Loading up the bed, what have you fit?

[JAMRanger]

Hello everyone,

I've just moved out to the Canadian County Side and want to get a midsize pick up for home renos, gardening and general driving around use.

I have been doing a lot of research and based on bed size, I've come to understand the the Ranger has the wider fit when compared to the Tacoma and Chevy equivalents.

But as one of my main focuses is home renos I wanted to understand sizing when loading that bed up. Has anyone gone to the trouble of filling the bed up with 2 x 4's drywall etc?

How did you find it? Was it cumbersome? Could it fit what you wanted?

Any input or even images would be great and help me a lot in terms of buying one of these.

Thanks.

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[khyros]

Welcome. Very few of us have received our trucks yet, so we're not going to be able to really answer your question. However, taking from the tech specs, the width between the wheel wells is 44.8'', which means that you won't be able to fit a piece of drywall (or plywood) flat in the bed. It's either going to have to be raised up, or at an angle. And regardless of whether you get the 6' or 5' bed, you're going to be overhanging the tailgate a bit, just a question of whether it's 6'' or 18''.

Neither of these things should keep you from getting a midsized truck though. A full sized F-150 is only 50.6'' wide between the wheel wells today, but about a decade ago it didn't have the full 48'' width there. I remember back in mid-2000s a comparison of full sized trucks, where it was stated that the Tundra was the only full sized that could fit a piece of plywood flat between the wheel wells, but the fit was so tight that any sort of spray in or drop in bedliner meant that it wouldn't fit anymore. My point? People have been living without a 4' wide truck for years now, so the fact that the midsize truck doesn't have it isn't a huge detractor.

 

[rangerdanger]

Welcome. Very few of us have received our trucks yet, so we're not going to be able to really answer your question. However, taking from the tech specs, the width between the wheel wells is 44.8'', which means that you won't be able to fit a piece of drywall (or plywood) flat in the bed. It's either going to have to be raised up, or at an angle. And regardless of whether you get the 6' or 5' bed, you're going to be overhanging the tailgate a bit, just a question of whether it's 6'' or 18''.

Neither of these things should keep you from getting a midsized truck though. A full sized F-150 is only 50.6'' wide between the wheel wells today, but about a decade ago it didn't have the full 48'' width there. I remember back in mid-2000s a comparison of full sized trucks, where it was stated that the Tundra was the only full sized that could fit a piece of plywood flat between the wheel wells, but the fit was so tight that any sort of spray in or drop in bedliner meant that it wouldn't fit anymore. My point? People have been living without a 4' wide truck for years now, so the fact that the midsize truck doesn't have it isn't a huge detractor.

To expand on your point, plywood or drywall will fit in the bed if you build a platform to raise them above the wheel arches.

Use google images to get inspiration: https://www.google.com/search?q=tru...hVCnuAKHfUkDpcQ_AUoAnoECAwQAg&biw=375&bih=638

 

[DHMag]

This is what I made for my Colorado. It broke down into 4 pieces for storing in the garage.

 

[FLEngineer]

This is what I made for my Colorado. It broke down into 4 pieces for storing in the garage.

Simple yet elegant; you are awesome!

 

[Jmckinley]

This is what I made for my Colorado. It broke down into 4 pieces for storing in the garage.

Thanks for the idea. I made one along the same design but I used 1/2” plywood cut into four 12” strips. Much cheaper and lighter but plenty strong. I needed something quick to haul drywall and happened to see your post just in time to save the day.

 

[DHMag]

Thanks for the idea. I made one along the same design but I used 1/2” plywood cut into four 12” strips. Much cheaper and lighter but plenty strong. I needed something quick to haul drywall and happened to see your post just in time to save the day.

Glad I could help. I still have it in my garage, so if anyone has a 15+ Colorado and are somewhat local to San Antonio, Texas, they can have it.

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