looking for a champ truck stepside bed complete. Short bed

[cigarcar62]

Does anyone know where I can find a short bed stepside complete bed in great shape? I have a wide bed and really hate the look. Thought about narrowing it 4" but afraid it will be very expensive and still not match the cab lines.

[Warren Webb]

A bed from a Ford Ranger "Splash" looks really good. Perhaps some here can post a picture with it.

[LarkTruck]

One on ebay right now with the Ranger bed, and, it's inTexas.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Studebaker-Pick-up-1962-/281930669909?forcerrptr=true&hash=item41a4609f55:g:UakAAOSwuAVWuQL~&item=281930669909

JS

[swvalcon]

Looks like even the ranger is just a hair to wide at the step. If you could find a junk 2 dr wagon you could build this.

[Milaca]

It is my understanding that the Studebaker 6-1/2' bed from 1956 and newer will give you what you are asking for. Perhaps someone has a trailer made from a Studebaker bed of this vintage to sell?

[62champ]

8E-7-112 that a relative owned 15 years ago - restorer cut bed down to match cab...

[studeclunker]

Does anyone know where I can find a short bed stepside complete bed in great shape? I have a wide bed and really hate the look. Thought about narrowing it 4" but afraid it will be very expensive and still not match the cab lines.

LOL, you and me both brother, you and me both! Only, I'm not picky as long as the bed isn't rusted out and not too beat up. After all, neither of my pickups are exactly show cars. They're ranch trucks. Got the long bed and now need fenders. Need a short bed, but might settle for the earlier bed I have... maybe.

All the best of luck in your search!

[Milaca]

If one were to relocate the fuel filler, exhaust stacks could be used to hide the front corners of the Dodge box.

[57pack]

There was a post a while back with a Champ pickup with a later model Dodge Dakota bed installed. Looked really nice.

[Kurt]

I guess I am weird. I kinda like the cobbled look of the wide bed. Don't get me wrong, I think the old bed looks better. I still think it doesn't quite look right on the champ either though.

In the 70's when I was just a little kid, Grandpa had a Wide bed Champ as his farm truck. It eventually rusted away like most Champs did. Even then, I thought they were more cool than weird.

[studeclunker]

Well, though I like the look of the Step-Side, the Fleetside is far more practical. This is the reason the majority of Champs were built with them. That orange Champ is a beauty and the box looks great like that. However, cutting it down to fit the truck defeats the whole purpose of the bed. One thing I've been considering is to put a step-side on my Short-Bed Champ and make the long-Fleetside into a trailer. I have the back half of a one-ton Toyota with dual wheels that would work great for the project.

[cigarcar62]

Thanks. I would love to see a pic of the ranger bed on it if anyone has one. How much did it cost to cut down the bed? My body guy is saying 60-80 hrs. OOOOuch

[Sam Ensley]

I made these pictures at the IM in Arizona back in 2010. The gentleman who was the owner/builder had an interesting story. His friend owned a Dodge truck that had good-looking rear fenders. He hadn't been able to find any like them, so his friend permitted him to remove the fenders, make molds,then put the fenders back on the truck. I was really impressed with the workmanship, ingenuity, and appearance.

[Bradford]

http://gadsden.craigslist.org/pts/5377048316.html

CHEAP

[LarkTruck]

Thanks. I would love to see a pic of the ranger bed on it if anyone has one. How much did it cost to cut down the bed? My body guy is saying 60-80 hrs. OOOOuch

I posted the link to the ebay truck in post #3. Click on it, and you will see pictures.
JS