Bed cross rail problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mainermikeyd · 01-08-2009, 02:15 PM

Alright guys, lookin to replace the bed cross rails on 8' fleetside, was lookin at replacin the whole bed or floor, but one it costs some significant $$ to ship, two the rest of my bed is in REALLY decent shape, minor scale rust but no rotten panels!!! I see so many SWEET trucks on here was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem or found a replacement part for these through either a distributor or fabricator!!!! Any help or info would be appreciated THANKS

87c10slammer · 01-08-2009, 02:25 PM

im not sure of the exact measurements but i plan on using box tue or similar to do my bed. but then again im doing a body drop on it so i am making my own bed height...

ont_guy_38 · 01-08-2009, 02:57 PM

I had a place that makes dump boxes,replacment flat beds and stuff bend mine up.Way cheaper and believe me they are heavy duty compared to anything aftermarket or the orignals even

James McClure · 01-08-2009, 06:09 PM

No one makes the cross beams you are refering to. They are usually in worse shape than the bed itself. You will have to make them or have them made. My bed was in such bad shape I had no choice but to replace everything except the front panel.Now it's done up right. The whole inside and underneath is sprayed with bed liner. jim

87Wrangler454 · 01-09-2009, 07:57 AM

I am in the process of doing the same repair on my 87 long bed. I found the cross rails at my local crosscanadaparts.com supplier, they are 72" x 3" pre bent galvanized heavy gauge steel and sell for $40 Canadian (about $32 US) each.
You have to cut and weld some short pieces of pipe were the carriage bolts pass through and punch some holes in them so you can spot weld them on.
They also sell the tailpan assembly complete for $214, mine was missing and somebody had welded channel iron in place of it. I also stripped the paint off the bed floor and found it to be galvanized steel and in good shape since the previous owner had a bed liner in it. Good luck it takes a while to drill all the spot welds out.
The small middle rails I could not find new but once I drilled them off they look repairable and will reuse them.

ont_guy_38 · 01-09-2009, 08:21 AM

I had all mine bent up inclucing the tailpan assembly for 120 dollars

chevymotocross · 01-09-2009, 07:16 PM

You are not alone! That is what is left of my rear rail on my 87 shortbox. The rest of my bed is pretty decent. It is ashame. As you have found out, no one really makes these. I think Raybuck sold them at one time, not sure, I will have to check again. This spring, whatever it takes, I am replacing that brace as well as the tailpan which is also pretty shot. The dirt, salt, sand, road debris, etc, collects all up in there, causing the rot.

mainermikeyd · 01-10-2009, 12:22 PM

Thanks 87wrangler, that is what I needed to know, and the last thing I want to do is put the same spagetti thin metal GM put on these trucks!!! I only wanna do this once so I want a thicker gauge metal!!! Thanks

87Wrangler454 · 01-13-2009, 08:43 AM

I checked the bed rails and they are 16ga. (.063) thick steel.

01-08-2009, 02:15 PM	#1
mainermikeyd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Limington, ME Posts: 290	Bed cross rail problems Alright guys, lookin to replace the bed cross rails on 8' fleetside, was lookin at replacin the whole bed or floor, but one it costs some significant $$ to ship, two the rest of my bed is in REALLY decent shape, minor scale rust but no rotten panels!!! I see so many SWEET trucks on here was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem or found a replacement part for these through either a distributor or fabricator!!!! Any help or info would be appreciated THANKS __________________ Once a Marine Always a Marine OOH-RAH GM Fanatic 1982 K20 4" Rancho lift 350cid, edelbrock performer intake 1405 carb, hedman headers, TH350, " Wheres the MUD!!!!!!!!!!" 1986 c30 camper special 454, th400 (for sale) 1984 K10 Big Ten (project) needs motor 1984 C10 355, 700r4, (project) needs shortbox bed

01-08-2009, 02:25 PM	#2
87c10slammer truck addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 154	Re: Bed cross rail problems im not sure of the exact measurements but i plan on using box tue or similar to do my bed. but then again im doing a body drop on it so i am making my own bed height...

01-08-2009, 02:57 PM	#3
ont_guy_38 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 1,006	Re: Bed cross rail problems I had a place that makes dump boxes,replacment flat beds and stuff bend mine up.Way cheaper and believe me they are heavy duty compared to anything aftermarket or the orignals even

01-08-2009, 06:09 PM	#4
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: Bed cross rail problems No one makes the cross beams you are refering to. They are usually in worse shape than the bed itself. You will have to make them or have them made. My bed was in such bad shape I had no choice but to replace everything except the front panel.Now it's done up right. The whole inside and underneath is sprayed with bed liner. jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

01-09-2009, 07:57 AM	#5
87Wrangler454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 31	Re: Bed cross rail problems I am in the process of doing the same repair on my 87 long bed. I found the cross rails at my local crosscanadaparts.com supplier, they are 72" x 3" pre bent galvanized heavy gauge steel and sell for $40 Canadian (about $32 US) each. You have to cut and weld some short pieces of pipe were the carriage bolts pass through and punch some holes in them so you can spot weld them on. They also sell the tailpan assembly complete for $214, mine was missing and somebody had welded channel iron in place of it. I also stripped the paint off the bed floor and found it to be galvanized steel and in good shape since the previous owner had a bed liner in it. Good luck it takes a while to drill all the spot welds out. The small middle rails I could not find new but once I drilled them off they look repairable and will reuse them.

01-09-2009, 08:21 AM	#6
ont_guy_38 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 1,006	Re: Bed cross rail problems I had all mine bent up inclucing the tailpan assembly for 120 dollars

01-09-2009, 07:16 PM	#7
chevymotocross Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: East Haven, CT Posts: 882	Re: Bed cross rail problems You are not alone! That is what is left of my rear rail on my 87 shortbox. The rest of my bed is pretty decent. It is ashame. As you have found out, no one really makes these. I think Raybuck sold them at one time, not sure, I will have to check again. This spring, whatever it takes, I am replacing that brace as well as the tailpan which is also pretty shot. The dirt, salt, sand, road debris, etc, collects all up in there, causing the rot. __________________ 87 Chevy 2wd SWB: 305/700r4 Dual Exhaust, K&N Filter, Injector Pod Spacer, TBI Spacer, Belltech Front Sway Bar, Corvette Servo, Western Chassis 4/6 and c-notch

01-10-2009, 12:22 PM	#8
mainermikeyd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Limington, ME Posts: 290	Re: Bed cross rail problems Thanks 87wrangler, that is what I needed to know, and the last thing I want to do is put the same spagetti thin metal GM put on these trucks!!! I only wanna do this once so I want a thicker gauge metal!!! Thanks __________________ Once a Marine Always a Marine OOH-RAH GM Fanatic 1982 K20 4" Rancho lift 350cid, edelbrock performer intake 1405 carb, hedman headers, TH350, " Wheres the MUD!!!!!!!!!!" 1986 c30 camper special 454, th400 (for sale) 1984 K10 Big Ten (project) needs motor 1984 C10 355, 700r4, (project) needs shortbox bed

01-13-2009, 08:43 AM	#9
87Wrangler454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 31	Re: Bed cross rail problems I checked the bed rails and they are 16ga. (.063) thick steel.



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