short bed swap
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: South Jersey
short bed swap
anybody done this? i mean, take a truck with a long bed, cut the frame, swap out the fuel tank, cut down the drive shaft, and put a short bed on. specificaly a 2wd regular cab truck.
i've seen a few of them, but nobody shows the work, just the results... im interested to see what the pictures look like, how you stiffen the frame, what you do with your fuel lines, e brake cables, etc...
i've seen a few of them, but nobody shows the work, just the results... im interested to see what the pictures look like, how you stiffen the frame, what you do with your fuel lines, e brake cables, etc...
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Joined: Jun 2012
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chopping frames
I did it on a 1979 f150 when i was 17. cut the frame at the back of the cab and welded back together, added c channel for 12 inches to "box" that section for strength. I ran it hard following my buddys on their dirt bikes and the guy I sold it to used it for mud runs with no problems.
I did it again a few years ago to convert a long flatbed into a 8' bed utility bodied truck. Cut the frame on an angle to have more shear strength and put diamond shape gussets over the cut and welded area. Checked welded area religiously for awhile, now it gets checked once a year for DOT and no signs of stress, and that truck hauls 10,000 pound generator trailers for a living! I ran new brake line and converted that trucks ebrake cables to short wheelbase cables, used heatshrink type fuel line to splice the cut section back together. I WOULD NOT recommend learning how to weld on this project. A large truck repair garage will quite often be willing to do this modification as they do big truck frame cuts fairly regularly while upfitting a truck, body shops usually pass unless its a no paperwork, cash deal.
I did it again a few years ago to convert a long flatbed into a 8' bed utility bodied truck. Cut the frame on an angle to have more shear strength and put diamond shape gussets over the cut and welded area. Checked welded area religiously for awhile, now it gets checked once a year for DOT and no signs of stress, and that truck hauls 10,000 pound generator trailers for a living! I ran new brake line and converted that trucks ebrake cables to short wheelbase cables, used heatshrink type fuel line to splice the cut section back together. I WOULD NOT recommend learning how to weld on this project. A large truck repair garage will quite often be willing to do this modification as they do big truck frame cuts fairly regularly while upfitting a truck, body shops usually pass unless its a no paperwork, cash deal.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
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From: Minneapolis, MN
When did ford make a regular cab shortbed super duty???
I'd love to do this with an F250 4x4 for plowing driveways. An 05+ with coil springs and shortbox would practically turn on a dime.
I'd love to do this with an F250 4x4 for plowing driveways. An 05+ with coil springs and shortbox would practically turn on a dime.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
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SO, what youre saying is that Ford makes a "standard cab, shortbed" super duty in Mexico?! I have never heard that and can't seem to find any images of such a vehicle, although Ford has done some wierd stuff over the years... Could it be that the trucks you speak of are the airport trucks that are super short?
If they do exist, as you say, then you could drag a frame home I would think? And use it to build a u.s. vin tagged truck... Although that seems like alot of unnecessary steps when a gas hatchet and a stick welder could give you the same basic thing, haha.
If they do exist, as you say, then you could drag a frame home I would think? And use it to build a u.s. vin tagged truck... Although that seems like alot of unnecessary steps when a gas hatchet and a stick welder could give you the same basic thing, haha.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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they do, with different drivetrains, and they import them to australia and bolivia and the likes. search some foreign ford sites and you will see them. Some are even right hand drive. They also usually have dated tooling and may not even offer our current styles yet.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Southern Colorado
I thought if you wanted a short vehicle for plowing, you'd use an old Bronco ;-). I'd rather have the long bed (reg cab) for plowing - gives the truck more stability when pushing huge amounts of snow.
I think a reg-cab shortbed SD would be cool - and unique. Not the dumbest home-made truck project we've ever seen.
I think a reg-cab shortbed SD would be cool - and unique. Not the dumbest home-made truck project we've ever seen.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Breckenridge, TX
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: South Shore, MA
I thought if you wanted a short vehicle for plowing, you'd use an old Bronco ;-). I'd rather have the long bed (reg cab) for plowing - gives the truck more stability when pushing huge amounts of snow.
I think a reg-cab shortbed SD would be cool - and unique. Not the dumbest home-made truck project we've ever seen.
I think a reg-cab shortbed SD would be cool - and unique. Not the dumbest home-made truck project we've ever seen.
BUT, for driveway work, short-bus all the way. I went from a SCSB to a CCSB (not much of an increase in wheelbase really) and noticed a Major difference for driveway plowing. Add to it, the lame turning radius of a leaf sprung front end...
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