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78 with original bed, I get home and notice that the gap on one side is gigantic, see pics, the rust on the front isn’t all the way through, it’s a mostly solid piece except there at the top but I’m not sure if hat shunted out the side of my bed, any ideas why this happens? A coworkers bed is basically held together by the tailgate so I’ve seen this happen before. Wondering if the pto shaft I took home from work pushed it way out.
If you have that much rust there I'd look at the worst areas like behind the rear wheels and over the arches to decide if it's worth fixing or if you need a new bed. not sure where you're at but nice ones around here are not very expensive.
I've seen a couple that keep bed sides from flapping when closed.
Is that maybe a foam like "Great Stuff" in the first picture, like painted though? I have seen a rocker panel expand when the rust and putty could no longer contain the moistur full foam in a Chevrolet's rocker panel. OP could maybe save it awhile with some 30 or 45 degree bracing "Pre-Runner" style.
I suppose the age contributes but it wasn’t like this last week and that PTO shaft was rolling pretty hard. Up front the actual bed is solid, it’s only that corner where it hit the cab in its life. And yes my coworker has a truck that’s being held together with the tailgate, it’s hilarious.
for the time being I spray rubberized undercoating on rust spots until I can afford a decent paint job but I’ve come to find out it’s not strong against UV or hard impacts at all. Otherwise the bed is in good shape but I suppose bending it back is out of the question. Sorry I can’t quote anyone while I’m at work, I had to bust *** typing this.
I've seen a couple that keep bed sides from flapping when closed.
Is that maybe a foam like "Great Stuff" in the first picture, like painted though? I have seen a rocker panel expand when the rust and putty could no longer contain the moistur full foam in a Chevrolet's rocker panel. OP could maybe save it awhile with some 30 or 45 degree bracing "Pre-Runner" style.
Do you mean tube steel holding it together where that bad patch is?
If you have that much rust there I'd look at the worst areas like behind the rear wheels and over the arches to decide if it's worth fixing or if you need a new bed. not sure where you're at but nice ones around here are not very expensive.
ive got some serious wheel arch and bed corner rust. Its going to be one heck of an undertaking. What are decent beds going for in your area out if curiosity? They’re in the 4,000 area when i try and source one online.
I've seen a couple that keep bed sides from flapping when closed.
Is that maybe a foam like "Great Stuff" in the first picture, like painted though? I have seen a rocker panel expand when the rust and putty could no longer contain the moistur full foam in a Chevrolet's rocker panel. OP could maybe save it awhile with some 30 or 45 degree bracing "Pre-Runner" style.
Do you mean tube steel holding it together where that bad patch is?
I didn't see any steel tubing in the pictures ...
If caught before they fall off, if the bed floor and walls are OK, might save that bed yet. I used a 10 foot long 5 foot wide steel sheet for my floor, cut it to overlap the sides, etc. But mine needed it then.
You might do something like below to steady those bed sides though. My corner boxes beside the tailgat were getting weak when I did this over 30 years ago. Rock steady today still. I bolted the angles to the boxes with smooth headed 3/8 carriage bolts, holes were just large enough the square was a tight fit in the angle. Nuts and washers in behind the tail light. I also used a couple of U-bolts from cable clamps to make two goog tie downs. I had thought about Pre-runner type braces, but they might be in the way with some loads I used it for. If you even did braces, keep 50" between them in line with fender wells.
Just a thopught. Here's a picture with tailgate in place.
Here's a picture of Pre-runner brace idea. I've seen it done leaving the tailgate on ...
... and one farmer locally just puts a oak board across inside the braces with hooks so it stays up. .
That is bad enough that I would look for another rust free bed
That said it is therapeutic to cut out rust and weld in new metal
Might not be cost effective with the price of welding supplies and labor these days
If caught before they fall off, if the bed floor and walls are OK, might save that bed yet. I used a 10 foot long 5 foot wide steel sheet for my floor, cut it to overlap the sides, etc. But mine needed it then.
You might do something like below to steady those bed sides though. My corner boxes beside the tailgat were getting weak when I did this over 30 years ago. Rock steady today still. I bolted the angles to the boxes with smooth headed 3/8 carriage bolts, holes were just large enough the square was a tight fit in the angle. Nuts and washers in behind the tail light. I also used a couple of U-bolts from cable clamps to make two goog tie downs. I had thought about Pre-runner type braces, but they might be in the way with some loads I used it for. If you even did braces, keep 50" between them in line with fender wells.
Just a thopught. Here's a picture with tailgate in place.
Here's a picture of Pre-runner brace idea. I've seen it done leaving the tailgate on ...
... and one farmer locally just puts a oak board across inside the braces with hooks so it stays up. .
awww sweet thanks dude, there’s some Amish right up the road that can do that! I was also thinking that rollbars can help hold it together but I don’t know how to stop those from rusting through the bed.
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Here's a picture with tailgate in place. 
