Replacing a square body bed? Need help!!

[Truck Guy99]

I have a pickup bed trailer made from a square body half ton. The floor is rusted out so I bought another bed. I have worked on and replaced several truck parts, but a bed is something new to me. I have the stuff to do it, but would appreciate some tips. Please tell me if I left anything out.

Remove hardware from the fuel filler neck

Remove tail light connections

Remove bolts from body mounts

Lift bed off


Is there any bolts that are hard to find?
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[71swb4x4]

The bolts are easy to find. Run out now and hit them with some penetrant so they are ready for you tomorrow.
From the factory there would have been a ground strap or two, see if they are still connected.

Get a few friends. I like to remove the rear tires, and lower the truck (or rear frame in your case) as far as I can so we don't have to lift the bed as far.

[Truck Guy99]

I was thinking about lifting it with some jacks and pulling the trailer out from under it. I am getting the trailer from my grandfather's place next week. I will try to get pictures. Would it be a bad idea to scrap the old bed? It has basically no floor, at least 4 paint jobs, and holes in the bed rail from toolboxes. Is it worth $50 on craigslist?
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[bigwheel15]

Put it up and see if theres any interest, cant hurt. Hell I scrapped mine and got $40 bucks for it, just drove in (all bolts out and a screw each holding lights in) pushed the bed back then flipped it over and drove off.

[blue86c10]

You might have a hose going from the rear end bolted to bed.
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[Truck Guy99]

Is that hose a line with a spring wrapped around it? If so, I think I know what your talking about. Is it a brake line?

How much does the bed weigh? It's a long bed by the way. I plan to remove the tailgate to help with lifting. I may just round up a couple buddies and lift it off. I really am not sure what I'll do with it yet. I was offered the new to me bed with the frame for an extra 50 bucks. I think I would get the rear end too. Do you think I should just do that and make another trailer? I'm really torn at this point. I will have to pay a welder friend to do the tongue welding, but most of the other stuff I can do myself. What do you guys think?

[dieseldawg142]

the hose blue86 is referring to is the axle vent. your brake lines are attached to the frame. might be hard to see, there's also a small ground strap on the filler tube. if you & buddy's are lifting it off, remove the wheels, less higher to lift ( ask me how i know)

[Truck Guy99]

I am considering parking it under a tree branch (a thick one obviosly), putting chains or straps at each corner, and lifting it with a 5k come-along. Would that be a bad idea?

I am also thinking of just having my brother help me lift it from the front and flip it over onto the bedrails.

Anybody wanna help this weekend? Free pizza!

[dieseldawg142]

if your not saving it, flip away! first time, me & buddies lifted it off, second time i nailed some 4x4 boards together & slid them under the box rail & used my boss's forklift, come a long will work too

[Rubble]

Depends on where the truck has run too,but the bed bolts might be really rusted.Last one I done this past winter,just grind bolt heads off & drove out bolts.I was lucky,have a tractor with loader to pull box..
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[71swb4x4]

I would not use the tree branch. While it's certainly possible to do successfully, you do not know how healthy that branch is. If it breaks with you near it, you may get seriously hurt.

[Truck Guy99]

I'm a bit skeptical of the branch thing myself. I may have to borrow an extra bottle Jack or jack stands. I think I got a couple friends that could help if I give them lunch. They're like buzzards on the fence. They sit and wait for something to nearly kill itself, then they get free lunch from it. I need cheaper friends......
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[Truck Guy99]

How long do you think this will take to remove and replace?
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[79Betty]

I took mine off at the yard with just the filler neck holding it... About 5 mins... Me. A buddy put a new one on in about 30 with the 3"bl too. Mine wasn't even an hour.
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[Truck Guy99]

Alrighty. I there any way to make it easier to come off besides removing the wheels?
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[Truck Guy99]

The new bed was delivered a few hours ago. The trailer will be back here on the 11th.
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