I've never owned a F250 and have a chance to pick up a 1977 regular cab for a good price.

They installed a flatbed and I've seen a lot of posts about going from a standard bed to a flatbed, but haven't found any going the other way. Is this a major project? I know without seeing how they installed it that might be hard to say.. Looks like there's a few ways people do the conversion.

The truck is about a hour away so I'm not trying to waste his time going out to look at it, if it's something I'm not interested in. I'm not really sure how I feel about having a flatbed.. honestly I've only owned trucks with beds and would use this a little bit to haul with from time to time. (nothing major, but without a bed I'd need to find a way to secure things differently)

Anyway.. with just looking at the picture, thoughts on what would need to be done to convert this from flatbed to a standard bed? (it's a 9 ft flatbed)

I love the look of these late 70s - early 80s Fords and would love to own one. So maybe another question might be.. was the 1977 a decent year for the F250?

Appreciate any help. Thanks

 

Here is good read before you go truck shopping. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/showpost.php?p=14696861&postcount=16
Late made 77, front disk brakes, better p/s set up, married NP-205 xfer case. IMO all better the later it's made, at least up to a 79.

IMO since you have only owned 2 trucks and not really used the bed, then it sounds like you will not really need a regular style bed to really worry about if and when when you haul stuff. So just save yourself the time and money and just stick with the flat bed. You get a inside the bed style/box style "truck box" at Lowe's or Tractor Supply and mount it behind the headache rack to carry items time to time. Or get some ratchet straps and have at it when you have to haul bigger items. You can make some wooden side and end racks that go on and off easy if you do not like to strap items. That truck in the pic has stake pockets and a tie strap on the bed edge.

Now if it is just the "look" of the flat bed that you do not like, versus a regular style bed (which I understand completely, not everyone is flat bed compatible ) then keep reading. lol

As far as the bed swap here goes. Once and or if you can locate a replacement bed that is in good enough shape to make it worth buying? Got a way to haul it? A BIGGIE here, how did the flat bed get attached to the truck frame? Bolts or weld tabs? Bolts no big deal, but most are welded. Do you have a cutting torch, have a buddy with one if its welded? A grinder takes all day...Do you have a way to lift off the flat bed? Tractor, skid steer, over head lift ect....3 friends and you can man handle a regular style bed around, an 800 to 1000 lb flatbed not so much.

If you do locate a bed worth buying...is there going to be a color difference, I bet yes... then you will want/need to get it painted. See where this is going? The bed basically can be a 73-79. But is the truck you are looking at a Highboy? Rear frame width differences if so. Highboy bed holes will be different spaced than a say 77-79.

73-76 exposed gas fill neck/cap. 77-79 has a gas flap. Does that truck have twin gas tanks? (looks like a single) Then you need a bed with twin fill necks? And you might need to get actual bed filler necks, if the flat bed ones have been cut down. You will need the rest of the tail light harness for the regular style bed also. Also have to get a rear bumper, mount brackets, drop hitch and a bed bolt kit...Are you liking that flat bed a little better now?

And tell you insurance company it has a flat bed it MIGHT save you a ton of money on insurance cost. And in the end you can probably sell the flat for enough to take the sting out of paying for a good condition regular bed. Welcome to FTE.

 

EXCELLENT advice by 77&79F250. If you like the look of the stock bed be patient and buy a truck that has one. That "good deal" on the flatbed truck is only good if you love the flatty and plan to keep it. Otherwise it will cost you more both monetarily and added frustration than if you bought a good truck with stock bed. Looks like a later 77 lowboy since there is no tank behind the seat so at least if you did decide to buy it you would have a much better selection of beds that will bolt on without mods vs a highboy.

 

I forgot to mention that when looking for a replacement regular style bed, one off a F150, F250, F350 (long bed) will work, but one off a Camper Special will NOT work.

 

8' Styleside bed with fuel doors is the same: 1977/79 F100/350 except F350's on the 140" wheelbase.

1977 F250 4WD (High Boys) before serial number Y20,001 have a narrower rear frame behind the cab than 1977 F250 4WD's from serial number Y20,001 (not a High Boy).

So if an early 1977 bed is installed on a late 1977, 1978 or 1979, the bed mounting holes will have to be redrilled.

 

And the F350 with the 140" wheel base is the weird set up length Camper Special right?

 

1973/79 F350 Regular Cabs on the 140" wheelbase: 1973/76 Super Camper Special, 1973/79 Trailer Special, 1977/79 Camper Special. Ford dropped "Super" after 1976.

 

140" wheel base looks like this and is will NOT work on the truck with the flat bed.