We’ve had our own fair share of swapping truck beds on Ford F-250 models, and what we can say is that it’s not simply a “one-size-fits-all” type of deal.
Luckily, we’ve made sure that every single bed swap we’ve ever done fitted like a glove, and thus, we know exactly which F-250 model years are actually interchangeable with each other down to the last bolt.
So if you’ve decided to take on the seemingly daunting task of swapping your F-250 bed for another, then rest assured you’re in good hands with this guide. Read on and keep on trucking!
What year of Ford F-250 truck beds interchange?
All 1999 to 2016 Ford F-250s can interchange their truck beds with each other, assuming they have identical dimensions, similar design features, and steel construction.
4th-gen F-250 models (2017 to 2022) are not compatible with older models due to different dimensions and aluminum construction.
Ford F-250 Models with Interchangeable Beds
1st to 3rd-gen Ford F-250 models have interchangeable beds because of their physical similarities, while 4th-gen models can only interchange beds with other 4th-gen models because of their aluminum materials and unique dimensions.
Aside from the general summary we’ve provided above, we’ll be going through each of these F-250 generations to see more specific differences between their truck beds.
4th-Generation Ford F-250 (P558) (2017 to 2022)
Truck bed options for the 4th-gen Ford F-250 include the short bed (6.75-ft bed) and the long bed (8-ft bed), both of which are available for either the Crew Cab or the SuperCab version of the truck.
Compared to earlier generations, the 4th-gen Ford F-250 has utilized lightweight aluminum alloy for its body, which includes the truck beds themselves.
Though, don’t let the 4th-gen F-250’s use of lighter material fool you into thinking it’s weaker, as Ford actually opted for high-strength military-grade aluminum that can still hold its own against its steel counterpart.
4th-gen Ford F-250 models can only interchange their truck beds with 4th-gen models as well, which can be any truck made within the 2017 to 2022 model years.
Why is the 4th-gen F-250 bed not interchangeable with previous models?
The 4th-gen F-250’s truck bed is not interchangeable with previous-gen models due to having switched to aluminum construction materials and different physical dimensions.
While the 1st to 3rd-gen F250 models have had either identical or nearly identical dimensions and designs for their truck beds, Ford has gone for a completely different set of them for 4th-gen models that will not fit earlier models unless modded heavily.
1st to 3rd-gen models of the Ford F-250 also utilized steel material for the construction of their bodies, which are a lot heavier compared to the lighter aluminum body construction that the newer 4th-gen model has.
Thus, even if you can theoretically use the 3rd-gen steel body beds on a 4th-gen truck, you’ll end up increasing the overall curb weight and disrupting the natural balance of the truck from how it originally was from the factory.
3rd-Generation Ford F-250 (P473) (2011 to 2016)
The 3rd generation of the Ford F-250, designated as the “P473”, was manufactured between 2011 and 2016 having very similar designs to older models of the “Super Duty” truck.
Truck bed sizes for the 3rd-gen F-250 are exactly the same as they are for the newer 4th-gen model, with the 6.75-foot option as the “short bed” and the 8-foot option as the “long bed”.
However, there are differences between the 3rd and 4th-gen truck beds’ physical dimensions, which include the bed length, floor length, height, and even the width between the wheel wells.
For instance, the 3rd-gen F-250 has an overall bed length of 80.7 inches for the 6.75-ft bed option, which is 0.6 inches longer than its 4th-gen counterpart at 80.1 inches.
As for interchanging truck beds with older generations (1st or 2nd-gen) that already have identical dimensions, to begin with, you still need to consider that the color codes for the tailgate and reverse light wires between them are different.
Also unique to the 3rd-gen model is the rectangular fuel filler cap compared to the earlier circular design, and the fact that it has slightly shallower wheel wells.
2nd-Generation Ford F-250 (P356) (2008 to 2010)
2nd-gen Ford F-250 models were only produced for the 2008 to 2010 model years of the truck, but luckily, their truck beds allow for part interchangeability with both 1st and 3rd-gen models with slight modifications.
