Exterior Semi-Tech General discussion of exterior for the Ford Ranger.

6ft bed on a 7ft frame?

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Old 03-22-2014
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6ft bed on a 7ft frame?

I have a 98 reg cab with a 7 foot bed. It was damaged when I rolled it over and ive been trying to find another bed. I was wondering if it was possible to put a 6 foot bed on a my truck that came stock with the 7 foot bed. Will the mounting holes and wheelwells match up? I figured it would be kind of like bobbing the bed but not really sure if the frame would stick out if everything matched up correctly.
 
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Old 03-22-2014
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I don't think it would work out very well. Unlike most long bed trucks, the ranger was longer both before and after the wheels. It did not share a frame with the supercab either.

I have seen full size trucks that have a short bed on a long bed frame with a toolbox mounted in the gap but this would not work on a ranger.

Your best bet would be to watch auctions and commercial equipment sites. The 7' bed was pretty rare, and almost all of them were fleet trucks.
 
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Old 03-22-2014
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depends the ranger came in 2 wheelbases so since you had a long bed you have the 126" i think it is vs the 118" you'd have to put a super cab on it to make it fit or cut the frame and shorten it. But id say check around the commercial auctions as said and the local ford dealer runs them as parts trucks maybe you can get one thats retired. Or check LMC truck they sell pretty much every part ever put on a ranger.
 
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Old 03-23-2014
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Have you tried Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market this is a search for a 7ft bed I did with your zipcode.


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Old 03-23-2014
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Yes I have been looking on Car-part.com which is what got my wondering about a 6 foot bed since they are more common and a little cheaper.
 
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Old 03-23-2014
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Originally Posted by pearlkid9988
depends the ranger came in 2 wheelbases so since you had a long bed you have the 126" i think it is vs the 118" you'd have to put a super cab on it to make it fit or cut the frame and shorten it. But id say check around the commercial auctions as said and the local ford dealer runs them as parts trucks maybe you can get one thats retired. Or check LMC truck they sell pretty much every part ever put on a ranger.
Rangers came in 3 wheelbases, long beds and super cabs are not the same at all. Fitting a short bed would require a lot of fab work.

I'm guessing this is a work truck, maybe a flat bed would be an option.
 
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Old 03-23-2014
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its a work/play truck. I've thought about a flat bed but haven't found a design I love so planning on sticking with an original bed for now. Are beds from 93-97 compatible? They look similar but wondering if there are differences.
 
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Old 03-23-2014
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Maybe try a mazda bed? not sure if they came in long bet but it would bolt up as proved by the ranger STX and maybe cheaper because of brand name.
 
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Old 03-23-2014
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The mazda beds have different body lines im pretty sure. I found a 7ft bed on craigslist tonight from a 94 thats in really good shape and it is even the same color as my truck. I think a 94 will bolt right up to a 98 but can anybody verify that? And its several hundred dollars cheaper than beds at local salvage yards.
 
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Old 03-24-2014
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not sure if it will for sure but they do have different lines but it flows well with the ranger cabs its kinda just a crossover of flare side and style side on the rangers google 2006 ranger std you can see some good picks but i did see a guy with a 94 ranger that had a 98 bed on it so id guess they fit but not 100% sure.
 
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Old 03-24-2014
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It will bolt up. The lights and stickers might be different but the sheet metal never changed.

Mazda did not offer a long bed.
 
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Old 03-24-2014
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Yeah the stickers look different but isnt a big deal because they are coming off anyway. The lights are also different but also isnt a big deal.
 
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Old 05-21-2016
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7ft bed on 6ft frame

Will a 7ft bed bolt on 6ft frame on 1999ranger
 
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Old 05-21-2016
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I think you mean will it fit, and no it will not.

Wheel wells will be in the wrong place.
I think there is a 6" front and 6" back difference

The back of course is fine, the front is the issue.
 
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