Truck bed vrs truck frame length ?

[PAE]

Ok lets say a 05 - 07 3500 Chevy truck has a 10 ft bed.

Does a 12 ft bed with same size truck 3500 get made with a 2 ft longer frame or just a 2 ft longer bed with the same length frame ?

Would love data to know how many frame lengths were available ?

As an example here is a truck with a 10 ft bed.

| Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Same type truck with 12 ft bed.

| Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

 

[aczlan]

Per the Vin decoder at: VIN Decoder - Chevrolet Forum - Chevy Enthusiasts Forums the one with the 10' bed has a 137" wheelbase and 60.4" from cab to axle while the one with the 12' bed has a 161.5" wheelbase and 84.9" from the cab to the axle.

Aaron Z

 

[total newb]

That was gona be my answer. Call gm with the vins and they clearly have different wheel bases.

 

[PAE]

And I would assume the extended cab truck has a different frame length than the crew cab or standard cab trucks within the same length bed.

 

[aczlan]

And I would assume the extended cab truck has a different frame length than the crew cab or standard cab trucks within the same length bed.

Most likely yes. Chevy and Ford at least have a half dozen "standard" frame lengths, 4-5 "standard" wheelbase lengths and (for the cabin chassis versions) have two or three "standard" cab to axle lengths.

If you look up the upfitters guide for that year and model truck they will generally give you the list of the available frame lengths, wheelbase lengths and cab to axle dimensions.
The towing guide for each year will often also give you the wheelbase lengths, but it doesn't usually give you frame length or cab to axle dimensions.

Aaron Z

 

[u2slow]

Cab & chassis standard lengths are 5' and 7' cab/axle dimension.

There's longer lengths too - van chassis and 450/550 class stuff - but it's less standardized.

 

[PAE]

Talking strictly 3500, Bed length to frame length .

 

[u2slow]

It's not a hard spec. Usually 8-10' bed for the 5' cab/axle; and 10-12' for the 7' cab/axle.

Edit: visually, check if the axle appears centered under the bed/body, or is the axle further back.

 

[Dan]

Talking 3500 pick up chassis or C&C?
3500 c&c is the same as 4500/5500 and available in a lot of lengths.


3500 pick up is basically just a 2500 chassis and usually limited to 56" CA which I think is 102" of total frame from the cab back. I am probably wrong but it's within a couple inches of that. You could run a 10' flatbed with this length, the extra 2' is built into the flatbed understructure. Same with a 9' body using the same chassis. You could also add frame to the chassis but that is mostly only done for bodies getting a work deck. Usually go with a C&C truck for longer beds all the way up to 16'+, those come in a bunch of different CA configurations.

For a service body longer than 8' it will most likely be a c&c. The service body and contractor style flatbed you linked are both going to be c&c which again come in a bunch of available lengths, maybe a dozen or so.

 

[PAE]

A dozen or so flat bed lengths or frame lengths?

Just trying to figure out the most likely frame that a CHEVROLET Silverado classic would come with if it has a 10 ft or 12 ft bed.

Dont want a 12 ft bed with a 10 ft frame.

 

[Dan]

Dozens of frame lengths for the C&C trucks. There is some interchangeability between the beds. So a (c&c)truck with a 10' bed could more than likely run a 11' or 12' bed. Maybe even a 9' bed, all on that same chassis, depends on the body builder.

Maybe only 1 or 2 frame lengths for the pick ups, long bed and short bed of that was an option.

Edit: this is in reference to flatbeds and combo bodies. Service bodies without a rear work deck will be different.

 

[Dan]

The cab to axle length will tell you everything you need to know to avoid an undesirable overhang.

 

[aczlan]

Here is the upfitters guide that I mentioned previously, it will tell you EVERY dimension you could ever want about those trucks: https://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/100/2006_LD_CKFullSizeTrucks.pdf

Aaron Z

 

[PAE]

Aczlan, Thanks

 

[Squamch]

If you're looking for info, look for cab and chassis trucks, not cabin chassis.

 

[PAE]

Yep was aware of that typo.

Thanks

 

[Chevy_man]

A dozen or so flat bed lengths or frame lengths?

Just trying to figure out the most likely frame that a CHEVROLET Silverado classic would come with if it has a 10 ft or 12 ft bed.

Dont want a 12 ft bed with a 10 ft frame.

You're going to have to look at that specific truck. All our service body and flatbed trucks the bed has a sub-frame. So you could run different frame lengths under the same bed without a problem.

Most flatbeds I've seen were u-bolted to the frame 4x with a chuck of lumber set on the frame. The upfitter/installer field is full of hacks like anything else.
The best ones have a sub-frame that attaches to factory style body mounts, but they're rare.