Can someone check a measurement for me?

[Jim Oaks]

I was measuring the tailgate opening on the bed of my '96 (TRS-2). The width at the bottom is 51-1/8" but at the top I got 51". I'm not sure if this is right because the bedside has been beat on going up washouts. I'm not sure if the top is pushed in 1/8". If someone could check theirs towards the top above the taillights and near the bottom below the taillights I would appreciate it.

 

[Bird]

Just checked my neighbor's 97 and it's the same way - even my Splash is 1/8" narrower at the top than the bottom.

Bird

 

[Jim Oaks]

Cool. Thanks Bird.

 

[RCC]

Hey Jim,

TRS-2 IS a smooth side, right? At least it sure looks it
from your pic.
I have a 96 ext cab smooth side. The truck is real straight,
never wrecked. Never hauled anything oversize or heavy
bouncing around in the bed.
For what it's worth, and to totally confound ME, The top and
bottom lengths are exactly the same. 54 and 1/4. (??)

Just above tail lights, just below tail lights.
Measured it three times as I can not understand the big
difference from the numbers you got.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Sorry. I forgot to add the 3" for the tape measure.

I just measured it again and got 54" & 54".

 

[RCC]

Hey Jim,

Whew!
You had me going there for a bit.
Wondering if I had some mutant XLT "extra wide".

Now you are getting 54" even? No fractions?
I measured mine again starting at the lip of the tail
gate all the way down to the bed. Never varied.
Stayed 54.25". Shut the gate and the seams are straight
and even the entire way.
Wonder why an extra quarter inch? Maybe it's one of those
infamous "Monday" production line vehicles...

 

[rickcdewitt]

if you work at a body shop long enough you find out even the high end cars have discrepancies,just less than the big three.

 

[krugford]

Not to get off topic, but have you ever torn apart an early bronco? I think they changed depending on what they were serving for lunch that day.....

 

[Dave R]

Now you are getting 54" even? No fractions?
I measured mine again starting at the lip of the tail
gate all the way down to the bed. Never varied.
Stayed 54.25".

Unless your using the same tape measure by physically mailing the thing to each other, I wouldn't be surprised to find differences in measurements of +/- 1/8" for a body measurement.

 

[RCC]

Hey Dave R,

I was only asking about a fraction of an inch because
Jim HAD a + quarter inch reading first time. Second time
his reading was even.

Now that you got me wondering about this, you would think
auto manufacturers could do better. We are talking about
an industry that has gone almost completely robotic.
They have "workers" that never get tired, don't need breaks,
don't eat lunch, don't care who got promoted over who,
don't care about pay day, and have the capability to
"eyeball" components down to .0001 inch.
(at least automated boring machines can)

Eh, no matter. Just think of it this way;
while some might drive Rangers the same style, year, options,
and even the same color, each one of us has his own unique truck
as no two are the same.

 

[HAPPY_RANGER_GUY]

Hey Jim,

...96 ext cab smooth side. The truck is real straight,
never wrecked. Never hauled anything oversize or heavy
bouncing around in the bed. For what it's worth, and to totally confound ME, The top and bottom lengths are exactly the same. 54 and 1/4.

My 95 ext cab same way...54.25" both spots.

T.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Auto companies build cars to make money, not to build the perfect vehicle. It would surprise me to find two identical measurements on any two vehicles.