I am designing a headache rack that I would use on any future truck I own. So what I need to do get the dimensions of as many ford truck beds as possible. So if you happen to have f150 or f250 from 1990-2016, I would greatly appreciate the inside and outside dimensions of your truck bed. See pic. Or if you happen to know of one website where all this information is listed that would work to. Thanks

 

65-96 (97 for F250 and F350) were the same. A cap from any of those years will swap over, I've done it myself. Big changes every few years after that, as far as cab profiles and angles.

 

so when you say your dimensions are 65-96, I am going to guess that the 65 is the inside width. So that would make the 96 the outside width, right? If so is the 96 the overall width of your truck, as I am just looking for the width from the outside bed rail to the outside bed rail, not including any wheel fenders, or anything wider than the bed rail caps. thanks

 

no. what he is saying is that the 1965 to 1996 trucks were the same bed width. starting with 1997 the dimensions changed with the different models. the F150 and F250 light duty had a different bed from the 97 250 HD and 350. then in 99 the 250-350 changed completely again. then in 04 or 05 the F150 changed again.

 

Super Duty stayed the same from 1999 MY to 2016MY

 

So what would be the best way to get the dimensions from those different years?

 

build one for 1965 to 1997, one for the 97 to 04 F150 and F250 ld, one for the 05 and newer F150, and one for the 99 and newer superduties.
there is no way to make one size fits all.

 

I am considering the idea that I could take the basic shape of headache rack which is a trapezium, and make brackets that can adjust to the different widths of bed. While the basic shape may be a little too big or small based upon 4 trucks that I have measured from different years it should not be off too bad assuming I stay with the same make. This is the reason why I am looking for the different measurements from the years of the trucks listed so I can further the design of the headache rack.

 

Are you wanting to make a rack to fit a truck built in the future or an older one with known dimensions you plan to buy in the future? And tjc is right, there is no "One size fits all" anymore. Ford did away with that and they shouldn't have. And you pretty much have the measurements from 1965-2005 right here. And you don't just have width issues, But cab designs as well. Some years the rear window was lower, some it was higher. And some, And I don't remember what years, But the F150 box came into the cab some by factory design. Good idea but I honestly don't see how it could work. Pick the truck you want, Build from there.