Bed sides vs bed floor
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,725
Likes: 20
From: Four Oaks, NC
Bed sides vs bed floor
My bed sides are in good condition, but my bed floor is trashed. It was rusted out and the previous owner tack welded sheet metal over it. What I am wondering is how sturdy is the bedsides, if the bed floor is rusted? Does the floor hold up the sides, or are they mounted independently?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 2
From: NH
do not quote me on this.
I believe the sides are held by the cross beams under the bed floor, the wall near the cab and the tailgate and rear lower cross peice(right below the tailgate). I am shure that the bed does help tho.
I have a bed sitting in my back yard and the floor is rusted completly between the wheel wells and it is holding up. I have also seen a truck for sale (mid 70's Ford) with plywood put down as a bed floor and the sides seemed to be holding good.
Again I am not positive...
I believe the sides are held by the cross beams under the bed floor, the wall near the cab and the tailgate and rear lower cross peice(right below the tailgate). I am shure that the bed does help tho.
I have a bed sitting in my back yard and the floor is rusted completly between the wheel wells and it is holding up. I have also seen a truck for sale (mid 70's Ford) with plywood put down as a bed floor and the sides seemed to be holding good.
Again I am not positive...
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
The crossmembers don't do much to support the bedsides. The headboard and the very rear crossmember are really the only parts rigidly connected with the sides. I know because I've cut a dozen 67-72 beds up to make just 2 perfect ones. Cutting about half a million spotwelds out and then spotwelding the good parts back together. Look at it this way- About half these beds you find have either broken spotwelds or fatigued and cracked metal where the rear of the bedside, at the tailgate jamb, meets the bed floor. When this happens you can grab the bedside and move it around like it's not even attached. Odds are though, if the bed floor is rusted out, there will be cancer in the sides. You just haven't gotten in deep enough to see it yet.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 14
From: Colorado
Averagef250 is right, spot welds SUCK to get out and lots of these beds are fatigued and cracked but nothing not fixable. The bed sides aren't really supported by the floor so don't worry about chopping the floor out and replacing it.
Around here the bed sides don't really rust out. The only spot that I've ever seen rust out on the sides of the bed is where the side panels meet the end caps (that seam). But on east coast any rust is possible.
Around here the bed sides don't really rust out. The only spot that I've ever seen rust out on the sides of the bed is where the side panels meet the end caps (that seam). But on east coast any rust is possible.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Stephenville
"Fool I got TWIN TURBOS!" Well how many turbos DOES it take to make your RICER fast?
Thats funny
Thats funny
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 14
From: Colorado
jsmith, it's true. I've heard these stupid teenagers say that before!! So I had to come up with a good reply. The ultimate teenage thing is to get a ricer, put clear taillights, exhaust and turbo kits at the cost of $2000-4000, all for what, 1.1 sec faster quarter mile times??.... doesn't matter what kind of car it is.. I'm seeing Mitsubishi mirages, Kia rios, and Ford festivas being pimped out, and they think that if they get a turbo that they'll be the fastest thing around. I'm one of the few teenagers around that HATE ricers and what the whole teenage fast and furious scene has become. No matter what you did to it, it doesn't change the fact that it's a front wheel drive, 1.2-1.9litre (or if you go big time you get a 2.2litre!!!) 4 banger economy car that’s not made to be raced. Nor does it look cool by doing so. And sound.... it sounds like my Briggs and Stratton 3.5hp go-kart on steroids. Or in other words, lame-O. And rear wings, what purpose does that do? The car is front wheel drive, so that's pointless too. Sorry, another rant...... ugh.
Gimme a rusted out bed to work on and I'll be happy.
Gimme a rusted out bed to work on and I'll be happy.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
Wasn't too long ago that I was a teenager with the same views on ricers. First rig was a 79 chev short wide that was given to me. With $1800 and some favors, alot of hard work and ingenuity the old daily driver with a puked 350 now had an honest 450 horse sbc, 3500 stall and full manual TH400 and a narrowed 4.10 powerlock dana 60 rear. Didn't have much traction in 1st, but it'd pull a 13 flat on grand am street tires and it appeared totally stock with exception of the sound from the 3" 40 series flows and shaking the car next to it. The crowning moment for the old chev was blowing the doors of a new integra with $10K in the motor with 3 stage nitrous crap, etc.
Dustin
Dustin
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BaltoMoJoe
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Dec 15, 2014 06:52 PM
PRUSue
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
Jun 1, 2014 06:37 PM
mgargiullo
1957 - 1960 F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
May 10, 2014 08:18 PM
pwielage
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
Sep 3, 2012 11:30 AM