i found this neat little thing while looking to get a frame fix bracket for my truck cause the pass rear leaf spring shackel and frame r about to let go, i believe this may work to adopt a 7 ft bed but it may throw off the balance a little. But if your frame looks like this http://rangerframefix.com/images/framerot1.jpg then you may want to purchase this http://rangerframefix.com/theparts.html
Join RangerForum.com Today - It's Totally Free! Are you a Ford Ranger fan? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Ford Ranger Fans to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your Ford, and have a great time with other Ranger fans. Whether your an old timer or just bought your Ford you'll find that Ranger Forum is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally free! Join RnagerForum.com Today!
First and second item in the second link only covers the rear portion(common rust areas on these trucks). There's still a chunk of frame added between the cab and axle on the 7' bed models. If memory serves me correctly, long beds are longer 6" fore and 6" aft of the axle. Adding a 7' bed to a xcab truck is pretty straight forward for 98+ trucks. Though I cannot name anyone who has actually done it. 98+ trucks feature modular frames that are basically riveted together. The joint in question is just behind the cab and incorporate the front spring mount. Pop off the short bed rear frame half, bolt on the long bed rear frame half, drop on new bed, done! (except there is the little issue of brake lines, e-brake cables, exhaust , possible fuel tank issues, and driveshaft...but those are besides the point. lol). Although, GREAT find on that RangerFrameFix.com info. That's something in need by many folks in certain parts of the country.
i actualy am replacing my frame with the 7ft module because i found some bad rust in front of where those brackets go unless i can fix the hole, if i end up replacing with the 7 ft secetion i will post pictures on how i did it, im going to try to fix it cause i dont want to have to replace the driveshaft
You will have to do something about the driveshaft, e-brake, brake lines, and exhaust if you change the frame before the axle. Or are you trying to swap a reg cab-long bed frame under your xcab-short bed body? If so, a couple cab mounts need fabbed up and possibly a couple of the bed mounts as well.
I always wished my ranger had a larger Gas tank, having a 7 ft bed might actually allow that. are the tanks bigger on 7 ft beds?
There is a small amount of difference year to year but most have something like this: Supercab 6ft: 19.5 gal Regular cab 6ft: 16.5 gal Regular cab 7ft: 20 gal So you wouldn't gain anything worth talking about if you adapted a factory 7ft tank in place of a factory Supercab tank. I suppose that you could have a custom one made to take advantage of the extra 6" wheelbase but, IMO, that wouldn't be worth the increase in capacity.
I would like to be able to do 800 kms on a single tank. I fell short about 100 Kms so if I could add a few extra liters (74L for the supercab) maybe an 80L would be enough.
ok so i finished the work on replacing the rear end of the frame where the leaf spring mounts, i took it for a ride last night and wow the bracket in my signature holds up great and the ride differance is incredible. i suggest every one goes and looks to make sure your ranger frame is ok, if you to have frame rot issues then i suggest you buy some brackets and shackle kit from the website listed in my signature.