66 bed removal tips and tricks
New User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I have a swb 66 and I removed the bed alone. Wasn't that hard but it took an hour or 2. I removed the bolts (have grinder handy, I needed it for 2). Then I slid the bed backwards untill it would rest on a saw horse. Then I wedged a pipe under the front of the bed.(like a hood prop) Next, pull the truck forward (dont knock the pipe over) Then I repositioned the pipe and drove the truck out of the garage. Then I stood under the bed and let the weight of the bed on my back/shoulders, kicked the pipe out and lowered the front of the bed to the ground. Then I turned around and did the same to the sawhorse. Then I picked up the front of the bed and slid a furniture dolly under it with my foot. Done. I'm a hard-headed kind of guy.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 707
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From: Owasso, Ok.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 998
Likes: 2
From: Benton, AR
Took the old one off my donor truck with a extended cherry picker. Saw a one man option in a magazine. Pull it in the shop. Run ratchet straps from each corner up to the rafters. Begin walking around racheting a little at a time. Will pull the bed up slowly and safetly.
For the cherry picker option there was an old thread on here where a guy welded up a steel rectangle with a attaching point in the center. You could always use C clamps to hold the rectagle in place. I've thought about going this route since I have my cherry picker is already set up.
For the cherry picker option there was an old thread on here where a guy welded up a steel rectangle with a attaching point in the center. You could always use C clamps to hold the rectagle in place. I've thought about going this route since I have my cherry picker is already set up.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Owasso, Ok.
i hooked straps to thru the front square holes, then to the back where they wouldn't slide in. hooked onto the leveler (with all gate and hardware already off and the picker at the back of the bed)....took off picker hook to shorten lift distance- bolted leverler straight to arm.
it pulled the bed into the hydraulics on the lift but if you hook up the back set at the right place and tension - it will hit the hydrualic above the pump lever so you can still pump up the lift....also thru sandbags at back of lift.
it was a little nerve racking....I'd put cardboard anywhere a strap might get cut....and I had 1 strap hook slide out somehow, and shoot by me (opps)....but it held fine the next go around.
the leveler worked great for left to right to pull up slack when the bed leaned over so that i could just pull the truck on out. never had to try to tighten a strap during the process. Thank God.
It was a little nerve racking but it worked.
1 more person would been nice, but then sometimes 2 people throw things off with ideas....
it pulled the bed into the hydraulics on the lift but if you hook up the back set at the right place and tension - it will hit the hydrualic above the pump lever so you can still pump up the lift....also thru sandbags at back of lift.
it was a little nerve racking....I'd put cardboard anywhere a strap might get cut....and I had 1 strap hook slide out somehow, and shoot by me (opps)....but it held fine the next go around.
the leveler worked great for left to right to pull up slack when the bed leaned over so that i could just pull the truck on out. never had to try to tighten a strap during the process. Thank God.
It was a little nerve racking but it worked.
1 more person would been nice, but then sometimes 2 people throw things off with ideas....
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,785
Likes: 4
From: Mddl A MexCans
Good to hear you managed to get around to the task LOL... I still have not. Not by choice really but ? On the upside the 64' is just about ready to be moved to the front so the 66' can undergo a frame off. Hopefully this year!!!
Congrads on the bed removal. Update us on the progress and reinstall process.
Congrads on the bed removal. Update us on the progress and reinstall process.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 998
Likes: 2
From: Benton, AR
I think he was talking to you faber. On my donor truck I actually lifted from the side of the bed rather than behind.
The regular length of tubing is all the way in the cherry picker in this pic. The frame is actually being held up by the picker. On the extension I welded on, I welded some bolts to the top of the tubing to keep the chain or strap from sliding. My wife is not extremely handy with shop stuff, but she did the pumping while I moved the frame onto my trailer for transport. I like the idea of sandbags on the rear of the picker. Would be nice to extend the legs another 18 inches for balance, but how often would I actually benefit from that, lol.
The regular length of tubing is all the way in the cherry picker in this pic. The frame is actually being held up by the picker. On the extension I welded on, I welded some bolts to the top of the tubing to keep the chain or strap from sliding. My wife is not extremely handy with shop stuff, but she did the pumping while I moved the frame onto my trailer for transport. I like the idea of sandbags on the rear of the picker. Would be nice to extend the legs another 18 inches for balance, but how often would I actually benefit from that, lol.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Few post down Faber posted 'bed off' and describes how he used cherry picker and sling.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/821398-bed-off.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/821398-bed-off.html
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Owasso, Ok.
I think he was talking to you faber. On my donor truck I actually lifted from the side of the bed rather than behind.
The regular length of tubing is all the way in the cherry picker in this pic. The frame is actually being held up by the picker. On the extension I welded on, I welded some bolts to the top of the tubing to keep the chain or strap from sliding. My wife is not extremely handy with shop stuff, but she did the pumping while I moved the frame onto my trailer for transport. I like the idea of sandbags on the rear of the picker. Would be nice to extend the legs another 18 inches for balance, but how often would I actually benefit from that, lol.
The regular length of tubing is all the way in the cherry picker in this pic. The frame is actually being held up by the picker. On the extension I welded on, I welded some bolts to the top of the tubing to keep the chain or strap from sliding. My wife is not extremely handy with shop stuff, but she did the pumping while I moved the frame onto my trailer for transport. I like the idea of sandbags on the rear of the picker. Would be nice to extend the legs another 18 inches for balance, but how often would I actually benefit from that, lol.
all honesty, i proably wouldn't have even thought of the sandbags- but i had just took em' out of the bed ....ha
!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,375
Likes: 5
From: seattle
If the bed is scrap...a torch is faster on the bolts...if its not, be careful in grinding or cutting...a gouge from grinding doesnt look good with new pretty paint...I did mine myself...longbox w/toolbox...off and on by myself, a few floorjacks a ton of 2x4s, a heap of patience...I think I just propped mine up to the hilt to clear tires while on the truck, slid back for a sawhorse to sit and carefully and slowly drove a few inches, readjusted front wood until it was such that driving out from under it it wouldnt tip forward....I even had plenty of time to clean out the drains up front while the new bed was upside down before install...
Im no redneck...except when at the beach when Im in SoCal :-) But I am definately one stubborn and determined pup...at least I was a pup...of sorts when I did the swap several years ago...
- cs65
Im no redneck...except when at the beach when Im in SoCal :-) But I am definately one stubborn and determined pup...at least I was a pup...of sorts when I did the swap several years ago...
- cs65
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Owasso, Ok.
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