Swapping beds?
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Freshman User
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From: Wyoming
Swapping beds?
I read in another thread that a camper special bed would not fit on a regular truck frame. Is this true or do I just need to make some modification? I have a 78' XLT Lariat and my parts truck is a 78' camper special. Both my beds have a corner dent but one is allot worse and rusted out.
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Freshman User
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From: Wyoming
I updated my gallery with my parts truck. On both fenders I have a camper special decal. Both truck bodies are F-350 so I am going ahead with the swap and will let you know how it turns out. The one thing I haven't seen much is the fender mounted mirror not sure if it was a C/S thing or a previous owner.
Postmaster
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From: MD
Only the F350 regular cab Styleside has the special box with the spare tire in the box.
Both of your trucks do not have this. They will swap over without problems.
And on the mirror...I suspect either the owner or dealer installed it that way. It is supposed to be installed on the door, not the fender. If there are holes in the door, someone must have moved the mirrors.
Both of your trucks do not have this. They will swap over without problems.
And on the mirror...I suspect either the owner or dealer installed it that way. It is supposed to be installed on the door, not the fender. If there are holes in the door, someone must have moved the mirrors.
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Freshman User
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From: Wyoming
With everything I can find on this truck it is original paint and there isn't any holes on the door at all. It just looks funny to me.
Postmaster
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From: MD
Not too long ago, I was told this...
When the new trucks arrive at dealerships, the pre-delivery guys installed mirrors that were stored in cabs before giving it the owner.
I guess the original owner got there first and told the guys to mount it on the fenders instead. That's one guess!
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Goliad, Texas
the only beds that won't swap on the regular frames are Super Camper Special beds. these are trucks from 73-76. they were F350 Camper Specials. since it was a 1 ton, Ford added the "Super" to it. in 77 Ford dropped the word super because people thought that they were buying a supercab camper special. after that there was the F250 camper special = 133" wheel base. and the F350 camper special = 140" wheel base. to tell the difference if you have a super camper special or a regular camper special, look at the passenger side of the bed. if you have a spare tire compartment then you have a super camper special.
that mirror sure does look weird in that spot!
that mirror sure does look weird in that spot!
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
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From: MD
the only beds that won't swap on the regular frames are Super Camper Special beds. these are trucks from 73-76. they were F350 Camper Specials. since it was a 1 ton, Ford added the "Super" to it. in 77 Ford dropped the word super because people thought that they were buying a supercab camper special. after that there was the F250 camper special = 133" wheel base. and the F350 camper special = 140" wheel base. to tell the difference if you have a super camper special or a regular camper special, look at the passenger side of the bed. if you have a spare tire compartment then you have a super camper special.
ALL 1973/79 F350 Stylesides had the spare tire in the box, regardless of whether it has the camper special package or not.
Only ONE wheelbase was available with the 1973/79 F350 Styleside, and that's 140".
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Goliad, Texas
here is a 1979 F350 4x4. it has a 6 inch lift and 38" tires. as you can see it is a Styleside.
now compare the 1979 to this 1974 Super Camper Special below that was CONVERTED into 4 wheel drive. does the bed look any different? clearly it has a longer wheel base.
sorry that I got defense about it.......no steak dinner needed.
Postmaster
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From: MD
I'll clarify it.
Find me a 1973/79 F350 2/W/D Styleside without the 140" wheelbase or the spare tire in the box.
That 1979 F350 4x4 is questionable. It's too much of a mutt.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,409
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From: Goliad, Texas
I have a pic of an F350 converted to 4wd, that isn't a Super Camper Special. the thing is I don't know if it has the original bed on it.
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Freshman User
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From: Wyoming
I know both my trucks are super cabs but neither have the spare tire box. One has a tool box and the other has nothing. Both are F-350 so you can't say all F-350 had that. I know the one with the toolbox is a camper special and I think the other one is just missing the emblems. Both are the trucks in the pics at the beginning of this thread.
