Ranger with a 150 bed
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Ranger with a 150 bed
I need just a little more bed on my 04 Ranger Edge. I want to put a late model F150 flare side 6.5 ft. bed on it. I know that the rear wheel track will have to be widened, but I think the rest will go pretty smooth. Any thoughts are ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Ranger-Tom
Ranger-Tom
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Hi Ken,
Thanks for your reply! Not sure that I understand though. The Step side, or flare as they call it, doesn't really have to match up like the style side. I had the opportunity to back up to a 150 flare side in a parking lot the other day and things appeared to be very workable. I'm sure that there is a great deal that I am missing here, but I sure would like this to work.
I haul a Honda Gold Wing in the back of my Ranger and find that things would work out a lot better if I just had a little bit more bed length and rigidity. Hopefully someone will respond who has been there.
Ranger Tom
Thanks for your reply! Not sure that I understand though. The Step side, or flare as they call it, doesn't really have to match up like the style side. I had the opportunity to back up to a 150 flare side in a parking lot the other day and things appeared to be very workable. I'm sure that there is a great deal that I am missing here, but I sure would like this to work.
I haul a Honda Gold Wing in the back of my Ranger and find that things would work out a lot better if I just had a little bit more bed length and rigidity. Hopefully someone will respond who has been there.
Ranger Tom
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Well You could get a ranger bed and cut the last 6 '' or more off of it. Then cut then end off of your bed and weld the section in to extend it. Problems would be Bumper would have to be extended back, and you might need some bracing... also the wires for the lights would have to be extended. It you have a trailer hitch it would also have to be moved back. Paint it up and you will have a Frankentruck!!! LOL
Dave
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From: North US Border, Canada
Originally Posted by rhowell
wouldnt the bed sides stick out past the cab some???
Welcome to FTE
Madmike33
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Hey Mike!!
I really appreciate your interest! I have given this a lot of thought and I like, what I percieve to be, the look and utility of this project. If my observations are close at all, the fit to the cab is a no brainer. Also, getting the bed attached will be a piece of cake, and of course, reverse rim wheels should take care of the rear wheel spacing problem. I need another view on skirt height and bed height. I can even accept the front of the bed being above the rear window, but I am worried about the skirting getting too close to the ground and spoiling the neat look that these Ranger Edge PUs have. One final thought is regarding the fenders. I think that the stock fenders would appear to be too wide. I suppose that I could cut them down if needed.
Anxiously awaiting your analisys!!
Ranger Tom
I really appreciate your interest! I have given this a lot of thought and I like, what I percieve to be, the look and utility of this project. If my observations are close at all, the fit to the cab is a no brainer. Also, getting the bed attached will be a piece of cake, and of course, reverse rim wheels should take care of the rear wheel spacing problem. I need another view on skirt height and bed height. I can even accept the front of the bed being above the rear window, but I am worried about the skirting getting too close to the ground and spoiling the neat look that these Ranger Edge PUs have. One final thought is regarding the fenders. I think that the stock fenders would appear to be too wide. I suppose that I could cut them down if needed.
Anxiously awaiting your analisys!!
Ranger Tom
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From: North US Border, Canada
Well Ranger-Tom, The measurements are in.
Unfortunately it doesn't look good, the Ranger is about 65 inches outside the bed, my dads flareside is weird. You see at the front of the bed where it meets up with the cab, the step section goes in enough to make it fit(or close enough) if that was where the sheetmetal ended. The problem is Ford has the sheetmetal curve back out to even out with the width of the full size cab. Which makes for a 10-12 inch difference with the Ranger cab width. I don't think it would be too pretty.
The only way I think it would be possible is if you know a good sheetmetal guy that could somehow cut and blend the ranger width to the box or vise versa.
Or maybe a custom fiberglass kit. Either one will probably be pricey.
Sorry that the news isn't any better
Let us know what you plan to do.
Madmike33
Unfortunately it doesn't look good, the Ranger is about 65 inches outside the bed, my dads flareside is weird. You see at the front of the bed where it meets up with the cab, the step section goes in enough to make it fit(or close enough) if that was where the sheetmetal ended. The problem is Ford has the sheetmetal curve back out to even out with the width of the full size cab. Which makes for a 10-12 inch difference with the Ranger cab width. I don't think it would be too pretty.
The only way I think it would be possible is if you know a good sheetmetal guy that could somehow cut and blend the ranger width to the box or vise versa.
Or maybe a custom fiberglass kit. Either one will probably be pricey.
Sorry that the news isn't any better
Let us know what you plan to do.
Madmike33
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I'm not sure if Ford made a long bed "7 foot" step side or not. If they did you may want to try to find one in a yard somewhere. The long beds were on the same wheel base as the extended cab with just the short cabs. It will be be to long on the wrong end if you have an extended cab and the wheel wells won't be right. Is your a regular cab or a extended cab?
Dave
Dave
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From: Northern Maine
Like Cheapevil said, build yourself a flat bed out of wood. Its quite common (at least where I live) to see an older truck with a wooden body. You could build it to your own specs, maiking it as long as as wide as you need it. I had one on an old Ford F-100. It was made from 3/4" plywood and had 1/2" angle iron on the leading edges along with square stake pockets. Good luck.
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From: North US Border, Canada
Originally Posted by john112deere
Seems like a trailer might be easier that a flatbed, and would preserve the looks of the truck when not hauling.
Madmike33
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Thanks guys, for all of your thoughts. I will not destroy the look of my truck. It is a terrific truck and does almost everything that I need. It's red with the 3 liter V6, 5 speed stick, the Edge package and does have the short 6 foot bed. I tow it, four down, behind our motorhome, with our Gold Wing loaded in the bed. I have a sheet of 3/4" treated plywood trimmed to fit the bed and it extends out to the trailing edge of the tailgate. It carries the Wing with the back wheel just about centered on the tailgate. The Wing is about 900 lbs and much of that is on the back wheel. It works, but I was just looking for an alternative. I love the truck too much to screw it up. If I do decide to continue with a mod, I'll be sure to post it.
Ranger Tom
Ranger Tom