Just bought a short bed and will need sides so YEEESSSS

 

anyone else

 

I dont know what the problems involved in making the short panels vs the long is but if there is a market for one, there is going to be a market for the other, dont know why someone hasnt stepped up and started manufacturing them. Maybe there was just so many more longbeds made than short and the market is much larger? That or they know they have a limited market for either and anyone that wants the shortbox can just modify the long panels they figure.

 

When it comes time to make my truck nicer and paint it I will def be interseted. I was planning on using the long bed side modified but a shortbed would be terrific.

 

Hopefully some day a company will step up and make good panels, not only shortbed, but others as well. The bed panels made now are so cheap that I would rather have a flat bed made rather than putting a cheap bedside on.

 

Yes, I could use some right now.

 

My 77 needs bedsides so count my vote!

 

I have never seen the after market panels, are they that bad?

 

I don't understand the big deal using a long bed side. You don't cut it in two, then weld it back together. Hang the panel, tack weld it all in place with the excess hanging off the front, then trim the excess and roll it around the front panel with a body hammer and dolly. Not nearly as hard as one might think.
Here is an 8' bedside tacked onto a shortbed..

Here it is after I cut off the excess and hammered the lip around the edge of the front panel.

Seam seal the lip after you weld it and it looks factory.

This one pictured was a slice and dice ''use the parts on hand'' project, but is the same principal if you buy a new long bedside.

 

Thats what we should not have to go through with to fix our beds. Finding good solid parts to do what you did is getting harder by the day.

 

You would have to do just about the same to replace a short box panel anyways, minus the trimming. I honestly didnt realize that was all there was too it, I thought you had to "split" the long panel as well, thanks Redsuperduty, nice to learn that.

 

The one thing I forgot was the fact a long side has an extra stake pocket in the middle and you will cut the front one off with the excess. Still not a big deal if your handy with a welder...
Cut out the center one and weld a patch in it.

Weld in the one you cut out for the front pocket.

 

I think you are a little more skilled in this area than many of us, but its good to know what needs to be done if I ever need it done. I can burn rods with an old lincoln but dunno bout sheet metal on my truck!

 

If you can burn rods, you can mig with a tiny bit of practice. If you ever buy a mig your old buzz box will become an antique conversation piece.
I'll bet you and most others would do better than you think if you give it a try.

 

They will work, but the metal is very very thin and in many times the shipping can really dent the metal up. If you get lucky, and get one that doesn't have the dents from shipping that they can work OK, but still no where near factory metal.