Box swap, long or short?

[fairman86]

hey guys, i have a mazda 98 b2500, box is in great shape other than completly rusted out fenders. just found a 2000 ranger long box on a local site, will that box mount onto my frame with the same points, or will it be different because it says its a long box. im going to do a little research on the length difference becuase the picture of this one doesnt seem like its longer than my box. and i thought i had a short box..

 

[fairman86]

ok so havnt found anyhting yet about the length of longvs short BOX but it does say 2000 Regular Cabs are available in short-wheelbase (112 inches) and long-wheelbase (118 inches) thats talking aboutthe cab but mentioning the wheelbase, so the frame is longer? or is the rear axel mounted in a different spot

 

[fairman86]

ok so what i can find is some talk about the reg cabs having long box's and the ext cabs having short box's. makes sense, but there are arguments saying that both reg cab and ext cab can have either a shot or long box. what is it?

 

[fairman86]

so 6 ft. bed is short bed, 7ft. bed is long bed is that right? and if so will both mount on a mazda frame if the mazda has a short or a long or does it just have to be shot can swap a short ranger bed to it and long can swap a long ranger bed to it?

 

[ashleyroachclip]

Super cab only came in a short (6') bed,
Standard cab had either,
A long goes on a long and that is the end of it!

 

[fairman86]

thanks! but to make sure will a ranger bed bolt onto a mazda frame and still be flush with the cab?

 

[JoshT]

Yes

Some of the madza beds had a little different lines on the bed but the body lines on the cabs of both Rangers and Mazdas were the same. They also had the same bolt locations in the bed so, yes the bed should bolt right on and work perfectly.

The only exception is that some of the newer rangers and mazdas have more bolts in the bed than your 98. I can't remember the exact year it changed, but it was the same year for both. IIRC it was after 2005, so at least any bed up to that year from either one will work as long as it is the same length. If the bed has more bolt holes in the floor it won't work.

 

[fairman86]

+1 thanks you very much, im going to measure the length of the 2 beds and see if they are the same, if so i willll be well on my way to step one of the ranger conversion