Bent Frame and fixes
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
From: Vallejo Ca.
Bent Frame and fixes
A 1972 F250 was rear ended and ruined the bed and did a little damage to a corner of the cab and the replacement bed doesn't line up perfectly. Like the bump side lines and the front top edge of the bed and the bottom of the window aren't parallel. Could it be a poor bed installation adjustment? How likely would it mean that the frame is bent? If it is bent, are they hard to straighten?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,519
Likes: 2,654
From: Near Salt Lake City
Not hard to fix for a frame shop
That is, if it's not bent too bad, which it sounds like it is not
So, visit a frame shop and see what they say
Who put the bed on?
Sure, it could be improper installation, but they just sit on top of the frame with mounts, so it's difficult to screw it up
If it's not too bad and doesn't "dogtrack" maybe you can just add some washers and fix the bed alignment
I did alignments for 40 years, you could have a 4 wheel alignment check and see if the rear thrust angke is anywhere close to zero
I checked a whole bunch of wrecked ones after the body shop got done and sent some of them to the frame shop
None have a thrust angle of zero that I ever saw, even brand new
Within .1 degree you are okay
If it gets up around .25 it will visibly dogtrack
That is, if it's not bent too bad, which it sounds like it is not
So, visit a frame shop and see what they say
Who put the bed on?
Sure, it could be improper installation, but they just sit on top of the frame with mounts, so it's difficult to screw it up
If it's not too bad and doesn't "dogtrack" maybe you can just add some washers and fix the bed alignment
I did alignments for 40 years, you could have a 4 wheel alignment check and see if the rear thrust angke is anywhere close to zero
I checked a whole bunch of wrecked ones after the body shop got done and sent some of them to the frame shop
None have a thrust angle of zero that I ever saw, even brand new
Within .1 degree you are okay
If it gets up around .25 it will visibly dogtrack
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 260
From: Piney Woods of East Texas
The bed bolts directly to the frame so no adjustment there. Depending on how far off you can shim the cab or bed but confirm your mounts are good there before doing.
If you have a perfectly flat level surface (which most don't) you can check the frame yourself with a few measurements and compare ti to the master frame specs. If you have a set of screw jack stands you can level the stands and take some measurements. I used laser levels when I built my custom frame to check for elevation changes. Alone with digital level that measured 0.01 deg changes. I was working on a frame table that I built and leveled.
In the technical section there is a drawing giving you measurements at key locations. I don't believe there is a straight/flat section on these frame they way the channel was made.
For a quick check you can string a line on the rear tires and see how they align with the front to check tracking. But most had some minor misalignment. But be aware that the front and rear track widths are different on some.
If you have a perfectly flat level surface (which most don't) you can check the frame yourself with a few measurements and compare ti to the master frame specs. If you have a set of screw jack stands you can level the stands and take some measurements. I used laser levels when I built my custom frame to check for elevation changes. Alone with digital level that measured 0.01 deg changes. I was working on a frame table that I built and leveled.
In the technical section there is a drawing giving you measurements at key locations. I don't believe there is a straight/flat section on these frame they way the channel was made.
For a quick check you can string a line on the rear tires and see how they align with the front to check tracking. But most had some minor misalignment. But be aware that the front and rear track widths are different on some.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
From: Vallejo Ca.
It needs some work before it should be driven and I don't own it yet. It's been sitting over a year. Seller says the frame isn't bent and is the one who switched the bed so I'm thinking it may not be too bad. I'm expecting it to be bent by the way the bed sits. If the four wheels aren't on level ground, could it be some flex I'm seeing? It looks like the rear of the left side might be higher where it was hit on the back left corner. Looking at the front of the bed, left side is higher than the right when looking how the front top of the bed aligns with the bottom of the window. I'm trying to do my research before I make the drive. I like the way this one was ordered from the factory otherwise I would buy a better one. The frame is the only part that is my hesitation. I'm mostly concerned if it can be fixed than the cost. What kinds of worst-case scenario costs to straighten it should I expect. Nice Boss, I have six old Mustangs
Last edited by shelby greg; Apr 28, 2026 at 02:58 AM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 607
From: Minnesota
Look at the Frame and verify that there aren't any crushed areas. If its just bent, it should be easily fixed. I would have more concern that the frame is twisted or "diamonded" if it was hit on one frame rail. Still not that hard to fix.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,519
Likes: 2,654
From: Near Salt Lake City
I take it the truck is not close for you to go look at?
You got to hit a 72 F250 pretty damn hard to mash the bed into the cab
I think unless real cheap, I would just find another one
Frame may be buckled in the middle
You got to hit a 72 F250 pretty damn hard to mash the bed into the cab
I think unless real cheap, I would just find another one
Frame may be buckled in the middle
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Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
From: Vallejo Ca.
It's two hours away. It's cheap but on a project that is just a down payment, so I don't consider it cheap overall. It would be a lot cheaper to pay more for another one if there was one I liked. I've seen hundreds on the internet and the only other ones I would consider (three) have been sold that I've found and they weren't recent sales and as far back as 2015. I like the way this one was ordered from the factory, and I like the harder to find color combos. I don't do color changes or major mods, so I have to like how they were built.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 607
From: Minnesota
If the truck is fairly rust free, frame work isn't that bad really. You just need to look at it and make sure there isn't any major damage. As far as the bed hitting the cab in a rear end crash, not a big surprise if the bed was hit above the frame.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
From: Vallejo Ca.
I think it was hit above the frame as only a little part of the bumper got bent. A couple of inches of the lip that goes up towards the bed at the back of the bumper. The bumper looks straight. The impact picture also looks like it was on the taillight area, but the bumper did come loose on that side. By the way the bed sits it looks a little twisted so maybe the bed impact being attached to the frame lifted that side. I will have to learn what to look for besides obvious creases. I have a construction laser and a tape measure, but not sure if that will help. I will study what the frames look like on these. I don't believe there is rust. It looks clean on that account, but now I have to study common rust areas to verify before I look. From what everyone is saying it seems like it is a dollar amount to fix more that whether it can be fixed or not
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