Putting a pick-up bed on my F-550

[Mr Jimi]

I bought a cab & chassis (2002) and it is the 141" WB and I want a truck bed on it. Have any of you done this? I bought a bed and fenders and we will be taking bed off trailer this Thursday. And I know about the wheelbase difference of 4" and I am hoping to fix that with dually fender placement directly over rear tire.
Thanks
Jim

[Mr Jimi]

I find this hard to see, all these views and no replies, I know I am not the first to put a pickup bed on a F-550

I have this bed



and the dually fenders
Jim

[be250]

hi, is'nt that a f150 bed ? you need a 250/350 bed & flares. i saw a 450/550 on ebay that had a pick up bed on it , it had a ext. bolted to the front. there must be a kit, do a search online or call some body shops good luck, barry

[PowerStrokeHD]

The bed will go on, but you will have a gap between the rear of the cab and the front of the bed. Like be250 mentioned, there may be some filler kits available. The only other option is to shorten the existing frame.

[Mr Jimi]

I was told that all F beds are same? I do have these fenders for it, I do know that the wheel openings will be off about 4" and I hope I can fix that by placing the dually fenders a little more towards the rear. Here is a picture of my fenders.

[PowerStrokeHD]

I highly doubt that you will be able to fudge things just by repositioning the DRW fenders. Even if you could it would not look right.

[powerstroke1350]

they make beds for the 450/550's they have a little 4" piece on the front. when you put that on your going to have a nice gap between the bed and cab. and that is a super duty bed. f-150's dont have the buldged bottom. but i think you wasted some money buying that stuff mr. jimi.

[Mr Jimi]

I'm expecting to cut out the original wheel openings and move fenders back about 4". I would rather do that then have a 4" gap in the front with a ?? filler piece. Lots of you here have wished me luck and I need all I can get, Tomorrow we take bed off trailer and put it on truck and see just what we have and I will post pictures here

Keep all the help coming, I do need it LOL
Jim

[PowerStrokeHD]

Even if you can fudge it forward with some cutting, what are you going to do with the extra frame sticking out the back, bumper, etc.?

I do wish you luck though and almost anything is possible with determination.

[powerstroke1350]

i was about to say, either way your goin to have an eye sore...back frame stickin out, or gap up front...

[Mr Jimi]

Looking at the bed, I'm hoping that the bumper will hide the excess frame sticking out. On a tape measure it should be around 6", I think I can hide that somewhere. see picture



and my bed will have to be raised a little to clear my overload spring stops. I do need lots of luck with this project. I do have a welder and I can make lots of stuff with good results
Jim

[ccerniglia]

Keep in mind that the F250 & F350's both have wider frames then a F450 and F550. The Bed bolts are going to have to be something special, also you need to think about a Midship Tank and that going to be fun. Its a big project i wish you the best of luck with it.

[Mr Jimi]

Oh yes, I have measured the frame and mine is 34" to the outside edges and the bed mounts are much wider, I will have to make supports that bolt to frame to mount to bed kinda like a big inverted angle bracket bolted to frame and bed

[SpringerPop]

A little oxy-acetylene, a few stick rods, and a little ingenuity ought to get you there.

I'd do some research into the steel of which the frame's made. It might not be common mild steel, and take some trick rods and techniques to weld to it.

Look up Gene (screen name "weweld"), and PM him for advice. He's done this before, shortening his frame 3-1/2 inches.

Pics when you're done. It's a MUST!! :-))

Pop

[ghunt]

Gap at the front sounds like a good place to mount stacks