Sigpros
Active Member
We need a new bed on my sons ranger. It’s a 97 short bed. Looks easy enough to get off my question is will any short bed fit? Like would an 04 fit? Only issue I can really see is would the tail lights plug in?
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97 needs a new bed
- Thread starter Sigpros
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2019
- Messages
- 4,004
- City
- Oklahoma
- Vehicle Year
- 1993
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
Hello Sig, I cannot give you specific answers, I believe the 97 is a 4th generation Ranger and will be best matched with one of those beds, others here will chime in shortly and you will learn all you ever wanted to know and more 
welcome to TRS btw.
welcome to TRS btw.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2001
- Messages
- 10,904
- City
- So. Calif (SFV)
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Engine
- 2.9 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- Tire Size
- 35x12.50R15
Beds are mostly the same 1993-2011, only difference is some beds have 8 bolts holding them down, others have 6. I'm not sure the year they added two bolts (2006?), but the original 6 bolts are in the same location and should fit.
As said, you'll need to swap the taillights & harness from your '97 bed if the new bed comes from a 2000-2011 truck (1993-1999 has 3-bulb taillights, 2000-2011 will have 2-bulb tails).
As said, you'll need to swap the taillights & harness from your '97 bed if the new bed comes from a 2000-2011 truck (1993-1999 has 3-bulb taillights, 2000-2011 will have 2-bulb tails).
ekrampitzjr
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2021
- Messages
- 956
- City
- Virginia
- Vehicle Year
- 2011
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
My 2011 has 10 bolts in the bed, 5 running down both sides.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2001
- Messages
- 10,904
- City
- So. Calif (SFV)
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Engine
- 2.9 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- Tire Size
- 35x12.50R15
Is yours a longbed by chance? (don't think I've seen a bed with 10 bolts yet)
2011Supercab
Well-Known Member
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- Dec 10, 2021
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- 771
- City
- Washington
- State - Country
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- Other
- 2023 Taco
- Drive
- 4WD
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2001
- Messages
- 10,904
- City
- So. Calif (SFV)
- Vehicle Year
- 1990
- Engine
- 2.9 V6
- Transmission
- Manual
- Tire Size
- 35x12.50R15
I guess Ford wanted to make sure the beds never fall off! lol
there were more safety regs in the last couple years, stability control, crash worthiness, ETC.
ekrampitzjr
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2021
- Messages
- 956
- City
- Virginia
- Vehicle Year
- 2011
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
No, standard 6' bed. Supposedly in 2010–2011 the 7' bed was still available on standard (not extended) cabs, but only to fleet/commercial buyers.
My 10 bolts are arranged just as you see in 2011Supercab's picture. My Ranger was built in August 2011, just a month or so before the switch to 2012 VINs for commercial/fleet buyers before Ranger production ended in December 2011.
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