I have been looking at some older F250's lately and have found on some of them the bed cross braces rusted out bad. Just wondering how many of these are like that. Is this a common rust belt issue? Here is a pic of a 2006 that is on ebag. The rest of the truck looks pretty good, hard to tell by pics.

 

Yes very comman. Those are completely gone

Matt

 

you can get replacement sets, if you are up to pulling the bed and removing old remnants/cleaning/welding new ones on.

 

Mine is starting to get bad. Do you know where I can get replacements? Is it just the dealership or is there someplace else?

 

Dorman Products - 924-256

probably have different ones for different length beds

and I'm sure other manufacturers make them as well, just the first ones I found using google. I can't tell you if they work well or not, just that other people have used them...

 

If the truck has Ford's plastic bed liner pull it up and check out the interior floor and under portion as well. If the floor is also rotten it's easier too buy a newer used bed from a salvage yard or a dealer. My 2003 F350 just now had a 2015 bed installed. If you're willing to put the time into it, grab a floor and aftermarket cross member into the old bed and have fun.

 

I'd just get a new take-off bed.
Actually, Looking at the frame, I'd pass.
But if your into resto, go for it!

 

Yes, that is very common. I bought mine with 13,000 miles on it and it has been garage kept and not driven much when it snows(used my obs truck) and mine are rusted just as bad as that one.

 

I had the same exact issue, took it to a local body shop, they pulled the bed, sandblasted/painted the underside of the bed and the frame rails, made new rails using a sheet metal bender, welded them on and reinstalled everything. It was 1000$ and it came out great

 

Thanks for the replies. That isn't my truck, it was on ebay, luckily the seller was very honest about it and posted that pic. The rest of the truck looked pretty good, would have been easy for him leave that out and screw someone. I was just wondering why it was so bad. I have a 96 F150, the truck has plenty of rust but the braces are fine. If I were 20 years younger it wouldn't bother me, I would have fixed it, too much trouble for me now.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...new-truck.html

I did this in the spring of 2015. Next year, I'll be tackling the front half.

Don't spend all that money on replacement rails. Just make your own. Easy, and under $200 including rust preventative coatings.

 

just traded in my 2004. completely rusted, but at same time, still could constantly hold 3500lb pallets. one thing that did rust through was the wheel wells. got it fixed a couple years ago, but was starting to bubble again

 

I was changing oil today on my 96 F150. I looked at my rails across the bed and they look like new. The frame, all suspension, drive shaft are all heavily rusted but the bed is good. So, what did they do in that newer body style to cause those cross braces to rust like that?