Hey all,
Been quite a while since I've dropped by here. Honestly, truck has been running so well, I haven't had a need to be here in a long time.

Until now. I finally wore out my old trans to the point I was getting worried about it, so off to BTS I went last month (Mar 24th was the day -- been a whole month already!!). I couldn't be more happy with the process with Brian or the results. BTS is just flat-out the best.

Then I got rear-ended a week later on April 1st. Yes, April Fools Day. Since the guy had insurance, they sent a check for the repairs and minor amount for medical. Found a complete 2013 Short Bed not far from me over in Weatherford, TX with bumper, tail gate, lights, and even a new Class V receiver, all which went on last night.

Now for the issues. My fuel pickup in the tank has been making strange noises for a while now, and I figured with the old bed off it was a good time to check it out. Opened it up, and there was literally NOTHING left of the little umbrella-shaped pick-up filter assembly but a few pieces in the bottom of the tank and the filter screen itself. I was shocked! So out came the rubber gloves and dip net and I got all the pieces out I could reach, plus the filter screen. No idea how long I've been running like that, but considering the pickup filter assembly makes up the last bit of distance to the bottom of the tank, it's a wonder I didn't run out of fuel! So that's now on the list...

About the bed swap... Since I got a 2013 bed, it has the larger door with DEF fill point there. Well, I found out the door is moved a little forward, and the fuel fill hole is the front cut-out. Yes, you can guess that the old fuel fill tube from the tank doesn't reach the new cut-out location. Have to fix that today. Have a temp fix in place though -- I stuck the fuel fill tube up against the DEF hole (which is significantly smaller, but the cap fits) and screwed in the cap to hold it in place. This was quite the surprise as I've always been told that the newer beds are a direct replacement. They are, with the fuel filler exception, and the reverse lights have different connectors. The latter wasn't big deal since the wiring had to be extended anyway. We just used the reverse bulb harness from the new bed (they cut the whole harness off down by the bumper) and soldered them to my old harness. The existing running/stop lamp bulb assembly fits right into the 2013 lights.

BTW, we had to cut three of the bed bolts. The other five came out with a little coaxing from an impact gun. Luckily, the new bed came with all new bolts, but I had to buy the special clips with the nuts. Be aware they are un-threaded, so the bolts actually tap them as you screw them down. The clips/nuts are about $5.00 a piece, so it wasn't that big of deal buying all eight. I'm still going to return the rest (except one as a spare, just in case).

Hope everyone is well -- I'll come by more often!!

 

Hey Joe.

Glad to see you on here again. I'm not on much anymore either, because my truck is also good to go.

You do know if you want us to believe you, you will have to put up pics.

 

Hey Rick!! Yeah, I will post up some pics shortly. Somehow, I knew someone would ask...

 

Good to see you post again, Joe. Also glad to hear about your truck running so well. I've had a few minor issues, but nothing major at all.

My son went through the crumbled pickup foot saga last fall, and it went on long enough to where the pieces literally plugged the hard tubing at the bend on top of the tank... all of that lead to finishing off his original stock pump, too (325K miles), so now he's back up and running again as well with a new foot and pump.

 

Interesting -- so this is becoming a common issue then? I'm thinking about going with a whole custom over-sized pickup to the pump. I went with the Walbro GSL392, but I think I'm restricting the hell out of it on the suction side.

 

It happened to me two or three years ago. I usually don't fill the tank until the needle is right about as low as it will go, and that was when it happened. I knew what it was pretty much immediately, and had it towed back to the house to drop the tank. That was a (not) fun day.

 

Nah Joe, don't worry, we didn't need any of your expertise while you were gone.

Good to see you back.

 

Hey look, it's the old members thread.

Checking in.

 

Been working on lots of other PSD's these days, but my junk is still running good!! I'd say 3 out of 5 tanks I open up are missing the umbrella and the mixing chambers/screens look like a horror show.

 

Had to do mine about 2 yrs ago. It was all in pieces as you said. My new one did not arrive in time when i did that job, it arived about a week later and still sits in the drawer awaiting the next time i pull the bed. Been running without ever since, no problems, may not put it back on..

 

Well hells bells, looky what the cat done dragged in!

Good to see you''re still kicking and doing well, Joe.

Yup, pictures are a must, bud!

Stewart

 

I resemble that remark.

 

Stewart

 

You got us ALL beat!

 

When I joined FTE there were something like 23,000 members. Now we are 730,000+

Lots of changes. A few were even for the better.