Too High Truck Bed???
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: Hacienda Heights, CA
and for me and my uses the deep bed was a HUGE selling point. I love the looks and having a tonneau I can carry all sorts of stuff back there with it closed.
Anyone belly's up to the side of my truck with their paint-scratching buttons gets whacked anyway.
As for the looks...I sometimes see the SD and it almost looks like a flatbed now
Anyone belly's up to the side of my truck with their paint-scratching buttons gets whacked anyway.
As for the looks...I sometimes see the SD and it almost looks like a flatbed now
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by les017
snip.
As for the looks...I sometimes see the SD and it almost looks like a flatbed now
As for the looks...I sometimes see the SD and it almost looks like a flatbed now
Best looking truck ever was the 97-2004 Short Flair side in RED. Awesome looking truck, even stock, and with a few mods, gorgeous.
Chris
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 19
From: SoCal
Hitch Step Notes
Originally Posted by tank55
Birdhunter. I recently discovered that my 4x4 flairside has plastic side pannels on the bed. Rather disappointing. I was expecting Ford tough even there. As for the height of the box it is very high. I can barely step into the back on my flairside. I did see a step that goes on the hitch that looked like it would help.
It's a useful thing, but a couple of caveats. It lowers the step point about three inches - not really very much, but it is less effort on the aging knees. It will help, but if someone has really short legs, it may not be enough.
You have to get a hitch pin if you don't have one, locking is best to avoid the hitch step disappearing. Add $20 to the price.
Additionally, the one I got is not a snug fit in the F150 hitch - about 3/4" slop, which makes the step feel unstable. I fully intend to build a custom titanium laser-etched spacer, but I'll probably just use a router or Dremel to trim a 1/2 to fit - it's an odd shaped gap.
Finally, I've got to find a UCLA decal to put back there...
I will get around to taking and posting pictures one of these days in my copious spare time.
Hank Murphy
2005 XL Work Truck
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: CSofA
seems like you would have noticed the bed before you bought the truck
you sound like you hate the truck now. did you look at the 04 heritage. yes the bed is a little taller but thats part of the new truck i love mine is that the only thing you dont like about the truck? get some step bars that go from wheel to wheel
you sound like you hate the truck now. did you look at the 04 heritage. yes the bed is a little taller but thats part of the new truck i love mine is that the only thing you dont like about the truck? get some step bars that go from wheel to wheel
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 263
Likes: 4
I like it with the high bed, and the locking tailgate. Helps deter someone from stealing stuff from the bed itself. I had 4,000 dollars worth of computers in my bed on my trip to texas from new jersey. Left it in the bed overnights when i stopped. Would never have done that with my ranger. I can see where it can be bothersome to some, but I could live with it.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 19
From: SoCal
Correction to my earlier post.
The hitch step is about seven inches below the center of the rear bumper when open, the three inches was when closed. On my stock suspension, it changes the first step from about 19-1/2" to 12-1/2".
Measure twice, talk once.
)
Hank Murphy
2005 XL Work Truck
The hitch step is about seven inches below the center of the rear bumper when open, the three inches was when closed. On my stock suspension, it changes the first step from about 19-1/2" to 12-1/2".
Measure twice, talk once.
)Hank Murphy
2005 XL Work Truck
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I remember seeing a spring loaded kick step in either JC Whitney, Cabela's, Summit Racing, or some other catalog or magazine. You mount it on the frame behind the cab and in front of the back axle. By pressing on it with your foot, it springs out to give you a step for easier access to the bed. Then you just push it back in until the spring locks it closed.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
For those complaining about the bed being too deep and too high, did you actually LOOK at the truck before buying? I never thought I would hear anyone complain about being able to carry too much stuff in the bed.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
Originally Posted by 75Player
For those complaining about the bed being too deep and too high, did you actually LOOK at the truck before buying? I never thought I would hear anyone complain about being able to carry too much stuff in the bed.
Nice comment... Unless you are carrying sawdust of some kind of liquids the higher truck bed doesn't carry any more than the old style or the F250 bed.. Those 2-3" extra inches are just in the way... It's not like the truck could handle a full to top bed of stones/rocks or anything else with serious weight.
Yes maybe you can carry an extra layer of split wood for the fireplace, but you could do that in any normal height bed if you weren't running a road rally getting it home..
Anyway you look at it's waste of sheet metal and a pain in the butt unless you are 7ft tall with arms like a monkey..
God knows I love the Lariat. I rode in an 05 Dodge my buddy just bought the other day. Christ, my 84 250HD rode better. I couldn't believe the difference between my 04 150 and that wreck..but I could reach in and get stuff out of it's bed..
I love I high truck for break over reasons offroad, but this high of a bed is just stupid....
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
I admit the bed is pretty high, but it does work for me.
I was a little apprehensive about getting a hard cover, then having to remove it for any large items I needed to haul. Between the extra 3" on the bed, and the 3" on my LoBoy cover, I can haul about 95% of what I need. Items I thought would never fit have enough room without removing the cover.
I was a little apprehensive about getting a hard cover, then having to remove it for any large items I needed to haul. Between the extra 3" on the bed, and the 3" on my LoBoy cover, I can haul about 95% of what I need. Items I thought would never fit have enough room without removing the cover.