Agreed that the hood is very high on the latest GMs. The Fords do not seem to follow this trend.

Rob

Does anyone have any thoughts about a 6-3/4' versus a 8' bed. Is the additional length really needed?

With a 5th wheel/gooseneck it is very helpful to have the extra length so the front of the trailer doesn't come in contact with the truck.

GM made changes to the puck system position in the 6 3/4 bed in order to address the 5th wheel turn angles. I run a Curt 16k hitch using the puck system and it has plenty of clearance. There is no need for a slider hitch with the 6 3/4 bed.

GM changed a lot in the puck system. Between the first and current the 4 corner pucks have changed in spread pattern. Also GM moved the pucks back a touch for loading (according to an article I read a while back). You are limited to where the king pin lands by the MFG of the hitch. They control where it ends up.

Always interesting to follow conversations on towing capacities and such - and the one constant from those that have been doing it for a while is "don't expect the published Grand Design (or any brand) to match what the actual will be".
Bought my first RV last year prior to the pandemic as part of a long term goal to downsize, be a full-time rv'er, and travel. It's a 3740BH that I tow behind a '19 Chevy 3500 Duramax SRW short bed and needless to say, the adventure has been a little more than originally expected.
After following some of the conversations when I first joined have been across a number of scales in a number of conditions and have a nice little database on how much each axle is carrying and even that the drivers side on the trailer runs almost 900# heavier than the passenger side. 3 slides - bunkhouse, kitchen, and master all on the drivers side plus the generator is on that side so I keep the tools I carry on the passenger side and move some of the dishes, etc. that can be easily moved when towing.
Tires are the other part that go along with monitoring weight and you'll find some very useful information on this site about brands, pressure, etc. from people who've "been there, done that". I still have the "ChinaBombs" that came with my trailer but they're the higher weight rated version which has minimal issues compared to the next lower weight rating. Did add a TireMinder i10 TPMS and highly recommend it.

When considering a 3/4 vs 1 ton, think about how often you'll be towing and whether you're going to be in a lot of mountain/hill type of driving or typical roadway type of driving.
Short bed vs long bed is a preference item - I pull with a short bed and have the Pullrite Slider for peace of mind and am glad I have it.
Do you have to go 65+ or are you willing to move at a little slower pace? Being overloaded at 55 mph vs being overloaded at 70 mph is a world of difference!
Are you willing to spend a bit of time going back & forth to the scales to figure out the sweet spot for balancing the weight?
Paying attention to these factors along with monitoring your tire pressures & temps, regularly doing inspection of & maintenance on the wheel bearings and brakes - it all makes for a relaxing rather than exciting trip.
Also, if you search topics you'll find more articles on weight, hitches, tires, and just about every combination of tow vehicle & trailer from people who've been doing this for years that are quite helpful!
Chris

Good thoughts Chris for Mark. We went through all the analyses before opting for a 3500;over 2500. There is very little noticeable difference without RV. The truck weighed slightly more than GM,s spec sheet. The pin weight of our Solitude was over the published spec. We have weighed the truck separate as well as RV with a Weekend load and a summer travel load. We travel long distance during summer and the extra capacity leaves a good feeling.

I would not say it is needed, but as someone who went from short bed to long bed, I can say its nice to have the clearance, and subjectively I think it handles and tows better. That is balanced by it being longer to park and back the rig into sites, so everything is choices and compromise. In my case my truck is used to tow 95% of the time so it is worth it.