2006 F-150 Fordster

Hey, I would like to switch my 5.5 Styleside to a 6.5 Flareside, what will I need to do and where can I find a Flareside Bed for sale, please no negative comments cause I went to another forum but they just told me to buy a new truck with a flareside and wanted me to sell truck, thanks and I can't wait to see what u post

Gixxer603

I really doubt your mounts would line up and all your wiring harnesses would be short.

allinon72

Plus the extra length is before the axle so that wouldnt line up either.

bubbabud

I believe the wheel base is different so you would prbably have to lengthen the frame, drive shaft etc. not a practical swap.

Especial86

iTrader: (1)

I think it would work out a problem to be honest. Your harness to the back may be a little shorter, but I have no idea. I can't imagine why the flare side would have a different frame then the style side, that would be bad business and costly for ford to not make that an easy swap option.
I suggest you google the **** out of this or PM a member named URSMALL on this forum. I know he's got both a style side and a flare side so he could probably take some measures to see if it would work for you.

MoDy150

There's three ways to do this.
1) Lengthen your frame to accommodate the extra bed length. The others are right, the extra length is between the cab and the axle. It's not just drop and bolt. Frame lengthening would be a heck of a task. You would have to measure precisely to make sure the wheel wells line up with the wheels.
2) Buy the flareside bed and shorten it. The bed is fiberglass. You would need to chop the length from the front of the bed. Then glass it back together. The front would look goofy due to the "step" being removed from the front. This would be WestCoastCustoms type customization because no one else would have a 5.5' flareside bed.
3) Buy a donor frame from a Screw with 6.5' bed and completely swap out the frames. But like the others said, you will need new wiring harness, brake lines, gas line, etc... Same with option one.

If you do a basic MSPaint and paste a flair side bed onto your truck you'll see the differences.

Cheers!!

HardcoreFx4

not trying to be negative or anything but why would you do all that work for just a bed. i mean i agree with the other forum. it would be cheaper to sell your truck and buy one with a flairside but i mean its your choice. i myself dont like the flairsides they look a little odd to me.

Ksturgio

I'm not sure why you want the other bed for looks or length. If you use it to haul loads of whatever and need the bigger bed it would be way easier to buy an aftermarket flat bed or box bed to get more space. Just a suggestion. Everyone else is pretty right on. With all the time you are going to have to go through lengthening the frame, DS, wiring, and all the time it is going to take to do the swap, and paint, you would really save money and time buying another truck.
But heck if you want to do it, do it, it's your truck.