Ford ranger stepside bed replacement

I recently discovered my old bed has completely rusted out behind the factory rubber coating on the wheel wells.

Now that the bed is roached, I can use this as an excuse for my first real project on my truck.

Would it be easier to find another first gen bed and paint it? Absolutely yes! Would it be more fun to source a Ford ranger stepside bed, create brackets, mod the gas tank filler, tail lights, and bumper. And paint after all of that? Probably not!

I'm not really 100% sure on the logistics yet but I've been measuring things out and the wheel wells and width match up, I'm sure the mounting brackets need to be fabricated or something but everything seems to line up which is what's really important.

My main logistical issue though (assuming this bed even fits properly) is the gas filler. They are completely different and there's no way a ford ranger fill tube is compatible with a tacoma gas tank, even if it somehow was, I bet I'd still have a check engine light for a gas cap.

If the logistics line up I will be doing a follow thru tutorial on this for anyone who is interested. I really like the ranger step sides, I think they are the only good looking step sides from the early 2000's.

 

Ford truck beds (unknown reason)
Have mounting bolts thru the bed floor
Rather than GM or Toyota that only go thru frame and a mount rail under the bed

man….any possible
He’ll, with just a small amount of fabrication might work
But hardly a “plug and play” swap

TONS of research/measuring will be needed from BOTH vehicles