The difference between the 6' and 7' box

[Hawker Driver]

Does anyone know where Ford added the additional foot of bed length in the 7' box. I need a floor for a 6'box. I found a 7' floor and if I can cut the front off and make it work, consider it done!

 

[RonD]

Ford added 6" in front of wheels wells and 6" to the rear of wheel wells, so should be OK to use
Width was the same as regular 6ft style side beds
Not sure on the frame bolt holes in bed through

Long Bed Rangers had the rear frame extended 6" at the front to put the rear axle 6" farther back, can't say I ever read if the 6 bolts holding the bed on were in the same places in the center of bed

 

[Hawker Driver]

Ford added 6" in front of wheels wells and 6" to the rear of wheel wells, so should be OK to use
Width was the same as regular 6ft style side beds
Not sure on the frame bolt holes in bed through

Long Bed Rangers had the rear frame extended 6" at the front to put the rear axle 6" farther back, can't say I ever read if the 6 bolts holding the bed on were in the same places in the center of bed

On the 09 through 11 there were 10 box to frame bolts. I thought that the rear frame sections were the same on 6 and 7 foot boxes and the extra floor length was added at the front. I knew that you could not get a 7 foot box with a crew cab. I tried to on my 04 and was told no go as the crew cab .

 

[Hawker Driver]

Are there any members in Denver who have a 09-11 7" box ranger?

 

[don4331]

'09 was the last year of the 7' box supposedly....

The "cab" section on the 7' box Ranger is 6" longer than the 6' box one; the box section is 6" longer behind the rear wheels.

All boxes bolt in with 2 bolt at very front of box, 2 at very back and 2 ~15" forward of the back. To make a 7' box floor into a 6' box, you'd need to cut a 6'' strip out of the front of the floor (just back of the bolt holes) then weld the floor back together, then repeat at back (just ahead of the 15" forward bolts).

Doing the above also puts the underneath support rails in the correct position.

So, yes it could be done, but it would be a huge effort - butt welding 2 - 4' joints on the bed floor, priming and repainting.

Finding a 6' box should be easy - majority of Rangers - all SuperCabs, and Regular Cab short beds are all 6'.

Splash boxes floors are might actually be same size - all the difference being in fender panels. (I know they bolt up the same, but I've never measured the actualy sheetmetal).​

 

[Hawker Driver]

'09 was the last year of the 7' box supposedly....

The "cab" section on the 7' box Ranger is 6" longer than the 6' box one; the box section is 6" longer behind the rear wheels.

All boxes bolt in with 2 bolt at very front of box, 2 at very back and 2 ~15" forward of the back. To make a 7' box floor into a 6' box, you'd need to cut a 6'' strip out of the front of the floor (just back of the bolt holes) then weld the floor back together, then repeat at back (just ahead of the 15" forward bolts).

Doing the above also puts the underneath support rails in the correct position.

So, yes it could be done, but it would be a huge effort - butt welding 2 - 4' joints on the bed floor, priming and repainting.

Finding a 6' box should be easy - majority of Rangers - all SuperCabs, and Regular Cab short beds are all 6'.

Splash boxes floors are might actually be same size - all the difference being in fender panels. (I know they bolt up the same, but I've never measured the actualy sheetmetal).​

I purchased a used 2011 box that when I got home was so badly damaged from rough handling that I couldn't get it to straighten. So I decided to try removing the floor from the original box. The original box was twisted from an accident and badly rusted. I hoped that the bed rust was localized to the cross members. unfortunately it wasn't and its going to be a bunch of welding to get it suitable to put back on.

 

[RonD]

6ft beds had the 2 extra bolts added in later years, but original 6 bolts were in the same places, so those 6ft beds are interchangeable

If you look here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/ford-ranger-dimensions/

You will see the Long Bed has a wheel base 6" longer than 6ft bed

So 6" added to front and 6" added to rear to get the 7ft bed length

 

[2011Supercab]

2010 and 2011 have 10 bolts

 

[RonD]

Sorry, 4 extra bolts

 

[Hawker Driver]

2010 and 2011 have 10 bolts
View attachment 95415

Looks just like my 11

 

[rubydist]

I believe my 09 has all those bolts in the bed as well. I think it was 09 when they made that change.