6.5 or 5.5 box?

[Kickemup]

I would never go back to a 5.5. I have a 6.5 now with a turn over ball instead of the plate in the box. Them rails are a pain in the a$$ and always in the way.

 

[shorthairsrus]

2003 I bought a new 1500hd crew. I buried it in the river bottoms. Luckily some guy with a Tacoma backs up and pulls me out. True story

Plenty of bait and good fishin around bis. Eos.

- - - Updated - - -

Add to that I kick r d that Chevy and swore I would never own anutter

 

[shorthairsrus]

 

[Sluggo]

I would never go back to a 5.5. I have a 6.5 now with a turn over ball instead of the plate in the box. Them rails are a pain in the a$$ and always in the way.

Can't the turn over ball be used in the 5.5 box? I thought I saw examples of this.

 

[MSA]

No, no, no, no, no, absolutely not!!!. Do not get that 5 foot box. You midas well throw your nuts in the trash and buy an avalanche. You cant haul sheetrock, you cant haul 2X4s, you cant put fishin rods back there, no room for a sheet of plywood, basically you cant do man shit with a 5 foot box.

 

[Kickemup]

Can't the turn over ball be used in the 5.5 box? I thought I saw examples of this.

They can be used but I wouldn't want to back a 5th wheel camper with one. My camper comes close to my cab with a 6.5 foot box.

 

[sl1000794]

In 2001 I bought a 7.3 liter Ford Power Stroke with a crew cab and an 8' bed and I wouldn't trade it for the world. And I live in San Jose, CA (in the winter) and I don't have any problem with parking. True, I don't go to Macy's on Christmas Eve but otherwise I do OK. I needed an 8' bed because I used my truck for tent camping when I went ab diving and I would put my 13' inflatable on top of my camping gear in the back of the pick-up. A 6'-10" bed would have been too short for a 13' inflateble.

I've been told that Ford has gotten better on their turning radius in recent years.

BUT, I STILL LOVE MY 7.3 L FORD and will never trade it in!!!

S.

 

[Sub_Elect]

I am on my third 6.5' box. I will not buy anything else unless I don't have the room in the garage.

 

[jdinny]

I have a 5.5 box currently on my f-150 , I bought it as a strapping young lad not married no kids. I would like to punch myself in the face for it. I will never own a 5.5 box again. The things that fit in that last foot is unbelievable can't name specifics but it seems anytime you need that extra foot you don't have it.

 

[all4eyes]

Sounds like the 5.5' bed is more for the soccer moms grocery getting, I thought I needed a truck instead of a Tahoe and white sunglasses type of truck.

with that said if you own a trailer or another pickup most would be fine. Don't think I'd do a fifth wheel withthe 5.5' bed, not enough room to turn comfortably.

 

[KDM]

Sure wish 8 was a choice in this thread, but since it isn't, I'll just shut up and color.

 

[gonefshn]

If all you're going to carry are groceries the 5.5 works great. But if you want a 2 man ice house or an atv to fit decent, get the 6.5. I absolutely hate the 5.5. I have a topper which makes having a 5.5 even worse. With a 6.5 at least you can put 8 ft boards in at an angle, an atv will fit in it without having the tailgate down, and a two man portable ice house fits nicely with room for your auger at the end.

 

[eyexer]

The only person I've heard bitch because they had too big a box was a gal from Northern Alberta

 

[Jigaman]

7 assembled patio chairs. Ford bed extender, more use flipped other direction as grocery/beer corral, also splits in half to store behind wheel wells. Tailgate step da bomb. Nuked old man handle, removed bracket and plastic cover, installed standard access panel, bedlined over mod.

oh, 6.5 all the way

Tell me more about removing that handle. It is kinda handy but I hate not having a nice flat tailgate because I like to use it as a work bench. about how much was that flat panel?

 

[scooter7]

i would NOT put a turn over ball in a 5.5 unless you are friends with a body man. the only thing that could help in that option is to have a off set hitch on that fifth wheel. it will still be close to the cab.

 

[You]

Tell me more about removing that handle. It is kinda handy but I hate not having a nice flat tailgate because I like to use it as a work bench. about how much was that flat panel?

buy this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-9L3Z9943121A-GENUINE-OEM-ACCESS-COVER-/111872660051?vxp=mtr

and 8 of these: W710734-S439 SCREW - PAN HEAD - SELF-TAPPIN -
$21.04 Delivered for all 8 from:

OEM Ford Parts,
2407 Browns Bridge Rd.
Gainesville, Georgia, 30504

local dealerships couldnt compete on parts prices, at all

i also bought $0.97 T30-T50 bits from menards, i think i used em all, used my dewalt impact, was done in no time DO NOT MISS THE HANDLE OR FUGLY PLASTIC

$100 mod said and done (painting not considered in price, cover comes black)

 

[DJE]

buy this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-9L3Z9943121A-GENUINE-OEM-ACCESS-COVER-/111872660051?vxp=mtr

and 8 of these: W710734-S439 SCREW - PAN HEAD - SELF-TAPPIN -
$21.04 Delivered for all 8 from:

OEM Ford Parts,
2407 Browns Bridge Rd.
Gainesville, Georgia, 30504

local dealerships couldnt compete on parts prices, at all

i also bought $0.97 T30-T50 bits from menards, i think i used em all, used my dewalt impact, was done in no time DO NOT MISS THE HANDLE OR FUGLY PLASTIC

For my tailgate I went to a metal shop and had them cut me a piece of 1/8" diamond plate drilled some holes and used self tappers to attach. This is the 3rd truck I've had it on works great.

 

[You]

For my tailgate I went to a metal shop and had them cut me a piece of 1/8" diamond plate drilled some holes and used self tappers to attach. This is the 3rd truck I've had it on works great.

sounds legit, and grippy. im more into the factory look tho. how much for the 1/8" plate cut-to-order?

 

[DJE]

sounds legit, and grippy. im more into the factory look tho. how much for the 1/8" plate cut-to-order?

I don't remember it was about 5 years ago. For me though my tailgate doubles as a work bench on the farm so the added strength was also a benefit.