Swapping Truck Beds
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New User
Joined: Oct 2005
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Swapping Truck Beds
Has anyone ever tried swapping a service bed for a regular 8ft bed ? I found a 97 with just a bit over 100k miles, truck is pretty tight and was owned by a local county. All service and work was recorded. How tough is it to take the service body off ? It has dual tanks and the body is still in pretty good shape.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: SHELTON, WA
depends if it is a cab and chassis truck or a regular truck that had the utility bed installed. you need to determine that first...
but if it was a regular truck it wont be that hard and it will work fine.
but if it was a regular truck it wont be that hard and it will work fine.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
alot of times you can go to a place that sells utility bodies and they will trade + cash alot of times for a regular box. i had a buddy that bought one with a body on it that was just a couple years old it was about an $8000 body the body company gave him $5000 and put a regular box on his truck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Templeton, Massachussetts
Originally Posted by Sailsonly
How and where should I measure the width of the frame ?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: East Tennessee
You should be able to tell by looking at the frame just behind the cab. On pickups it is the same width (roughly) all the way back. On cab and chasis it narrows several inches right behind the cab. I think Ford did this so they could use the 10.25" rearend with dual wheels (pick ups with dual wheels got the wider Dana 80).
Craig
Sorry I can't remember the exact diminsions.
Craig
Craig
Sorry I can't remember the exact diminsions.
Craig
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If it is a cab and chasis set up does that mean you couldn't put a regular bed on it ? Do the filler pipes line up correctly or is everything just a bit off and make the swap out not worth doing ? Thanks guys I'm learnin'.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: East Tennessee
Is it a dual wheel truck? I think all "Cab and Chasis" trucks were dual rear wheel trucks. If it is just a single rear wheel truck, it started life with a pickup bed. If I'm wrong someone chime in and correct me.
As far as "will the bed fit?", I think the overall frame length should be the same, but the mounting holes will not line up. I would think you could just dril new holes a little inside the original and put new bolts there. You may have to drill the frame also, as the holes may not be in the right place on the frame.
I hope this helps and again if I am wrong someone else correct me please,
Craig
As far as "will the bed fit?", I think the overall frame length should be the same, but the mounting holes will not line up. I would think you could just dril new holes a little inside the original and put new bolts there. You may have to drill the frame also, as the holes may not be in the right place on the frame.
I hope this helps and again if I am wrong someone else correct me please,
Craig
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No it's not a dually, I looked at the vin number and it looks like it was not completed by Ford, I still don't know what the F25 part of the Vin stands for and when I looked at the vin look-up post the F25 wasn't listed there that I could see. Thanks
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: West Palm Beach, Florida
On door jamb look for two stickers
Ford puts a build sticker on your door jamb and then if it's sold as a cab and chassis the installer of the after-market whatever puts an additional sticker with the date and weight and particulars. Check that and see. You could probably sell the service body easy on e-bay, too.