stepside box conversion?

[Trooperfan]

Someone with a silver truck hit my truck while i was shopping for truck stuff in a store and left me with many scratches (fairly deep), a broken mirror and scratched chrome bumper. Most of the bad body scratches are on the box and so i was thinking of switching to a stepside as i think they are sexier. Is it possible to just take the outer panels from a stepside or do i need to switch the whole box? Thanks for any information as always!

 

[Rose2300]

the box is smaller on the stepside (obviously) so just swap in the whole stepside bed. you'll have to get the fuel filler neck for the stepside as well.

 

[Grey_04]

Rear bumper is different width so make sure you grab that also..

 

[exbass94]

Tailgate is also different.

 

[Grey_04]

Tailgate is also different.

if you can find one with a decent tailgate that would be a blessing

 

[pillen140]

I think the base of the bed is the same size, just the extra wheelwell room. But it would be retarded and difficult to change just the sides all the way around.

 

[Rose2300]

i'm pretty sure the base is not as wide in order to accomodate the wider bedsides

 

[Grey_04]

The bed floor's are the same width, the main difference is that were the bed sides starts the wheel wells are outside the bedside vs having internal wheel wells on the fleetside bed.

 

[Rose2300]

no, the bed is smaller trust me

 

[Grey_04]

if you measure the distance between the wheel wells it's the same distance on both beds. both beds are useless for hauling plywood flat on the floor imho.

 

[Rose2300]

but if you measure from end to end in front or behind the wheel well its shorter

 

[kid_crash]

To answer you question You will need to do a complete box swap, filler neck, bumper and tailgate.
My Dad and I both have rangers, mine is a stepside, his is a fleetside, we work together as carpenters. His bed is wider than mine. The distance between the wheel wells is the same but the width at any other point is wider. I need more room in my bed so I'm swapping my bed out to a fleetside.
I just bought a whole truck for parts to do my swap ($700 for a 99 4dr, 4X4, bad frame)
I agree the stepsides look nice, but if you haul a lot of stuff, or work out of your ranger, DON'T DO IT, you will notice the smaller bed.
Also, if you need a new tailgate or bumper for the stepside (I needed both, another reason for my wanting to swap) you'll find they cost more than the regular sized ones, I'm sure it's due to the fact that the fleetside beds are more common.