Bed Replacement
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 119
Likes: 1
From: Kissimmee, FL
Bed Replacement
Im not sure if im doing this right but heres a shot. I finally found a new truckbed to replace my old one. It's an 8' SRW 03' bed. I wanted to know if anyone has removed one and put another back on. If so any thoughts or precautions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Not on an SD, but they are all pretty much the same.
Remove spare tire.
Take off the bed mounting bolts. Remember to disconnect the fuel tank filler from the bed. Remember to disconnect your wiring harness for the lights. Do not forget the license plate lights and side markers.
Putting the cheap tie down rings in the stake holes helps a lot. Use an engine lift to lift the bed up a little. Triple check that nothing is connected to the bed (brake hoses, vent lines, fuel lines, exhaust system hangers), then roll the truck out from under the old bed.
Reverse process to install new bed.
Remove spare tire.
Take off the bed mounting bolts. Remember to disconnect the fuel tank filler from the bed. Remember to disconnect your wiring harness for the lights. Do not forget the license plate lights and side markers.
Putting the cheap tie down rings in the stake holes helps a lot. Use an engine lift to lift the bed up a little. Triple check that nothing is connected to the bed (brake hoses, vent lines, fuel lines, exhaust system hangers), then roll the truck out from under the old bed.
Reverse process to install new bed.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
It's pretty straight forward. You don't need to drop the spare actually. There is a harness plug for the lights at the back of the bed behind the bumper. Unplug that. Remove the 3 7mm screws holding the filler neck on. Using a torx drive (T-50 I think), remove the bed bolts. Hopefully they will come loose. I've had to cut them off with a torch in the past, having broken several drivers trying to get them loose. They are different lenghts, so pay attention to where they go. Get some friends or like Red said, use an enging hoist.
Installation is the reverse of removal. However, the left front and left rearmost bed bolt align the bed. If you need to replace any of the clips on the frame, the new ones won't have threads. The bolts cut the threads.
Installation is the reverse of removal. However, the left front and left rearmost bed bolt align the bed. If you need to replace any of the clips on the frame, the new ones won't have threads. The bolts cut the threads.
