Bed support material suggestions
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Bed support material suggestions
Hey guys, I live in new England so naturally my bed supports are nearly gone. I just had my rear wheel arches cut out and replaced. The bed is like new now...except the supports lol. I was going to cut them out and replace them with some square tubing and my question is what material would be best? I was thinking aluminium or stainless. I know little to nothing about metal strengths I was simply thinking these for their resistance to corrosion. Has anyone used anything of these before and would recommend them?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: South Jersey
i went to a local steel yard and got the guy to bend me brand new ones slightly thicker then Ford uses. The problem isnt the metal itself its that Ford for some weird reason doubled the ends with a second piece and never sealed it good. Water, salt, etc gets between the two and then starts to rot it out. Look at any Ford before the new 99 came out, they all have single bent supports, no stupid double capped ones. Hell my 1977 F150 still has the original unrusted bed supports, single not double supports...
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From: Sioux Falls Area
i would avoid aluminum or stainless.
dissimilar metals invites galvanic corrosion.
best bet would be the salvage option, or if you can get something made out of galvanized. the galvanizing would serve as a sacrificial layer to protect the other steel in which it contacts.
or some heavy C-channel ... at least if it rusts it will take a long time before you have to worry about it.
dissimilar metals invites galvanic corrosion.
best bet would be the salvage option, or if you can get something made out of galvanized. the galvanizing would serve as a sacrificial layer to protect the other steel in which it contacts.
or some heavy C-channel ... at least if it rusts it will take a long time before you have to worry about it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: South Jersey
i have a spray in bed liner also so when i had the bed off this summer doing some painting, etc. I had the guy bend me galvanized supports, then i went to install the new ones and was like "S&IT i cant weld them in!" Called the Rhino dealer who did the truck and he said DO NOT WELD TO THE FLOOR it will melt the liner. Ive been thinking about what to do and all i can see is to put the garden hose in the bed and have it on full blast while i spot weld the new supports in
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
I was going to drill a few more hols and put a bolt and nut through to the support that way i can always unbolt and throw new ones on. Also this way i could take them off and put some touch up paint on them every now and again. So would steel be better in this case because i was going to coat them in POR15?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Are the bed supports the same dimensions as the long bed ones? And the same amount of them? I'm trying to find metal and price it out but I can't find the number of supports and dimensions only the long bed ones.
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Logistics Pro
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From: Tewksbury, MA
I hate how ford does stuff like that and the acoustic foam (which i ripped out along with new fender arches). What kind of steel are the stock supports made from? I would get new supports but i cant weld them on and its probably cheaper to just get some metal bent up or get square tube stock.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tewksbury, MA
I'm going to use some replacement bed supports recommended by another member. Im going to use panel adhesive to attach them and then they will be like regular supports again. They are thicker then the stock ones as well here is the link http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-SUPER-DUTY-BED-FLOOR-SUPPORT-CROSSMEMBERS-RAILS-/130876026904?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e78d1b018&vxp=mtr . I hve not made any progress because once all the snow melts here in MA it snows again
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Logistics Pro
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Will do! I might not end up doing it an having a body shop do it. I noticed today that my bed and bottoms of my doors are getting like pin hole sized rust spots ont he surface of the paint and its not from behind because i just got them fixed last summer. I think the liquid salt crap my town started using ate away at the paint so im going to take it back to the body shop that did it and see when they can do and if they have it again i might have them go at the bed for me. If not ill post up the pics lol
I'm thinking the bottoms of the doors might be small chips because i removed my mud flaps and running boards and the bed..idk how but it had the quarter panels replaced 8 months ago. Would buffing over the spots seal the paint over them?
I'm thinking the bottoms of the doors might be small chips because i removed my mud flaps and running boards and the bed..idk how but it had the quarter panels replaced 8 months ago. Would buffing over the spots seal the paint over them?
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I'm not sure about just buffing, but you can buy real cheap knocker cans of clear coat that you could apply a few light coats of. Especially if its on the bottom curve ob the panels. Also Maybe before next winter you could invest in some fluid film to protect from future rust in a salty region. I have similar issues here in Indiana
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Logistics Pro
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From: Tewksbury, MA
Good to know, I want to put eh rust at bay on this thing i have sunk $6000 into repairs in the past two years in rust repair on my bed...first job was $200 for the whole truck, turned out to be a horrible paint job all the paint started to peel off and it rotted again i took it to a second guy and he did an awesome paint job but now it seems as if there were a few small imperfections in the paint and the salt found them 