I want a 3500 box on a 5500. What can I do?

[JBigelow]

I am looking at the 5500 QC, 4x4. I want a truck bed on it. It is not offered. Can a 1 ton box be put on? Or, does someone make one? Thank you fore the help.

 

[RVTRKN]

Has been discussed before on TDR, do a search, there was mention of a Co. who could.

 

[Tspanos]

Has been discussed plenty, short answer is no though. It would not be a simple swap, the Cab-axle measurements are different. Look at old posts in this forum and the one for towing, that will give you the most relevent threads.

 

[JBigelow]

I have been looking, do you have a link?

 

[CUMMINZ]

Anything can be done

Look at photo below I took of converted Ferd 550 to pickup box. Notice fine line just behind pickup box bed and truck cab. This is before Ferd started production of F-450 with pickup body. Fab shop had to mod a piece of bed to make up the difference in length. You would have to do the same thing to DC 5500. The wheel base is different than a 3500 DRW with pickup bed. Also the pickup bed is made for frame with curve in it. 5500 has straight frame rails. Wait another year and Sterling will build you one.



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[Tspanos]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...76679-08-f-450-pickup-d-4500-cc-thoughts.html

You'll have to read through the thread but this is one thread that hits upon it. Sad thing is I did the search that I told you to do and i can't find anything truely relevent beyond the above thread. I found several casual discussions but nothing signifigant enough to mention.



As I see it you have several problems going from a 3500 pickup to a 5500 C&C, the first the different cab axle (5500 is 4" longer) and I'm sure the after axle measurements are different also. The other biggy is the width of the frame rails, the 5500 is 6+" narrower. The only real bonus is the bottom of the bed is relativly flat looking at the Body Builders Guide so you could probably make a relatively simple subframe to adapt the bed's wide set bolt holes to the narrow frame of the chassis cab. This leaves you to deal with the 4" gap between the bed and cab and I would wonder about the larger tire/wheel combo fitting properly in the pickup bed wheel wells. One measurement I didn't check was the overall width of the pickup bed's wheel wells compared to the location of the C&C tires if that makes sense.



Quite sipmly there is alot to think about and it would take a signifigant amout of body work to be done properly. The best option would be to approach one of the aftermarket companies like Fontaine and see if they wouldn't start making a bed for the Dodges.

 

[Oasis-3]

The Gap

The Gap between the cab and bed is for stacks :-laf

If you find someone with a take off bed for sale ask if you can set it on and take a look at how hard it would be to make it fit.



Good luck

Cliff

 

[MStrain]

Do the stacks go before or after the DPF?

 

[JBigelow]

I do not have the time or willingness to do it myself. I will check on the companies mentioned. Thanks guys

 

[2-ND TIME]

3500 box on a 4500

I am going to be putting a box on a 4500 Top Kick in the early summer as yet don't know if the 60" or 84" Ca and look forward to it, as my most interesting project for the year. Oo. Too bad I don't have a shop for I would like to be in on it. Or give you some ideas on a workable design. Go for it.

 

[MCummings]

Anything is possible. Just drop the truck off at any good body shop and tell 'em to put a bed on it. Come back 1. 5 months later with a blank check.



Go home happy.



Merrick

 

[JBigelow]

Anything is possible. Just drop the truck off at any good body shop and tell 'em to put a bed on it. Come back 1. 5 months later with a blank check.



Go home happy.



Merrick

If that was an option I would buy the $120K International and have a real truck

 

[MCummings]

If that was an option I would buy the $120K International and have a real truck

shhhhh, don't tell my truck it's not a real truck,, hehehe. He allready has issues. During the week he thinks he is a big rig, on Friday and Saturday he thinks he is a sports car, and on Sunday he thinks he is a van. shhhh. He's got enough issues as is. :-laf



Merrick

 

[Scrappy]

shhhhh, don't tell my truck it's not a real truck,, hehehe. He allready has issues. During the week he thinks he is a big rig, on Friday and Saturday he thinks he is a sports car, and on Sunday he thinks he is a van. shhhh. He's got enough issues as is. :-laf



Merrick

So true! :-laf

 

[2-ND TIME]

pickup box on a......

Hey, this will be an interesting job and not very difficult at all for me to do! I am so looking forward to having a truck with power and no problems from the factory! Is it, the Freightliner that I maybe able to get a C-9 Cat engine in will have to investagate that soon. They didn't want to lay me off or fire me from work so I only get 3 weeks for my time off. I was looking at the built up F-650's last night, boy some of them sure look good. That would be an interesting job for me to do. I love changing things, it drives people nuts not using things the way that they were disigned to be used, I call it improvement.

 

[DLane]

Modifying the bed is a poor second choice, very labor intensive. Roll the axle forward and shorten the driveshaft, make some brackets for the bed. Simple. Bring it down and I will hook ya up, you will have to wait till after hunting season though as that comes first this time of year

 

[JBigelow]

I would like to talk to you about it. My # is 253 691 6636

Thanks,

James

 

[KBalzuweit]

Modifying the bed is a poor second choice, very labor intensive. Roll the axle forward and shorten the driveshaft, make some brackets for the bed. Simple. Bring it down and I will hook ya up, you will have to wait till after hunting season though as that comes first this time of year

Why?? I have done it before and from start to finish with the help of a friend we had it done in a weekend. Worst part is you need 2 beds. We started with a good dually bed and a wreck reg bed. After using spray in bedliner in the bed you could not tell it was done.

 

[DLane]

Why?? I have done it before and from start to finish with the help of a friend we had it done in a weekend. Worst part is you need 2 beds. We started with a good dually bed and a wreck reg bed. After using spray in bedliner in the bed you could not tell it was done.

And that is definately possible, and I am in No WAY saying it is the wrong way. Just would not be my choice for a "new" truck. I have cut rolled over cabs thru the floor and windshield posts and made a cab, does not mean it is the best or easiest way. Two beds would be a option for someone who needed a 8'4" bed IMHO and thats all. Other than that My honest opinion and what I would do for myself would be to roll the axle forward and shorten the driveshaft by 4 inches. No bondo to break and fall out of your beds front q/panels:-laf