dumb idea?

[pkj]

before i bought my 68 long fleet side or started following this forumn, ive had this idea that wont go away. i want to keep the long wheel base but shorten the rear of the bed about 18 inchs. i think it might look good long wheel base/short bed. awhile ago i saw something about this and a small pitcure somewhere on this site but cant find it. i figure long wheel bases arent worth much, so it would not be a big injustice to this model. what do you think? stupid? anyone have pics or thoughts either way on this? thanks pkj

[matthufham]

18 inches? that's about everything after the wheeltub. you'd have to hack the frame off. here's a weird truck to look at

[larry may]

Yipper: Shorten frame is farmer enough. We did an old GMC . It looked alright when pulling a trailor or sittting in the drive . Was a 1952 mabe 3/4 ton. Yours hmmmmm! post some pics after the butcher job....lol

[rancid]

do it, it will look cool. i plan on building a long bed 2wd with 20,s on front and fat 22,s with kind of a pro-streeted look. as soon as my 69 crewcab is done.

[msgross]

I think that it would look like a pulling truck!
Which isn't all bad....
______________________________________________________

My Garage:
1968 SWB K-10
2005 Tahoe
UH-60A/L Helicopter
FLY ARMY!

[pkj]

thanks for the pic. that was the one i saw before. i still like the idea but something in that pic dosnt sit well with me. not sure what it is, maybe the molding, or that bed was not shortened but wheel base moved back? thanks for the butcher vote Larry. anymore on the caddy motor? would like more feedback. thanks pkj

[purple gas]

More or less along the same lines. ( rare for me ) Has anyone ever seen a long box truck with a foot cut out between the cab and wheels, but not shortened at the back, like a normal person would do if turning a long fleetside into a short one? if you know what I mean.

[matthufham]

this truck has a 7 foot bed, a foot was taken out between the cab and wheel like "purple gas" described

[extd56]

This extended cab truck had the bed shortened in front of the wheels as I recall about 15".

[qksilver]

There is an old ford, I think 71, running around here that the owner said was a factory job. The rear of the bed was about a foot shorter than a normal long bed.
I can't see any benifit except maybe towing

[trkklr77]

it will look goofy as all hell, ive seen it done to 4x4s.

[lilpup69chevy]

i know a guy with a about a 85 or so 4x4 chevy with a cut down short bed on a blazer frame looks kinda neat next time i'm out that way i'll take a picture of it

[special-K]

You had this idea before you came to this forum.You didn`t change your mind once you read all the negative comments regarding this very think?At best,some will agree if it is for the practicle purpose of using the truck for trailering.But,do it for looks?Leave it be.

[Brad]

Here's a goofy one on the other side of town.
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/car/208879310.html

[ThatOneBlue67]

Yikes......

[71SWBChevy]

I am going against the grain here and say that it looks cool, I have always loved the way the pulling trucks have the wheels at the very rear of the bed and as long as your doing it with a fleetside I think it will look sweet, but who cares what we like, if you want it do it, thats what its all about. But personally I love the way that picture looks, maybe not as cool to me as a short fleet but deffinately cooler than a long fleet and more rare than either!

[redneckgirl]

I say leave it be...but I am partial....I have a long bed fleetside

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by pkj;

.... i figure long wheel bases arent worth much, so it would not be a big injustice to this model. what do you think? stupid? anyone have pics or thoughts either way on this? thanks pkj

If you are really asking opinions on this then I will offer mine. For any car/truck to look aesthetically pleasing it has to have balance and symmetry. In other words the lines need to flow. If you change the proportions drastically the balance is interrupted and the lines do not flow.

I vote you don't hack it up, because I think it will look retarded.

[pkj]

man i love all the adverse opions!!! would like to see more pics. this thing keeps sticking with me. i will scale sketch the truck and look for something that still keeps the balance. i can get 18 inches out easy, but may only go 12 inches. also thinking about a little bit of a rake ao the back section instead of just straight up and down. i like the negative as well as positive comments. thanks pkj

[beaterC10]

Originally Posted by Brad

Here's a goofy one on the other side of town.
http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/car/208879310.html

I like that truck, but man that would be a miserable beast to ride in.

The Air Force used tugs similar to that in the 80's that were shortened 3/4 ton Fords. You could move anything, but they would beat you senseless at any kind of speed.

[beaterC10]

Originally Posted by pkj

man i love all the adverse opions!!! would like to see more pics. this thing keeps sticking with me. i will scale sketch the truck and look for something that still keeps the balance. i can get 18 inches out easy, but may only go 12 inches. also thinking about a little bit of a rake ao the back section instead of just straight up and down. i like the negative as well as positive comments. thanks pkj

Didn't Ford do something like that in the 70's or 80's? They didn't cut the bed down, but I thought they moved the rear axle back on some of the heavy duty or trailering pickups.

[pissonNOS]

there is / was a 73-87 in town here cut like that ill try and take some pics this weekend for ya might give another opinion

[Brad]

Originally Posted by beaterC10

Didn't Ford do something like that in the 70's or 80's? They didn't cut the bed down, but I thought they moved the rear axle back on some of the heavy duty or trailering pickups.

Yes, Ford did do that as some sort of camper special in the 70's. They were built specifically for otc campers. This sorta thread came up a year or two ago and there were pics. Several weeks later I saw one in person in my town driving around.

[rancid]

fords was a full long bed with the wheelwell just positioned as far back as it could go, and i had only seen them in the 73-76 body style 3/4 ton and i dont think they made themin a 4wd. but to take a better 67-72 body style long bed and leave the wheelbase and bob the bed i think if everything was done right. with i bit of a raked stance and some big wheels and even bigger in the rear could look really cool. and in the 4wd trucks i see these alot at moab and they look very good, but always to beat for my style. i say just do it.

[pissonNOS]

heres the truck i was talking about