Anyone here swapped beds to . .

[PetesPonies]

a stepside bed? And not necessarily a later Ranger stepside, but a vintage stepside bed?

 

[snoranger]

a stepside bed? And not necessarily a later Ranger stepside, but a vintage stepside bed?

You thinking about something like the Shadow Ranger?

therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132508

 

[PetesPonies]

Yes, a bed like/similar to that. It could possibly be the next step for me if I continue to play.

 

[no1pony]

Shadow bed

I started looking for a shadow bed the day I bought the truck . That truck looks very familiar to me. I also noticed that a ranger at the salvage yard had a stepside. I wonder what's involved in switching to a newer stepside on my 89.

 

[PetesPonies]

first post lol. Anyway, the newer beds fit I believe. I'd rather have something of a 70s or 80s short wheelbase fullsize.

 

[snoranger]

I started looking for a shadow bed the day I bought the truck . That truck looks very familiar to me. I also noticed that a ranger at the salvage yard had a stepside. I wonder what's involved in switching to a newer stepside on my 89.

A Splash or newer stepside bed will bolt right on to the older frame, but the body lines wont match up or look right.
You will need:
Bed (w/ tailgate and tail lights)
Rear bumper
fuel filler neck

Pete:
I think a '79 F-series stepside would look pretty good. It shouldnt take much to shrink the bed down to fit.

 

[PetesPonies]

I agree, that is more what I would like to try. Need a cheap one

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Pete:
I think a '79 F-series stepside would look pretty good. It shouldnt take much to shrink the bed down to fit.

Years ago I saw one where they guy narrowed a Ranger bed and put dually flares on it. More of a modern looking stepside with the stock tail lights and stuff, it looked really good.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I almost bought one of them beds off a truck at the junk yard like 6 months ago! That blue ranger looks sweet!

 

[BLOODBANE]

Thanks for the response on the splash bed on an older frame. I have wondered about this for a few years, as I would be interested in doing it on my Gen 1. As far as the body lines not matching up, I would have to trim the rear anyway and could cut them to match the arch on the front (I have fiberglass fenders on the front) and the rest should be fairly close. Might just have to give it a go...

 

[JoshT]

Years ago I saw one where they guy narrowed a Ranger bed and put dually flares on it. More of a modern looking stepside with the stock tail lights and stuff, it looked really good.

That's what I want to do. Probably use a step side bed and install first gen skins. I think I would have to make my own flares to get the look I'd be after.