Looking at the pbs crankin stick they have. 7’6”mh and a 7’10”mh both are rated the same for bait size (3/8-1 1/2oz). Is there any benefit to to 7’6” over the 7’10”? I’m looking for a rod to cover from like a kvd1.5 up to a 5xd maybe 6xd. I believe the weights of those baits both fall within the rating for the rods.

Could get a little more distance on the longer rod but my most comfortable length to deal with and transport is 7"6".  Fits well in my truck.  I have an 8' and to be honest it's a great rod just a pain to deal with.  

How far do you cast a crankbait? If you don't have a need for a long crankbait rod why consider it? Kneeling & reeling, putting the underwater to achieve deeper diving, the technique perfected by Paul Elias may be a consideration.

For what it's worth my crankbait rods are 7' 0" long and cast 40 to 50 yards normally.

Take a close look at the rods butt length, the reel seat back, often longer rod have longer butt length, the rod from the reel seat forward is often nearly the same.

Tom

Go with 7'6" that will get the job done. Anf when you feel like you need another cranking rod you can move up

My longest is 7'6 anything longer than that is going to wear me out after about a dozen casts.

Squarebills, 5/6xd, and 8/10xd are 3 different rods for me.

I have a pair of 7' med-mod rods (6:1 & 7:1 reels) for squarebills and smaller cranks. 

I step up to a 7'6 mh (6:1)thats more mod fast for 5/6xd and similar sized cranks

For the big boys like 8/10xd (5:1)or small swimbaits i have a 7'10 mh mod fast rod.

The extra length on the 2 deeper rods helps get the baits a lil further out for more time at depth, but i lose some accuracy. For squarebills and smaller cranks i prefer a 7' rod. Its long enough to help take up any slack when a fish run to me, but still short enough i can cast very accurately. 

I do have a 6’6” that I can throw the squarebills on