load choose the entire vehicle.
Send our Internet Manager the listings you’re comparing and measurements of the items causing the most questions. We can help check the bed configuration, ask about installed accessories and gather useful photos before you drive to Brown’s Guttenberg Ford.
Questions Worth Asking
Is a longer F-150 bed always the better choice?
Not necessarily. Consider your frequent loads, passenger needs, parking and installed accessories. A longer bed should solve a problem you actually have.
Can I choose any cab with any bed length?
No. The combinations depend on year, trim and configuration. For example, the 2024 XL chart lists SuperCab with a 6.5-foot box, while SuperCrew has 5.5- and 6.5-foot box configurations.
How do I check whether my gear will fit?
Measure its length, width and height, then compare usable space with accessories installed and the tailgate in the position you intend to use. We can help gather measurements and photos.
Does a bed cover guarantee the contents stay dry?
Don’t assume that from a photo. Ask about the particular cover’s design, condition and manufacturer’s guidance, especially if moisture-sensitive items will travel underneath it.
Does fitting a load mean I can safely carry it?
No. Weight limits and securement need checking separately. Use the truck’s labels and owner’s manual for the intended load.