I discovered something.... interesting about Ranger frames....

AllanD · Apr 15, 2010

Looking at a 1998-up supercab frame while doing detail planning for
my next project I made an interesting discovery....

1998-up Ranger frames are "modular"

That is to say the side rails are NOT "one continuous piece of steel" from bumper to bumper like they are on 1983-97 frames.

IF you remove two rivets from the top flange and the forward leaf spring mounts (on both sides) and a couple of rivets underneath the rear half of the frame will simply slide off!

This makes me wonder if making a supercab with a long (7') bed on a late frame is as easy as swapping the rear half of the frame and extending the various "lines" (Driveshaft, fuel and brake lines, electrical harness and exhaust center pipe)

I'm having evil thoughts again....

BlackBII · Apr 15, 2010

Extended cab long bed???

Do it. :icon_thumby:

Boghog1 · Apr 15, 2010

that would be sweet

MountainMike · Apr 15, 2010

Aside from having to maybe add some different bed mounts for the front (or would you?) That would be an awesome rig.

Do it

Ranger44 · Apr 15, 2010

I second the evil thoughts!

86 slo-vo · Apr 15, 2010

always wanted to do that

Ak_Ranger · Apr 15, 2010

Man I wish I could do this to my 94 lol, would love to have a long bed on it

mwood1985 · Apr 15, 2010

Allan how do you find this stuff out?! are you going over each generation with a magnifying glass... maybe we should photoshop a longbed on an extended cab

That Baker Guy · Apr 15, 2010

i dont know man, it would be a novelty in and of itself but i dont know how great it would look, it would be really loong, and really low. unless ofcourse you lifted it. but it would have to be lifted to make up for the longness.

MountainMike · Apr 15, 2010

Original Images For Comparison
http://l.yimg.com/dv/izp/ford_truck...l_styleside_2_door_2009_exterior_sideview.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/dv/izp/ford_truck...._wb_xlt_styleside_2009_exterior_sideview.jpg

Not my best work, but I still say do it

I think the trucks dimensions look fine like that.

AllanD said:
This makes me wonder if making a supercab with a long (7') bed on a late frame is as easy as swapping the rear half of the frame and extending the various "lines" (Driveshaft, fuel and brake lines, electrical harness and exhaust center pipe)

I would imagine you are going to need: A custom driveshaft, longer fuel/brake lines, extended wiring harness for the tailights and fuel pump, a longer e-brake cable, longer exhaust main pipe, and I'm not sure but possibly some body/bed mount mods and gas tank/filler location mods. Over all it would not be too bad and definitely would be worth it too try.

AllanD · Apr 15, 2010

The "splice" in the frame is "inside" the front leaf spring mount, so the BED mount
(integral with the frame on Gen4 trucks, NOT a seperate "Bracket") doesn't move.

Relative t the cab the front bed mount is the same on all rangers, but swappiing on a later back half would sidestep ALL the problems with joining a frame.

"Lift"? Oh, yeah it's dbe 4x4, but offroad?
Naa that'd be silly a 131" Wheelbase? No, just no....

But as a PrarieCruiser...

CORRECTION:
And actually the wiring harness to the fuel pump and the fuel lines won't move an inch
because the fuel tank won't move relative to the cab.

the brake line and taillight harness will need to be extended.

AD

LearjetMinako · Apr 15, 2010

It would be an unique ride, but the turn radius would suck. Every tried turning around in a crew cab long bed truck?

nate09 · Apr 15, 2010

i kind of like this idea. i think a small lift would be nice, some larger tires, more to set the stance than gain any off road ability.

MountainMike · Apr 15, 2010

AllanD said:
The "splice" in the frame is "inside" the front leaf spring mount, so the BED mount
(integral with the frame on Gen4 trucks, NOT a separate "Bracket") doesn't move.

Relative to the cab the front bed mount is the same on all rangers, but swapping on a later back half would sidestep ALL the problems with joining a frame.

"Lift"? Oh, yeah it's be 4x4, but offroad?
Naa that'd be silly a 131" Wheelbase? No, just no....

But as a PrarieCruiser...

AD

Nice, that explains where the splice is a little better for me. The one I photoshopped is just a 2WD so I definitely think a 4x4 would look better. Could be a col project, with out a doubt.

heptofite · Apr 15, 2010

I would hoon the hell out of it.

just because
:3

I discovered something.... interesting about Ranger frames....

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