Bed Sides Sagging
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Saint Paul, Mn
Bed Sides Sagging
Hey guys, so the driver side of my bed sags off enough to keep the tailgate from shutting. I got a strap going across to keep it in enough for the tailgate to shut. It doesn't bother me too much, but is there a way to get it welded to stay up?
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,830
Likes: 2,611
From: The Shenandoah Valley
My '77 has been mine since 1986, and it was in the late '80s that I reinforced my bed sides at the tailgate before they began to flop.
I took a piece of 1/4" thick 4" wide piece of steel same length as tailgate and bolted it to the lower lip between tailgate and bed, below the kick in place so that it's actually flush with the edge of the bed.
I then cut and notched two pieces 1-3/4" x 1-3/4" X 3/16" steel angle so that the angle wrapped the inner rear corners of the side supports of the truck, but where I trimmed part of the angle off is where it goes down below bed level to bolt to the afore mentioned 1/4" x 4" steel cross bar.
I then also added a gusset of 3/16" steel (took a square piece and cut it diagonally) and welded to the angle starting about 2" above bed and it fastens to that steel cross bar as well.
I bolted the angle to the stock bed side box supports with some 3/8" bolts and I also used some 3/8" U-bolts from cable clamps with 4 nuts each to give me some hook points for tie downs. Remove taillight to access inner side of box to tighten.
All this was done with tailgate and hinges off. I reattached hinges afterwards. Pardon any rust, it looks worse than it really is. You can drop the tailgate and grab a bedside and shake all you want and only the truck shakes, there is no shake in the bedsides.
My whole bed floor also got a sheet of 11 gage steel cut from a 5 x 10 foot piece notched for fenders and I used the left over length to make a thicker front wall. I also tied bedsides together at front top with a piece of that 1-3/4 x 1-3/4 angle and some end brackets, stiffened it up for hauling a bike, etc.
I took a piece of 1/4" thick 4" wide piece of steel same length as tailgate and bolted it to the lower lip between tailgate and bed, below the kick in place so that it's actually flush with the edge of the bed.
I then cut and notched two pieces 1-3/4" x 1-3/4" X 3/16" steel angle so that the angle wrapped the inner rear corners of the side supports of the truck, but where I trimmed part of the angle off is where it goes down below bed level to bolt to the afore mentioned 1/4" x 4" steel cross bar.
I then also added a gusset of 3/16" steel (took a square piece and cut it diagonally) and welded to the angle starting about 2" above bed and it fastens to that steel cross bar as well.
I bolted the angle to the stock bed side box supports with some 3/8" bolts and I also used some 3/8" U-bolts from cable clamps with 4 nuts each to give me some hook points for tie downs. Remove taillight to access inner side of box to tighten.
All this was done with tailgate and hinges off. I reattached hinges afterwards. Pardon any rust, it looks worse than it really is. You can drop the tailgate and grab a bedside and shake all you want and only the truck shakes, there is no shake in the bedsides.
My whole bed floor also got a sheet of 11 gage steel cut from a 5 x 10 foot piece notched for fenders and I used the left over length to make a thicker front wall. I also tied bedsides together at front top with a piece of that 1-3/4 x 1-3/4 angle and some end brackets, stiffened it up for hauling a bike, etc.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Saint Paul, Mn
That's not a bad idea you got there tbear. It seems like something i could do, but i am a little worried about all the rust back there. But i will probably attempt at it this summer by your idea there 
. Then maybe i'll post a few pictures with the finished product. Thanks
. Then maybe i'll post a few pictures with the finished product. Thanks
New User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Ayr Nth QLD
I have the same thing happening with my 02 f250 after putting a Diamondback HD bed cover on to haul 2 Quad bikes around about about 1,500 pounds on the sides and nothing on the bed floor it's self
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Saint Paul, Mn
Well i went out today and looked down the rear hole on the top of the bed sides and found that the metal that connects it to the rear and frame is almost completely rusted away, while on the passenger side where its solid there is no rusted metal. So i for sure have to fix this and wont be to difficult to do.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,830
Likes: 2,611
From: The Shenandoah Valley
That's not a bad idea you got there tbear. It seems like something i could do, but i am a little worried about all the rust back there. But i will probably attempt at it this summer by your idea there . Then maybe i'll post a few pictures with the finished product. Thanks
. Then maybe i'll post a few pictures with the finished product. Thanks.... and then I decided to try to keep whole tailgate area free of obstruction so I decided on the very rigid bracing ..... and I enjoyed the welding / fabricating.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
blucollar4xford
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
0
Jan 28, 2013 04:27 AM