Posted by Eric B. on Friday, May 05, 2006 at 10:33AM :
In Reply to: Keith in WA It is the original Power Wagon bed that's on the.... posted by Mr.PG on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 at 2:06PM :
The 8' bed of that style was only used on Power Wagons, and while that bed has been lowered, it is original in length. Note the three stake pockets, 3 hinge tailgate, gas filler neck, etc.
Matt is right, there were only three bed lengths in that era on the 2wd trucks, 6 1/2, 7 1/2 and 9.
The 6 1/2 foot bed was avalible in both high side and low side, and the bedsides were not embossed. Both of these beds are narrower then all the other beds.
The 7 1/2 foot and 9 foot beds were high side, they were the same width and they both had embossed sides, but only the 9' bed had three stake pockets.
The only way to get a 2wd bed to look like the one on Matt's truck would be to add 6" to a 7 1/2 foot bed, or take 12" off a 9 foot bed, both of which should be obvious do to the amount of work involved.
Also the rear crossmemember used on the 2wd beds did not have the curve in it for the rear PTO or pintle hitch access (check the attached picture), the 2wd rear crossmember was straight across on the bottom.
So unless someone took a 2wd bed, made it 8 foot long, then lowered it, then used PW rear fenders, and a PW rear crossmember, measured a PW bed to locate the gas filler correctly, etc, etc, this is a lowered PW bed. As I can not see someone 30 years ago going to that kind of effort I think the bed is original.
Eric
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