thinking about a 7ish foot bed chop

[Greasey Harley]

I keep playing with the idea of chopping a long bed down to a "medium bed".
Maybe 7ft plus or minus a couple inches. Ideally, exactly long enough for my old Harley to fit in, and close the tailgate. It almost fits in my short bed.
I keep thinking:
like 7" or 8" out of the front section, maybe 4" or 5" out of the back.
leaving me with a 7ish foot long bed that maintains balanced proportions.

Anybody ever see this done before?
Got any pics?
Everybody customizes everything else, why not bed length?

It would need a custom e brake cable.
any other issues?

[CG]

Different kind of truck but my 62 Ford Unibody was cut down from long bed to exactly what you are thinking of. Its the one thing about the truck that bugged me. The proportions were just off.

I believe Ive seen pics of our trucks cut down the same way. Its not horrible, but its just off a bit to the eye.

[special-K]

I've only seen the tail end bobbed. I think you don't see it because it's a lot of work for a minor result. And it seems people who shorten longbeds to shortbeds do so to increase value of a long bed almost as much as for the look. You'll have neither from the same amount of work. I'm not trying to talk you out of it or tell you anything you haven't already thought about. Just saying you'll be doing this for yourself because that's what you want. Not sure how it will fly with others. Might start a trend!

[Greasey Harley]

I borrowed this pic off the web, and did some "Old Skook Photoshop". If I find the right truck, I might just give it a shot. I've beeb thinking about it for a while.
If I'm being truthful, I always thought my 68 short bed looks kind of
...um, stubby?
anyways, here's a peak into my demented brain:

[CG]

I just re-read your original post a little more closely. Dunno why it wouldn't work for you. Bunch of work but if you're up to it go for it.

[72 tigger]

I think it would look good. Probably be fun watching people try to figure out if it’s a long or short

[Basketcase889]

I agree with this idea and want to see how it turns out! I have long beds and they are slightly too long looking too me but the short beds look too short to me as well.

[Ol Blue K20]

It could be an interesting look. My concern would be, it's a lot of work. What if you don't like it?

[special-K]

I see a truck with good proportions in that picture you show. Shlong bed just doesn't sound right for some reason

[Pitpig]

I shortened the frame 12 inches with the brothers kit. The existing bed was beat to hell in the rear so I cut a foot off the front of a long bed and left the rear alone. I never would have been able to cut the rear without a large patch panel. I like the look, it’s more proportional than a short bed and not as ungainly as along bed.

[Big Kev-O]

I have been pondering that idea for the past 5 years! I want to shorten my bed by removing 6" in front of the wheel well and 4" in the rear section. Exactly half of what you cut to convert to short bed. I even have an extra set of bedsides waiting to be cut. I bet it would look outstanding.

If I go for it, the trucks new name will defiantly be "Schlong Bed". Thanks for the motivation Special-K!

[Boog]

The mention of shortening to fit a Harley reminds me of one of our member's truck shorten job. It's a flatbed but he basically cut off a few inches off the rear of the frame and fabbed the flatbed to fit his bicycles. It's not bad and is different. I can't put my finger on it at this time but somewhere I have a pick or two of a fleetside bed shortened at the rear while leaving the wheelbase unaltered too. Ford offered that option on some of their trucks back in the 70's or so.
Also check out this thread with pics from a year or so back.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...bbed+long+beds

[Basketcase889]

Originally Posted by Pitpig

I shortened the frame 12 inches with the brothers kit. The existing bed was beat to hell in the rear so I cut a foot off the front of a long bed and left the rear alone. I never would have been able to cut the rear without a large patch panel. I like the look, it’s more proportional than a short bed and not as ungainly as along bed.

Post a picture!