Bed lengths and differences
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Bed lengths and differences
Ok old Ford gurus - I am having a discussion on another forum about different bed lengths and options.
I did a bit of a search but haven't come up with solid info that will help me.
A buddy is wanting to make molds for large flare fiberglass bedsides for these old trucks and we're having trouble telling how different the beds are. He wants to see if he save cost by making 1 mold, and have people cut the longbed bedsides down to fit a short bed.
From what we can tell there are 6', 7' and 8' beds. I didn't know about the 6' beds, but a couple guys SWEAR they have them on their F100's.
My major question is: Is the difference in length between the short and long beds all between the cab and front of the rear wheel? Meaning - could he make a mold for the 8' bed and people with a 7' bed cut 12" off the front of the bedside, and people with a 6' bed cut off 24"?
I doubt it is that simple, but I can wish...
Now I know there are the weird Super Camper Special beds and probably something else out there, but we're just talking the "normal" short bed and long bed's here.
Also keep in mind we are just talking bedSIDES - not the entire bed, so the frame width differences on 2wd vs 4wd, etc. don't come into play.
Thanks for any help!
I did a bit of a search but haven't come up with solid info that will help me.
A buddy is wanting to make molds for large flare fiberglass bedsides for these old trucks and we're having trouble telling how different the beds are. He wants to see if he save cost by making 1 mold, and have people cut the longbed bedsides down to fit a short bed.
From what we can tell there are 6', 7' and 8' beds. I didn't know about the 6' beds, but a couple guys SWEAR they have them on their F100's.
My major question is: Is the difference in length between the short and long beds all between the cab and front of the rear wheel? Meaning - could he make a mold for the 8' bed and people with a 7' bed cut 12" off the front of the bedside, and people with a 6' bed cut off 24"?
I doubt it is that simple, but I can wish...
Now I know there are the weird Super Camper Special beds and probably something else out there, but we're just talking the "normal" short bed and long bed's here.
Also keep in mind we are just talking bedSIDES - not the entire bed, so the frame width differences on 2wd vs 4wd, etc. don't come into play.
Thanks for any help!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 381
Likes: 5
I've never even heard of a 6' bed.
I don't have an answer to your main question but...
Another issue you should think on is the bedside toolbox door. I think 30%ish of the trucks have it. So, he'll either need to put an insert in the tool or make two for the pass side.
I don't have an answer to your main question but...
Another issue you should think on is the bedside toolbox door. I think 30%ish of the trucks have it. So, he'll either need to put an insert in the tool or make two for the pass side.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 868
Likes: 3
From: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
There are 2 leangths, 6 and 3/4 and 8 foot, the difference is in front of the rear wheels. There is 2 different wheel arch designs, pre 77 with a more rounded arch and the 77 up with a slight teardrop effect at the rear of the arch. There is also the supercamper special , that was 8 foot also but the wheel arch was moved back about 8 inches , making a real long front and short rear to the boxside. You could cut the front only to get the shorter side so one mold would work. The pre 77 box sides also had a different gas filler, 76 and older was round and visable on the boxside, the 77 filler had the square door and the filler was hidden.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Thanks for the info guys.
As for the wheel opening shape, gas filler doors, tool boxes - we don't really care. He probably won't run holes or setups for ANY of that, and the wheel opening will end up geting opened quite a bit anyway, so it will change shape.
These bedsides are being made for desert trucks that probably won't even have an actual bed on them, but rather tubework.
I know this is the wrong years F-150, but it shows the type of truck these bedsides are being built for...
95 f-150
As for the wheel opening shape, gas filler doors, tool boxes - we don't really care. He probably won't run holes or setups for ANY of that, and the wheel opening will end up geting opened quite a bit anyway, so it will change shape.
These bedsides are being made for desert trucks that probably won't even have an actual bed on them, but rather tubework.
I know this is the wrong years F-150, but it shows the type of truck these bedsides are being built for...
95 f-150
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
If that's all you are going to be building them for, then just the long and short bed versions would really matter. 6'-3/4 and 8' bed lengths. you could make just the long bed version and cut to match, however having both sizes would be preferable.
However, I don't see much of a need or a calling for these type of bedsides, outside the desert racing circut. IMO.
However, I don't see much of a need or a calling for these type of bedsides, outside the desert racing circut. IMO.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
We realize these aren't for 90% of the old ford owners out there and 99.999999% of the people on this site.
Also, we don't expect there to be much of a need for them outside of our very localized area - nor do we care.
We are filling a niche we found here. It may be a small niche, but we've got enough interest to make it worth building them.
We were just checking to see if we could cut a bit of our cost by doing 1 mold and now it looks like we can.
Most guys here would cry if they saw the virgin, rust free sheetmetal that gets torched to bits and thrown away to build our trucks
Also, we don't expect there to be much of a need for them outside of our very localized area - nor do we care.
We are filling a niche we found here. It may be a small niche, but we've got enough interest to make it worth building them.
We were just checking to see if we could cut a bit of our cost by doing 1 mold and now it looks like we can.
Most guys here would cry if they saw the virgin, rust free sheetmetal that gets torched to bits and thrown away to build our trucks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Oh I understand, and the costs and savings when one of those panels gets damaged would be far easier on the $$$ pocket.
And with very little work can be changed during a race very quickly and easily.
Good Idea really.
And with very little work can be changed during a race very quickly and easily.
Good Idea really.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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[quote=ChaseTruck754;6127925
Most guys here would cry if they saw the virgin, rust free sheetmetal that gets torched to bits and thrown away to build our trucks[/quote]
Amen brother! By the way, on that note, I do believe after our last trip I am once again gonna need to replace that fender you gave me, lol.
Just jokin, I can bend it back straight again, lol!
Most guys here would cry if they saw the virgin, rust free sheetmetal that gets torched to bits and thrown away to build our trucks
[/quote]Amen brother! By the way, on that note, I do believe after our last trip I am once again gonna need to replace that fender you gave me, lol.
Just jokin, I can bend it back straight again, lol!
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Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Isn't that why you stay with metal and not go to fiberglass? Metal can be bent back when it gets caught in those cheese graters you mud guys call tires! If you had fiberglass fenders we'd be having an easter egg hunt in the sand looking for all the little pieces you broke the things into!
