Virtually all of the guys with 8' beds stick a tool box in the bed effectively limiting the bed to 6' anyway. I don't need any extra storage with my 5.5' bed truck with a crew cab so I get the full 5.5' With the tailgate down I'm 2' shy of 8'. I don't have any trouble hauling plywood or lumber up to 12'. If I need to haul anything bigger I have a trailer I can put more volume and weight in the trailer than I could get in the bed of an 8' 3/4 ton truck. It's easier to load and even my little Tacoma can easily pull it.
Not knocking bigger trucks, my next one may be a 3/4 ton. But for now I need the full size rear seat and don't want the longer wheelbase of a crew cab and a longer bed. And I've not had to leave anything behind so far due to the smaller bed.
