bobbing long bed with dual tanks

[Lift]

So i got this 83 ranger regular cab with a longbed. got the good ol v8 swap done nicely. Im in the process of redoing all the interior and the exterior is on its way.

So its 2wd so im not going to lift it and do some fun mud diggin in it. I decided in the future im going to bag it when i got the funds.
Personally i dont like the longbed at all its just ugly especially on a 1st gen. and with the body to the ground i dont think it would look right at all... So i wanna do what you 4 wheelers do when you hit a tree around a corner.. bob the damn bed ;D.

Only problem is i have those darn dual fuel tanks. It would be nice to have one tank there one back you know with the fuel mileage i will be getting with a v8. but one of the tanks needs to go anyway so i can do my true duals straight out the back. The one i plan on removing is the one closest to the cab.
So if i bobbed the bed wouldnt the rear tank be in the way? Im starting to think i might as well find a fuel cell and throw it in the rear up against the cab side of the bed and remove both of those tanks.

btw i plan on repainting it royal blue

 

[crawlin91]

Pull both of the tanks, fit a B2 tank in between the frame rails and bob the bed.

 

[JoshT]

Pull both of the tanks, fit a B2 tank in between the frame rails and bob the bed.

Do that how are you going to bob the bed. A BII tank goes clear back to the rear cross member. You might be able to shorten the bed 3" max, doubt even that much.

If you are really wanting to bob the bed I'm afraid that the saddle tank (your forward tank), or a fuel cell are your best choices.

 

[Lift]

Do that how are you going to bob the bed. A BII tank goes clear back to the rear cross member. You might be able to shorten the bed 3" max, doubt even that much.

If you are really wanting to bob the bed I'm afraid that the saddle tank (your forward tank), or a fuel cell are your best choices.

what only 3"??? but what if i removed both tanks and put a 16gallon fuel sell in the bed? whats a b2 tank?

 

[BLOODBANE]

Find a tank from a short bed gen 1, grab the bed while your at it, bob your frame rails and your done....

 

[JoshT]

what only 3"??? but what if i removed both tanks and put a 16gallon fuel sell in the bed? whats a b2 tank?

Bronco II fuel tank, on a Ranger it sits between the frame rails behind the axle. Fits in the area the spare tire or your current aux tank goes, but it a fair bit larger at 23 gallons. Basically it takes all the space between the frame rails from the rear cross member to the next one forward. I was saying that with this tank you wouldn't be able to bob the bed much if any. With a fuel cell you could cut it off right behind the rear spring hangar if you wanted. If you wanted to go link rear suspension and coilovers you could chop it off where ever you wanted.

EDIT: Just re-read your first post. Sounds like you want to bag it and would be happier with a short bed. Pick up the short bed as Bloodbane suggested. When you bag it you will probably 4-link. If you do just relocate the rear axle to center in the bed, add a cross member and cut off the frame rails where you need to. On the tank, there have been a number of good suggestions, you just gotta decide which you like.

 

[Lift]

ok the shortbed idea probably makes the most sense. at this point im just going to put a fuel sell in the bed. The only problem is i just payed $220 for a custom driveshaft to fit my t5 tranny behind the 302. Im pretty sure the axle is farther back on the frame on a longbed then a short bed. Im definently not going to move the axle and get another driveshaft made. So would bobbing the bed be best?

 

[JoshT]

So far I've suggested based on your want for a shorter truck. IMHO I'd just keep the long bed. I've seen some pretty sweet lowered and bagged long beds. I was really on the hunt for one when I found my 86 short bed.

Here's one example: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54063

There's a bunch more over on RPS if you care to look.

And yes the axle is further back, but if you are planning to bob the bed and bag the truck you are looking at a lot more time and work than just cutting and shortening a drive shaft.

Like I said that is my opinion I'm not going to argue with you about it. Your truck, your time, your money = your decision.

 

[Lift]

i decided to keep it a longbed. i been looking at some lowered/ bagged longbed rangers and they look really nice. i flipped the axle already and just needa cut the springs and get new shocks.

 

[JoshT]

Now that we have that all settled out, please ask us anything you need to about the lowering. I'd recommend posting those questions in the lowered forums to get the right people's attention. I hate to recommend you over there again, but RPS has a lot larger lowered crowd that here. If you have any questions you can't find an answer to here try there, we ain't going to run you off just for that. They better not try as there are a lot of members that frequent both. IMO TRS is better for drive trains and lifting, while RPS is better for lowering and aesthetics.