Cap Interchangability
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
Actually I think anything back to about the 60s (or maybe even 50s) will fit, and it could be from a Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Beds were pretty standard size for a long time. It wasn't until the '97 F-150 and '99 SuperDuties that Ford beds weren't standard.
Although cab lines did vary some, so if you want a fiberglass topper that looks like it was made for your truck then '80 - '96/'97 Ford is what you want. But there really weren't a lot of differences in earlier aluminum toppers. They typically weren't made to exactly match the lines. I borrowed a topper off a friends '70s Chevy for my '85 F-250 once. Other than the color it looked fine.
Although cab lines did vary some, so if you want a fiberglass topper that looks like it was made for your truck then '80 - '96/'97 Ford is what you want. But there really weren't a lot of differences in earlier aluminum toppers. They typically weren't made to exactly match the lines. I borrowed a topper off a friends '70s Chevy for my '85 F-250 once. Other than the color it looked fine.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
Ford caps for 1980-1996/7 (OBS) fit with no issues.
When I bought my 1997 F250HD, the tow yard that was selling it had scratched up the corners of the box trying to fit a mid-'90's Chebbie cap to it. Their thinking was "8' box, it should fit!" It didn't. They were trying to off the cap with the truck so they didn't have to pay for it to be scrapped.
My brother worked for that yard at the time and he told me they tried to fit that same cap to a '90's Dodge they were selling. Would not fit this truck, either. Ended up cutting the cap up to scrap it.
Not all caps are a direct interchange. 90's Chebbie caps tend to be too narrow for our trucks.
When I bought my 1997 F250HD, the tow yard that was selling it had scratched up the corners of the box trying to fit a mid-'90's Chebbie cap to it. Their thinking was "8' box, it should fit!" It didn't. They were trying to off the cap with the truck so they didn't have to pay for it to be scrapped.
My brother worked for that yard at the time and he told me they tried to fit that same cap to a '90's Dodge they were selling. Would not fit this truck, either. Ended up cutting the cap up to scrap it.
Not all caps are a direct interchange. 90's Chebbie caps tend to be too narrow for our trucks.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
From: SE WI
The factory Ford 73-79 caps don't fit 80-96 trucks very well. The bed covering part is fine, but the front of the topper will contact the back of the cab on the newer trucks. The older cabs had more of a forward slant.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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^ What this guy said. My cap and cab are so close that leaves get caught in between. It's a pain.
The width is different between makes.
Measure the length in inches to make sure the back window closes on the tailgate without a gap.
The windows in the cap may be a clue. Double windows are earlier than single windows to match the trucks.
Haven't had much luck with old caps and leaks. They all leak.
The width is different between makes.
Measure the length in inches to make sure the back window closes on the tailgate without a gap.
The windows in the cap may be a clue. Double windows are earlier than single windows to match the trucks.
Haven't had much luck with old caps and leaks. They all leak.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
^ What this guy said. My cap and cab are so close that leaves get caught in between. It's a pain.
The width is different between makes.
Measure the length in inches to make sure the back window closes on the tailgate without a gap.
The windows in the cap may be a clue. Double windows are earlier than single windows to match the trucks.
Haven't had much luck with old caps and leaks. They all leak.
The width is different between makes.
Measure the length in inches to make sure the back window closes on the tailgate without a gap.
The windows in the cap may be a clue. Double windows are earlier than single windows to match the trucks.
Haven't had much luck with old caps and leaks. They all leak.
Why didn't Ford just keep making panel trucks?
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Roadkill003
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