Bed removal
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 244
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Bed removal
Good morning Gents, I have found a need to remove my bed on a 1997 powerstroke 4 door longbed. Question is how difficult is this to do and can a weekend mechanic do it? A friend told me it was quite easy but after looking under it appears more than meets the eye to me. Anybody know of a link which might explain removing the bed. Thanks in advance for your help. This forum has been extremely helpful to me. Thanks Maxx
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
its easy man.... me a buddy removed mine. its 6 bolts (forget the sieze but wanna say they are 3/4") to remove, the taillight harness to unplug, and the fuel filler necks to disconnect and thats pretty much it. now some times previoius owner may use the bed to attach something (like an accessory battery cable or an extra backup light) beyond what the factory installed so you will want to crawl under and just double check. when you take the bed off, be careful. dont sntach it off trying to be 'He-Man' because you may have missed something and could damage the bed or whats attached.
BTW... me and a buddy hand lifted it off the truck and walked it backwards (with the tailgate off) we stood it up right and was very easy to do.
-cutts-
BTW... me and a buddy hand lifted it off the truck and walked it backwards (with the tailgate off) we stood it up right and was very easy to do.
-cutts-
Playing in the Dirt
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 1
From: Southwest Georgia
Don't forget to disconnect all of the wiring harness hold downs that run across the back of the bed (pop in clips behind the bumper, under the tailgate) and check the two tank vent lines (one for each tank, from the roll over valve) and the vent line over the rear axle; they should be clipped to the frame but I've seen people clip them to the bed before. If you have a moving blanket (or spare blanket) put it over the front of the bed so that it hangs down between the bed and the cab, to keep from scratching the cab or bed.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 4
From: Brandon, MB
Same as I've done, except I backed into the garage and used 4 ratchet straps to raise the box. Couldn't get anyone to help that time, plus I thought I could do it myself. Worked pretty well.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
You wont have to drop a fuel tank? I have a drop in liner in mine so I cant see the bolts from the top of the bed so I looked from under the truck. I could only see the first four bolts in the front of the bed. Thought the last two were above the tank?????
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
Rust is the reason I need to take my bed off. The bed is fine but you should see the rust on my frame rails. I would like to get the bed off so I can address this issue but like I said it looked like I was going to have to drop a tank so I have been putting it off.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
Rust is the reason I need to take my bed off. The bed is fine but you should see the rust on my frame rails. I would like to get the bed off so I can address this issue but like I said it looked like I was going to have to drop a tank so I have been putting it off.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
Well first thing to do is get the bed and any thing else out of the way. What I plan on doing is removing most or the rust with a wire brush then hitting it with a coat of Rustoleum rusty metal primer and rusty metal top coat. Used it before and the stuff work's great but I would recommend the brush on and not the aerosol stuff. To prep the surface you should blow off all the dust left behind from removing the loose rust with compressed air then wipe it down with mineral spirits then prime it while the metal is still wet with the mineral spirits.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 0
From: Gladwin,Mi
Look into tis stuff too....I have used it before and would highly recommend it over the rustoleum
POR-15 Inc.
Playing in the Dirt
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 1
From: Southwest Georgia
The last two bolts are at the very back of the bed. You do not have to drop either tank to remove the bed.
The Eastwood Co. has some good rust products: Eastwood Rust Treatment: Rust Removal, Prevention & Protective Gear
The Eastwood Co. has some good rust products: Eastwood Rust Treatment: Rust Removal, Prevention & Protective Gear