I have a 2009 F-150 5.5 bed can I purchase and install the CMS after market

 

The option is for 6.5 beds im sure.

 

Nope 6.5ft bed only

 

Only for he 6.5 bed. Hey if you figure out how to get it on a 5.5 bed post it. I know I would love to have it on my bed. I bet it wouldn't take a whole lot. But I bet that option is very expensive!! Good luck.

 

I bet it would be very easy to modify it to fit on a 5ft bed. Cut it down on the end by 1 ft then get some rivet nuts and mark where the holes are mounted then instal them. I used rivet nuts to mount my mtb brackets.

 

It's more than a simple job that just installing riv nuts.

The 5.5' bed inner panels are about 3/4" narrower per side at the CMS attachment point near the cab. It is also wider at the center CMS attachments and does not have the attachments needed to mount the top CMS rail to the top of the bed. The 6.6' bed has a completely different structure.

I'm not a big fan of riv-nuts on sheetmetal . They are good in light applications, are easy to install, but they have little strength since there is no reinforcing backing plate on the sheet metal. You are putting all the force of your load on a small flange surface of the riv nut gripping only thin sheet metal.

I'm not saying putting the CMS on a 5.5' bed can't be done, but it's a very complicated job. I'd hate to see someone start hacking in to their nice new truck only to find out they will have to shell out big $ for a properly equipped shop to machine and modify the parts required to make it fit.