Hey fellas i have a 1995 ford ranger xlt singlecab 2wd 2.3l. Its the brilliant blue with a stylside?(the straight one) and i FINALLY found a brilliant blue splash with the fleetside(stepside). Will these beds swap out?
everyone tells me i have the 7ft bed and that it wont work bc they are 6ft.
how true is it? Ive been dreaming of it for a while and i feel kinda crushed.
and if not how could i make it work?
maybe bolt the back half of that frame to the front of mine?

 

Yes, Regular cabs could be 6ft bed or 7ft bed, all extended cab were 6ft beds
Only the 6ft beds came in "stepside" versions

The 7ft bed models have the rear axle 6" farther back, so 6ft bed wheel wells won't line up, there would be a 6" gap between cab and bed if you lined them up

Rangers had 4 front frames
Regular cab 2WD
Regular cab 4x4
Extended cab 2WD
Extended cab 4x4

4x4s have a boxed front frame rails to mount the FWD axle

There were just 2 rear frames
6ft bed
7ft bed

Yes, you could swap to a 6ft rear frame to use a 6ft bed, you can use your rear axle and springs from the 7ft frame on the 6ft frame

7ft frames and beds are usually easy to sell so do not just junk them
Compared to 6ft frames and beds the 7ft are "rare", and frames and beds rust out so...........................$$$

 

where do the frames separate from the front and the rear?
i was looking earlier because mating the frames sounds easier than cab motor and trans swap, and i could find it.
the frame is a 1995 2wd 7ft