I want to install a factory roll bar in my 79 250 long bed. The roll bar mounts to the bed floor as well as the front wall of the bed. I need to loosen the bed enough to be able to work between the cab and the bed to tighten the bolts.

Are there any tricks I need to know? Bed bolts notorious for striping or spinning, etc.

I'm hoping to loosen the bed just enough to work behind the cab with out having to completely remove all of the mounting bolts, harnesses, gas tank hoses, etc. to shift the bed back. If that is even possible.

Any suggestions/advice would be great.

 

PB blaster the bed bolt nuts and let'm soak. If you can get a air impact on the nuts, have a weight (person standing on it works great) so when they come loose you do not push up on the bolt and possibly strip the bed square.

If no go without a PITA, put the bolt in from the bar bracket/inside the bed side and use a magnetic tool retriever to hold the nut on the outside of the bed, or long handle needle nose to get it started.

Also great time to convert to newer style allen head bed bolts?? JY will have them.

 

I'd take the opportunity to swap the carriage bolts out for the newer SuperDuty bolts myself. If you have the means you can tack the head of the bolt to the bed floor before you go after them but I've had that fail and still ended up cutting the head off the bolt. If you do end up needing to cut them, cut the head into a 1/2" square and it should drop out the bottom.

Once you get them loose/removed you should be able to slide the bed back an inch or two without unhooking anything else. That should be plenty to get access between the cab and bed.