When interchanging truck beds with 1st-gen models, in particular, the 2nd-gen F-250 has slightly different wiring systems that may lack some wires found in the earlier models.
The location of the spare tire access hole on the truck bed is also different between the 1st and 2nd-gen F-250, so you will have to cut another hole that matches the location of the one on the bed that you’re going to replace.
Moreover, it’s also worth noting that the designs of the fuel filler door and the reverse indicator lights are slightly different between the two generations, though they don’t necessarily affect the overall fitting of the truck bed.
1st-Generation (PHN131) (1999 to 2007)
The very first generation of the Ford F-250 “Super Duty” truck started production in 1998 for the 1999 model year, and it was built on a completely different chassis from the half-ton F-150 pickup truck.
But when looking at its similarities to the 2nd and 3rd-gen F-250s, the 1st-gen “PHN131” F-250 actually started the trend of using steel construction for its body, including its truck bed.
Truck bed sizes for the 1st-gen Ford F-250 already utilized the same 6.75-ft short bed and 8-ft long bed options we’ve discussed for the newer models, though the way they’re paired with the cab configurations is a little bit different.
While the 8-ft long bed came as standard for the 2-door Standard Cab, the 6.75-ft short bed was pairable with both the Crew Cab and the SuperCab.
But just as long as you take note of which truck bed option can fit on which cab configuration, then you’ll be able to interchange 1st-gen truck beds with 2nd and 3rd-gen F-250 models with just the minor mods discussed earlier.
Ford F-250 Truck Bed Dimensions Comparison by Generation
| Dimensions(Crew Cab/6.75-ft Bed) | 1st Generation(1999 to 2007) | 2nd Generation(2008 to 2010) | 3rd Generation(2011 to 2016) | 4th Generation(2017 to 2022) |
| Floor Length (in) | 82.4 | 81.8 | 81.8 | 81.9 |
| Cargo Box Height (in) | 20 | 20.1 | 20 | 21.1 |
| Width Between Wheel Wells(in) | 50.9 | 50.9 | 50.9 | 50.5 |
| Width at Floor(in) | 63.5 | 69.3 | 69.3 | 66.9 |
| Cargo Capacity/Volume(cu-ft) | 64.8 | 64.4 | 64.1 | 65.4 |
What are the things to consider when choosing interchangeable beds for the Ford F-250?
When choosing interchangeable beds for the Ford F-250, you need to consider their size, body lines, fender flares, fuel cap location, construction material, wheel arches, rear bumpers, tailgates, truck bed liners, and taillight wirings.
Size/Dimensions
Possibly the single most important thing that you should consider when choosing which truck bed to use for your F-250 is the size or physical dimensions of the bed itself.
If the set of dimensions of your current truck bed and the replacement truck bed are even an inch apart from each other, then you could possibly run into issues with getting the latter to fit on your F-250.
The best example of this can be seen when comparing the 4th-gen F-250 with any of the earlier model generations, as the length, width, and height measurements of the 4th-gen truck bed are completely different from those of previous generations.
It’s also important to consider which type of bed you’ll be going for. Since the F-250 can come with a short bed or a long bed, choose the size or length that suits your needs the most.
Body Lines/Fender Flares
As with any other vehicle, the Ford F-250 has its own unique styling for its body lines and fender flares, and they can also vary even across generations of the same pickup truck.
Furthermore, such design features can affect the fitment of a certain truck bed on your F-250 despite being taken from the same generation.
Thus, it’s important to take note of such styling differences so that you can choose a truck bed that fits and flows more naturally with the overall design of your own truck.
Fuel Cap Location
The fuel filler cap is something that one may easily forget to consider when choosing a truck bed because of how seemingly minor of a detail it is.
Though if you happen to get a truck bed that has its fuel filler cap and assembly in a completely different location, then you will not be able to align it with the fuel tank on your own truck, as the assembly is made out of metal and cannot be adjusted.
As for minor design differences, such as the fuel filler cap being rectangular instead of circular, you will still be able to make it fit right as long as it’s in exactly the same position as the one on your truck.
