Pickup bed crossmember installation
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 197
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From: Eagle Rock CA
Pickup bed crossmember installation
Do the pickup bed crossmembers get bolted to the frame separately and then the wood bolted through them or is the intire bed assembled off the truck and then bolted through to the frame as one piece.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
Del -
Your profile says you have a 56 (like me). On my truck, the cross members are bolted to the frame directly. The wood can be/is usually replaced in the bed with all attached to the frame and complete except for the wood.
The problem I ran into when modifying my bed was that the hex bolts that secure the two middle crossmembers were captured into a very small "hat" section and were difficult to get a wrench on with the wood installed. I changed my hex bolts to allen cap screws so that I could tighten them with the wood off. Now, I have to unbolt the wood from the crossmembers to remove bed (with the wood installed).
Make sense? Crawl under there and take a peek. It ain't too strange.
Your profile says you have a 56 (like me). On my truck, the cross members are bolted to the frame directly. The wood can be/is usually replaced in the bed with all attached to the frame and complete except for the wood.
The problem I ran into when modifying my bed was that the hex bolts that secure the two middle crossmembers were captured into a very small "hat" section and were difficult to get a wrench on with the wood installed. I changed my hex bolts to allen cap screws so that I could tighten them with the wood off. Now, I have to unbolt the wood from the crossmembers to remove bed (with the wood installed).
Make sense? Crawl under there and take a peek. It ain't too strange.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Pa.
I temporarily bolted the two center cross rails to the frame and then attached the side panels to the front panel. I only had my daughter for help who held the side panel end on the edge of the rails while I attached the side panel flange to the front panel. Akward but necessary when you do not have 3 or 4 helpers. When both sides were snugged at the front panel and the rear box rail I removed the 4 special bolts and then installed the bed wood and SS strips and then reinstalled the main frame bolts thru the bed wood. I jigged all this up in the garage to check out the assembly. I have a few pics in my gallery. The first time I jigged the set-up it did not line up. Found out Carpenter had the rail holes drilled off gauge and I had to return them. Don't forget the rubber flat spacers between the rails & the frame - (keep the squeeks away)!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,303
Likes: 1,062
From: NM
Those rubber spacers are critical, not just for squeaks. One of mine was gone and the crossmember ate into the frame flange quite a bit.
While going thru boxes of stuff I found a package from DC that is called "Bedside flange to wood bed strip" -- another rubber strip to isolate the wood from steel. I didn't use it (besides forgetting that I had it) because of special circumstances, but I've also never heard anyone else mention it. It doesn't seem to be allowed for in the rabbets on the outer boards?
While going thru boxes of stuff I found a package from DC that is called "Bedside flange to wood bed strip" -- another rubber strip to isolate the wood from steel. I didn't use it (besides forgetting that I had it) because of special circumstances, but I've also never heard anyone else mention it. It doesn't seem to be allowed for in the rabbets on the outer boards?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
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From: Kansas City area
I recently replaced the wood in the bed of my 56 with the bed on the truck. If I had the option I would try it off the truck. It was difficult reaching all the bed strip bolts/nuts, especially over the Mustang gas tank mounted in the rear. The instructions I had suggested off the truck with the bed standing on end (the Cab end), making certain everything was square. It seems you would have to leave some nuts loose in order to have some alignment/adjustment when you set the whole assembly back on the frame. Not a real fun project in my opinion.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Pa.
Inserting the side rubber between the side panel and the end wood was a problem for me also. First off I had to lay out the bolt holes and then loosen the bed bolts so I could raise the side panels up a bit to insert the rubber gasket. Obviously I had to remove most, but not all at once, the attaching bolts and insert the gasket under the side panel. Very, very testy especially working alone. I guess I need more friends (or more wives!). Don't omit ANY gaskets - or bolts.
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