long bed to short bed???

[jeffminsc]

Hey guys, I am thinking about changing my 86 ranger to a short bed. I have a short bed 88 but it is 2 wd and the 86 is 4x4 so i can't just change the frame. has anyone done this? i looked in some of the forums but couldn't find anything. If you done it pictures would be great thanks Jeff

 

[srteach]

I don't think the frame for the two trucks is the same length. Check the bed length from the front wall (near the cab) to the center of the wheel well or the front arch of the wheel well. If they are the same length (I don't think so), you can just swap the beds.

If they are not the same length, serious bed mods would be required, and you would just get the short bed length anyway.

 

[wesleypipesyo]

Yupers, I am that guy:

I am looking to throw a shot bed on my truck. What kind of frame modification are we talking? Moving bolt holes and tapping them? Or Cutting 1' off of the end of the frame? Either one is not too bad. I imagine the frame would be longer for the long bed, requiring some frame trimming.

The other issue is a wheel base issue. If I center the truck bed wheel well over the tire, will there be a gap between the cab and the bed. Or if I put the bed up against the cab will I need to comp cut the bed?

 

[JoshT]

Well at least you know how to make fun of your self!

Considering that the wheel base is different it is no bolt on swap and will take much more than just relocating bolt holes. The frame will have to be shortened between the front and rear wheels. The part of the frame behind the rear wheels will likely have to be shortened as well. This shortening the frame will also require shortening the drive shaft, brake lines, exhaust system, and parking brake cables. Then there's the issue of the fuel tank. There were a few different tanks used between the various configurations IIRC, you may have to change tanks so that it will still fit under the truck. IMO it'd be much less work to buy a short bed truck and swap over your cab, engine, and transmission.

 

[wesleypipesyo]

Hmmm, That is good to know. I will be yanking the bed off in couple weeks to swap out the sending unit in the tank and to paint some of the frame. I may just cut some of the bed out behind the wheel well to make it shorter. The bed will be going to the junk yard eventually anyways. Thanks

 

[wesleypipesyo]

And yea, if you bring back an old thread, you have to expect all the sky to rain down on you. I can poke fun at me.