Posted by Eric B. on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 10:00AM :
In Reply to: bed interchange question posted by Scott Lane on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 8:56AM :
The first year for a 9 foot bed with the flat top bed rails was 1956, the last one I have seen put on a truck from the factory was a 1972, but I hear they were used until 1974 or so.
If the 1968 beds were supposed to have reverse lights then if you get a bed made prior to the mid 60s you would need to cut in the holes for the reverse light buckets.
Also the crossmembers under the bed wood most likely changed slightly over the years. I am not sure if that matters any, but if you get the bed from a 56-60 truck you may have to get later crossmembers for some reason.
I have never looked at the crossmembers from the different years closly enough to be sure of the interchange.
The bedsides, fenders and header panel are the same 56-74ish.
The tailgate is the same 56-71ish, and the tailgates after that lose the stamped Dodge lettering.
Good luck.
Eric