The problem you are having is you are trying to fix the rust......It cant be done ...at most it can be slowed down (that's what you are doing) That's the reason why I don't want to spend the $500 for the ebay supports....I have rust on other parts of the bed but don't have the cash for a newer one...Im thinking it will only cost around $100 if I get square tubing and bolt it on. While I have the bed off Im going to POR15 every thing also.

 

where i live the salt is not so terrible. but spending 6000 on bed repairs seems a bit excessive to me. my local dealer quoted me 2500 for a complete primer 2012 bed with tailgate and lights. just a thought

 

I was told that the supports needed to be welded or glued on and that it is not a good idea to bolt them, thats why I was considering this route. I know that rust cant be stopped but I would think that replacing the panels and a fresh coat of paint would keep it from spreading as fast as it is. I want to POR15 the whole underside of the truck but i do not want to POR15 it if its going to get repaired from rust going through the paint to the metal not from the back side of the panel through to the surface of the paint. I have to talk to the guy that painted my truck and see what he says because if he can fix it easy ill get it done then POR15 everything i can get at.

 

Hey guys, there a shop in Winchendon MA (and elsewhere) that sells "new take off" white beds for around $1500. They advertise on craigslist I know, but they install utility bodys in trucks new, and have lots of new Ford beds, bumpers, etc. on the lot for a reasonable cost.

$500 for those bed members on ebay is way way too much.

 

I agree but i have a short bed so unfortunately people never take off short beds ...otherwise I would have a new take off bed on now only reason i wis i had a long bed lol.

 

Im in the same boat as you....I have called every junk yard and looked on craigslist list and ebay with no luck or they want way to much $$ for them.

 

Can't hurt to call them...I was thinking they did have short beds. My bed support members are half gone but still working, fender wells are fine.

I would cut c-channel to fit as meborder suggested for a repair job.

 

Anyone know the dimensions of the short bed supports? I'm trying to price some square tubing to compare. I don't need the front or great sills they look fine, just the supports.

 

1/8" steel square would be my choice of replacement. After welding, paint it good then oil the whole chassis down and call it good.

 

That's exactly what I plan on doing, does anyone know the height and width of them? Also how many of each?

 

What I plan on using is
1st 3"x2"
2nd 2.5"x 2"
3rd 2"x2"
4th 1"x2"

I think all need to be about 4' long

 

here in NJ you cant find any Super Duty parts, yet my cousin bought three 2000-2002 Chevy 1500 trucks so he could build his race truck this winter. He bought all three trucks RUNNING for under 4k for all of them from different people. Took the best chassis and redid it, and sold the rest, took the best cab and sold the rest, took the best bed and sold the rest. He installed a high output 6.0 from a Cadillac and had it rebuilt and sold the three 5.3 motors but kept the three transmissions because he doesn't have a 4l80e trans yet so hes gonna beat on the 4l60's till each one blows apart......

 

Awesome thank you! I'm going to pull the bed then assess the supports and keep what i can. i can afford to have it down now since i have my 95 F150 lol. Scaler tell me about it there are never any fords for sale here in MA either..none that are worth salvaging for parts that is and the others are trucks that are nicer and you would buy to drive.

Anyone know a good place to look at prices for tubing? right now I'm using metalsdepot.com but they only hace 3/16 which is thicker and probably the sameish price lol. Also I thought they were all the same dimensions?

 

Try Haverhill salvage and Steel, its off Rt. 97 near lafayete square.
Good guys, i just got some 2x2 box tubing to fab up some brackets for my back rack, i forget what i paid. They have all sizes in stock.

 

Awesome, thanks! ill have to give them a call.

does anyone have any idea how tight it is above the inner fender? i cant remove them without cutting it out because i had them replaced with the quarter panels so they are spot welded/adhered into place.