Ok, I'm confused. Trying to figure out what the deal is with the size of my truck bed. Trying to locate a topper that will fit it but all I'm finding is 8 foot, 7 foot, 6.5 foot and 5.5 foot. I have a 7 foot 8 inch bed or 80 inches. Was told by one person that Ford made a change on the beds mid season in 1997. Anybody know anything about this? I'm just about to build a wood topper for it but would prefer just a used topper around $50 to $100. All kinds of used toppers at that price around here, but not one that will fit. Not looking for new or custom topper. Not worth there price. I just want to know why my bed is such an odd ball. What was ford thinking if they made that change? Any solutions out there? Thanks!!!!

 

I've been having a hard time finding a good fit in used toppers, small market for them it seems for the older trucks, or they've all been wrecked. I did find a great shape one for my 8' '98, even color matched... but it was about 2000 miles round trip. Anyway, I don't see any evidence for a mid-gen change for the F150 in the size table I've been using.

Here it is, might help in figuring it out:

http://www.truckaddons.com/tonneau-b...nts-guide.html

Maybe you got a donor bed from an F250 ? They look to be 80" long in that generation. Or an older F150 ?

 

Have you tried setting an 8 foot cap on your bed to see if it fits?

 

You might need to check your measurements again. 7ft 8in is 94 inches not 80 inches. Plus I think when you measure it is the inside the box measurement, not over all, but I could be wrong on this one.

As a carpenter, that is why we say measure once and cut twice, or something like that!haha

 

I'm guessing he meant 6'8" and he is measuring the whole bed. That would be a 6'5" bed.

 

As far as I know, they only have the 6.5' and 8' beds??? Not until the SuperCrew did they have the 5.5' bed.

The thing with the toppers for the 97 and up was the funky shape of the rear of the cab and that would cause an older topper to not fit properly..

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Right you are!!!! I don't usually get measurements wrong. I inadvertently between the space of time from measuring to writing it down which was about ten minutes wrote down 7' 8" instead of 6'8". I failed to proof check the 80" that I obviously kept in mind though. Lol!!!! And yes it was outside measure on the bed. Things are looking up here again!!!! Gotta get back to Craigslist again and sort the adds. Just gotta make sure on width here first front and back. Don't want to make trips to find out that's wrong also. Lol!!!! Thanks for setting me straight here people.

 

My bed is 79" roughly, so it would be a 6.5' bed