Technical 47-53 Chevy truck short bed measurements

Hi, I am in need of the overall length measured from across the top rail for a 47-53 chevy truck short box side. I searched the internet and found a lot of conflicting information, apparently its somewhere between 78" to 81.25". If someone has access to one of these trucks and could measure the length of their top box rail I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

I have a 49 and a50 both measure 79 5/8"

 

I have two examples from 1951, and they both measure 79 5/8"

 

I got within a frog hair or two of what Hilo Hotrodder got just now on mine, With a different tape measure on the other bedside I have I got 79-3/4 but I think that those two tapes are a bit off from each other.
Looking at my measurements again I'd say that if you are between 79-3/4 and 79-7/8 life is good. That may be the difference in what came out of one plant or the other or just the difference in tape measures.
If you are needing bed wood measurements this is my go to link 47-72 Bed Wood Info (gmcpauls.com)

 

Awesome thank you all! A 1/4" variance is much more believable than what google was telling me!

 

I discovered one thing a few years back. Always use the same tape measure all the way through a project. If you are going to be off a frog hair be off the same frog hair on everything on the car.