Discussions from a previous thread: https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1100680/1.html

I used a long bed fender on my short bed truck intentionally. The short bed fender moves the spare tire up higher... which, to me, wasn't as visually appealing as the long bed fender, which dropped the tire down lower.

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/...e%20Trim%2001-24-2015/LF_zps5ae2ee8a.jpg

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Trim%2001-24-2015/RF2_zps8c00540a.jpg

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Trim%2001-24-2015/RF1_zpsb423d043.jpg

Pictures to show the difference in factory spare tire fenders are linked in the post below.

Originally Posted by Hot Rod John
Short bed or long bed truck? Restoration or custom?

The spare tire fender is different based on the truck wheelbase.

On a short bed the cutout is up higher and back farther. The end result is the spare tire up in the air higher.

Here are some photos:

Stock Short Bed Spare Tire Fender

Long Bed Fender I Installed On My Short Bed Truck

The spare tire bracket on the truck looks like this

The spare tire bracket off the truck looks like this

And there are also some factory reinforcement pieces factory reinforcement pieces that attach the bed upper rails to the bed sides.

If you are building a custom truck you might be interested in a custom hidden mount for the spare tire. See post #11 here

Hope that helps thumbs_up

John

So to summarize:

6-1/2' bed: Spare tire is mounted high and farther back into fender.

8' bed: Spare tire is mounted lower and closer to the cab.

9' bed: No cut-out at all in the fender. There was room to mount the tire between the cab and the fender without the cut-out.

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