When I was 18, I had an 87 ext cab 4x4 i loved, and let go. Last month I bought a 1988 DLX Ext cab 4x4. Drove it home from Pittsburg-500 miles. It now has 72,626 miles on it. No rust on cab, nothing but minor flaking on the frame, no rust on bed, but the bed is off an 89. So far I have put new lower control arms, bushings, calipers, rotors, pads, inner and outer tie rod ends, shocks, sway bar links, and tires on it. Still needs some fresh paint. Is it worthwhile to find an 85-88 bed before going for paint? Also, how do you know if you have a long bed or a short bed? Is there a standard length that can help determine this? What year/make/model TOYOTA tonneau covers will fit? Last thing, my old one was a stick, this is an automatic. What do you guys prefer? Thanks for your help.

 

Lets see some pictures!!

 

I'll get a few photos in the morning and post them. I just got it back from getting an alignment on the way to work, today is my first trip out in it, and we're expecting 10" of snow tomorrow. Time to have some fun!!!

 

VERY NICE! I have the same year, make, and model except its 5 speed!!! Im looking forward to the pics...

 

Here's a couple photos of my new toy

 

That's gotta be a long bed. I think it looks cool on there, I would leave the bed on! For the older trucks I like a stick better just because of the lack of HP in the older motors, but that's not to say your truck isn't cool and autos are nicer off road IMO. I'm thinking about buying an old yota pickup too. I had a '86 extra cab for my 1st car and I have always missed it and regretted selling it too. Congrats!

 

looks like a short bed to me? id leave the bed on there. in my area atleast, its hard to find a 2nd gen bed thats not rotted. check craiglist maybe you can find a 2wd bed or somethin someones partin ouot. then you could prob get $300-$500 for that bed

 

On second viewing...that might be a long bed, since its an 89-95 bed.

Easy way to tell; take a measuring tape out. 6 foot is Short bed, 7 foot is long bed.

 

Long or short, check out a fiberglass bed. 89 bed on n 88 looks , well goofus. sorry.

 

i thought extended cabs only came with shortbeds..
If so, somebody extended the frame too

 

Isn't the extra length of a long bed added between the cab and the wheel well? If so a long bed would not fit the wheel wells on his truck unless they lengthened the frame.

 

its a short box, i can tell by looking at, identical to my short box

this is a long bed ( yes 2wd but its the same).

 

Yup, you're right, it must be a short bed. I guess it just looked decieving (not used to seeing a newer bed on an older truck).

 

i went with the fiberglass bed after a jeep almost killed my toyhttp://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=33276420

 

Thanks for the advice. I ended up finding a fiberglass bed 4 hrs away used for $250. I snatched it up, and sold the 89 bed off mine for $250, so all it cost me was gas and food for the trip. Sorry I asked several questions in one thread, but now I am looking for a fiberglass bed cover (tonneau). Do I have to stick with a 85-88 toyota if I am looking for used, or will an S-10 one fit reasonably well? Want it to look nice, but I perfer buying used and saving $.

NTW-Woody, this has to be one of my favorite pics ever!

 

hahahaha thats i tryed climbing that lil mt but ended up get stuck on my bumber so my friends started riding into the back of it haha, un fortunantly im parting out that truck nowand ive gotten no offers on the fiberglass bed , oh well u should see my next project!! i found an 85 4runner for 300 bucks, did a motor swap, restored the truck kinda lol now im doing double shakles with chevy leafs

 

I personally like the older beds better. The newer beds are too roundish.

 

Yeah, I agree. I like the 88 and older body, the way they fenders and bed wheel wells flare out. Just looks tougher to me.