Construction Materials
The type of material that was used to construct the truck’s body is another important consideration when choosing truck beds so that you don’t end up mismatching materials and upsetting the structural balance of the truck.
1st to 3rd-gen Ford F-250 models, which is any model from 1999 to 2016, are all constructed using heavier steel material, including the truck bed itself.
But as for 4th-gen models from 2017 onwards, Ford has made the switch to using aluminum alloy material for the truck body instead, which is lighter yet still provides military-grade durability.
Wheel Arches/Grooves
The wheel arches or grooves of a truck like the Ford F-250 can be seen as bulges when looking at the floor of the truck bed, and they can also have varying dimensions depending on the exact model.
For instance, 3rd-gen F-250s have slightly lower wheel arches on their truck beds compared to those of other generations, which can affect the fitment of the truck bed when placed on top of the wheels of models with different-sized wheel arches.
To avoid any sort of tire rubbing or damage to nearby components, be sure to choose a truck bed with wheel arches that can properly accommodate the wheels of your Ford F-250 model.
Rear Bumper and Tailgate
Another pair of components that you should consider when choosing compatible truck beds is the rear bumper and tailgate, as they can vary both in size and positioning across models.
The rear bumper also houses the spare tire, and the hole where the tire is mounted can slightly vary in location from each F-250 generation.
If you’re ever interchanging truck beds between 1st and 2nd-gen F-250 models, for example, their spare tire access holes are located differently, making it necessary to cut another access hole when putting one gen’s truck bed on another gen’s body.
Truck Bed Liner
Trucks, especially the Ford F-250, often come with “liners” for their truck beds that are primarily used to protect them from any sort of impact or scratches, especially when hauling heavy cargo.
Such truck bed liners are designed according to the specific dimensions of the bed, which also includes the inner side of the tailgate when you open and extend it.
Thus, just in case your truck bed doesn’t have a liner yet, you need to make sure that you get one from a truck bed that has exactly the same dimensions as your own.
Alternatively, there are tons of aftermarket truck bed options out there that you can purchase for your specific F-250 model.
Wirings for the Taillights
Let’s not forget that the Ford F-250’s truck bed still has some wirings that you need to consider when swapping it, and one very important example of such wirings is the ones for the taillights.
The wirings for the taillight assembly can be different for each F-250 generation. Some may require you to add additional wires, while others may have different wire color codes.
Also, some parts of the taillight assembly may be located differently in other models, such as the 2nd-gen reverse indicator lights being a bit higher compared to 1st-gen ones.
Location of Truck Bed Bolts
Before you can even put on a new truck bed on your Ford F-250, you also need to make sure that the bolts are exactly in the same place as the ones on your current truck bed.
The Ford F-250’s truck bed has 8 different bolts positioned in a specific way on the bed floor. Thus, if your chosen truck bed’s bolts do not align with your current one, they cannot be interchanged with one another.
Steps to Replace the Bed on a Ford F-250
To replace the bed on a Ford F-250, follow the steps below:
- Remove the 8 bolts on the bed floor that are holding the truck bed in place using a torque wrench.
- Remove the fuel filler assembly and the wirings for the taillights from the old bed.
- Using an automotive shop crane or any suitable hoist, carefully lift off the old bed from the truck frame and set it aside.
- Clean any kind of debris or rust from the truck. You can also choose to repaint the frame to restore and preserve it more.
- Carefully lift and lower the new truck bed while ensuring the 8 bolts align correctly on the truck’s frame. Properly tighten the bolts afterward.
- Install the fuel filler assembly, rear bumper, and tailgate (if still separated from the truck bed).
- Connect the taillights and their respective wiring harnesses onto the truck bed frame.
- Go out for a quick drive to test the lighting functions and double-check any loose bolts or wirings afterward.
How much does it cost to replace Ford F-250 beds?
Buying a truck bed for the Ford F-250 will cost about $1,500 to $2,000 depending on the condition and the specific model of your truck.
If you will have a shop do the replacement and other extra restorative work such as paint, the total labor cost will be between $300 and $500 on average.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
