2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission What's with the warped beds on second gens?

[jsimpson]

Hey; what's with the back of the bed sides being 3" closer together than the front??? Was that just to make sure we couldn't take stuff off of our first gens and put them on our second gens?

Also, this second gen bed is a WHOLE lot flimsier than my first gen bed! I'm going to have to reinforce the front stringer to handle my slide-in camper.....

 

[Bill Lins]

Aerodynamics- the 1988-up Chevys have tapered beds also. Makes it more interesting to fit a camper cap, too!

 

[SnoKing]

I have had both and yes the first gen truck have heavier steel. However, the bed on my first gen had spot welds breaking and it only had 74K on it. Snow King

 

[MUDDY]

i had to butcher up the rear of my camper where it sat between the tailgate opening of my 98 when i bought it.



also had to sell my shell which came off my old dodge and modify my stock racks.



im sure the little gain in aerodynamics doesnt help that much in fuel consumption.



both first gen and 2nd gen trucks have flimsey beds, but not as bad as the previous body style fords. those beds really flex offroad.

 

[Mundgyver]

Tapered??? I never owned a first gen truck. What are we talking about here?? Are we saying the bed has a different width from front to back???

 

[MUDDY]

Originally posted by Mundgyver

Tapered??? I never owned a first gen truck. What are we talking about here?? Are we saying the bed has a different width from front to back???

measure a 2nd gen bed. the back of the bed is 3 inches more narrow than the front.



measure the tailgate opening. if i remember correctly, the opening is 5 inches less than the first gen.



what an improvement huh.

 

[Mundgyver]

Guess I will get a tape and go out right now and check this out. be back in a minute Well the minute is up and you are right. It's tapered. Why would they do that. Would it be if we can the the front through then we know the back will fit??? Why would you taper the bed??

 

[MUDDY]

Originally posted by Mundgyver

Why would you taper the bed??

chevy started this in 88 for aerodynamics for a fuel economy increase. like how much fuel would this stupid idea save anyway?

 

[illflem]

I thought that Ford also narrowed their's, I don't think you can escape it nowdays. Only problem is if you have an old camper...

 

[JohnE]

The @ hole, uh tail gate, opening on my 97 is slightly wider than my buddy's 94. I understand that Dodge fixed a restriction problem in the 94's when it came to slide ins.



Pain in the wallet isn't it?



John

 

[jsimpson]

I haven't tried yet to slide in my Lance; I sure hope it fits or I'll belloking for a later bed!!!

 

[illflem]

I had to remove a 3"x3"x 24" corner off off my Alaskan camper to make it fit. It was no big deal but I can see how it would be on some campers. Most slideins built after '95 will fit the narrower tailgates.

 

[PMalin]

Backing Up

Yea - This narrow tail end of the bed also creates another problem. When backing up, you cannot see your rear bumper to know how close you are to that concrete wall behind you. I have learned a trick though. Watch the reflection of your brake lights when backing up, (if you can see it against a concrete wall or something). When you are close the reflection becomes a lot smaller in size and you can get used to it that way. Must go very slow though.

 

[jsimpson]

Uh Oh; my camper was made in 93!

 

[jmtandem]

narrowing camper to fit new bed

I had to take off 4 inches from the rear of my Alaskan Camper to fit the 2001 beds. Not a big job but standardizing beds would be nice for campers and camper shells.

 

[jsimpson]

I've learned to live with the size, but the construction REALLY sucks! My 89 bed and tailgate were solid as a rock when I got rid of it. This 94 bed collapsed at the front cross frames (thin u-channel sheet metal!), rotted out all over the floor because of the moisture trapped by the drop-in bedliner, and the tailgate cracked at both upper corners. The bed and tailgate are REALLY flimsy compared to the 89. I found a 97 bed that I'll reinforce, paint, and spray in a bedliner to replace the 94 bed. Now I need to find someone in the spray-in liner busines to buy my 94 bed and use it for advertising. It REALLY shows what a drop-in bedliner can do to your truck!

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by jsimpson

I haven't tried yet to slide in my Lance; I sure hope it fits or I'll belloking for a later bed!!!

Hey J, just sell that Tundra and buy a new 02 CTD

 

[jsimpson]

A new CTD would be a great replacement for my old CTD, but there ain't nothin yet that I would buy to replace my wife's Tundra. The Dodge is our truck, and the Tundra is our Lexus! Besides, my wife would kill me and I don't have enough life insurance to make it worth her while!

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by jsimpson



the Tundra is our Lexus! Besides, my wife would kill me and I don't have enough life insurance to make it worth her while!

J, I'm just jerking your chain I know you love that Tundra

 

[jsimpson]

Yep; it's the car I always wanted. Doubles as a darn nice truck too!; Just cain't put my camper in the back of it!