Should I pull the bed off?

[Sonicman]

I'm moving my gas tank under the bed. I want to take the bed off to make it easier. I'm worried I might be opening a can of worms I'm not prepared to deal with yet. The po put a spray in bed liner in. The under side looks ok but looks like the bed has never been off. What are yalls thoughts?
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[71lowboy]

I don't see a problem with it, once your under there you will have a better idea of anything that could cause an issue. Mine came right off and went right back on. Good luck
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[hugger6933]

you will be so much happier that you did take it off once you have it done. It will be a lot easier to get to everything that way and would also be a good time to clean up a little and maybe spray bomb some paint to detail a little bit. Jim

[cdowns]

with the badliner the problem comes with tfinding the bolts that hold the bed down// use a very sharp knife to score around the bolt heads so they can b removed without peeling the liner off

i usually just grind the heads off tthe bolts to remove the bed, that way you dont damage the square holes that hold them in place

[coop34]

I would take it off. It's pretty heavy, but you can get it done with the help of a friend. Mine came off really easy except for a few stuck bolts. I just ground the heads off of those.

[72shortbed12]

Worth pulling for sure. x2 on cutting/grinding the bolts.

[Shyguy]

If you are going to lift it off by hand it is a lot easier if you remove the tires/wheels.

We have used a cherry picker. Lift the bed up and move the truck out from under it.

Either way is not that hard. Like said the hardest part is getting the old bolts loose and out. Some people cut them and some pre-soak them with PB Blaster before trying to remove by using a wrench.

[Longhorn Man]

If nothing else, it is a good excuse to POR the rear frame rails.



Plan on new bolts, otherwise I don't see any reason not to pull the bed.

[kcsa75]

How much does a long-wide bed weigh? In other words, how many guys do I need to get to help me get a new one out of the salvage yard?

[coop34]

You could do it with two, but four would be perfect.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Took us 4, and it was hard then.

Otherwise, tractor with frontend loader works better

[swamp rat]

If its a steel bed it will have carrage bolts, you may be able to remove the nuts without the carrage bolts turning, but it will be hell getting the bed back in place without some kind of a lift. Humm, yea probably best to cut around the carrage bolt heads with an razor knife and remove them.

I used a cherry picker to pull my bed off by myself with some straps and 4X4's..

[Redneck-Mafia]

We did it with 3 guys and it's super easy to fix, clean, undercoat with the bed off

[urbancowboy1919]

3 is the least amount of guys I could get it off with. Even then, the other 2 guys were a hell of a lot bigger than me. 4 would be ideal.

[custom1970]

i pulled my bed and also have a spray in liner. We re-set it without removing or cutting the bolts from the liner. 3 or 4 of us got the bed close, then had someone crawl under the frame and line up the bolts--very carefully!! lowered bed slowly so we didn't break the liner or have to make repairs to it. The bed is heavier than you think

Now, looking back i wish i never put in a spray liner, but that's another topic...

[hovenga67]

I have done it with me and my buddy and it is a ***** with a steel floored bed. I would definatly take it off though makes life alot easier.
Brent

[bfay17]

I have done it with just two guys and it wasnt alot of fun but we got it. I would say 4 is ideal.