Mine has a hole in it so that if you fill it up more than 1/2 way, it leaks, I have a single tank and was wondering, what is the easiest way to get the high-pressure fittings off from the top w/o breaking them, reaching you hand up, 1/2 dropping the tank, or get 4 of my buddies to help take the bed off the truck.
(it just got painted, so I may wait to take the bed off, dont want any scratches )

 

I've had to drop both of my tanks and I just lowered it a little with a jack underneath and the tanks nearly empty. It gave me enough clearance to remove the lines and connector.

 

ok, I might try that if I dont get more feedback, but I was also thinking since I have a rusty frame, ill grind it down to less rust and POR the whole thing, so I may end up taking off the bad anyways.

 

My bed is sitting loose right now. I'm waiting on a buddy and his boy to come help me pull it so I can swap out the rear tank. I wish I had gone this route from the beginning, but I tried to drop the tank first. It turns out that the hitch the P.O. welded on is in the way, and there is no way the tank is going out the bottom (at least not in one piece--I'm not cutting a tank with gas vapors in it), nevermind the new tank going up and in. With an impact wrench, it sure didn't take long to have the bed ready to come off.

Jason

 

On my 94, I took the bed off and before I put it back on, I made an access panel in the floor. All I have to do is take out 6 screws and I can get to the top of the tank.

 

Just disconnect the filler pipe from the side of the bed. Then, put a jack underneath and raise it up. Loosen the bolts (if possible) from the straps and lower it down on the jack. Once you get it down about 6 inches, you should be able to see the connector and fuel line clips. I don't have to worry about rust since I'm in the south. With rust, I understand that it might be significantly more difficult.

 

the easiest way is to have someone else do it.

 

Hahaha, quicklook! Good point, but not easy if you don't have the dough!

 

well, I want to replace it myself to save money that I could spend on something else.

 

you asked for the easiest not the cheapest way to do it.

just messing with you.

 

I removed my tanks (to replace the sending units and the pumps) while I had the bed off for rust repair reasons. Didn't want to weld the wheel openings with the filler tubes right there.

Anyway, taking off the bed was very easy... by myself... with an engine crane I extended about a foot to reach over where the tailgate normally would be (which I removed to reduce weight).

Six bolts, two filler tubes (three screws each), and disconnect the taillight harness and viola, it came right up.

The way my tanks were mounted, it's easier to drop them down even with the bed off. Having the bed off makes access to the bolts/straps that much easier. Before I made the decision to weld patch panels onto the bed (thus removing it), I seriously considered doing both tanks over from underneath - and I'm glad I didn't.

Taking the bed off with the crane took less than 30 minutes... same for reinstallation.

Dropping each tank took about 30 minutes a pop... replacing the pump/senders took about 10 minutes each, and reinstalling was about 30 minutes each.

Totally a one day job.

 

how big is the hole? if its not real big i would try some gas tank repair putty. i had a few little holes in mine that were about to rust through and i used that stuff and it hasn't leaked a drop. i also pulled both my tanks because ilistened to my friends dad about what was wrong with my truck instead of going with my own judgment and they both came out fairly easy with the bed still on.broke a couple clips on the fuel lines but that was about it.