How To Remove a Pickup Truck Box

A pickup truck is built for utilitarian purposes, and is the workhorse for many of America's vehicle fleets. Because of that, many people like to customize their trucks in one way or another, to suit their purpose. For example, some people may want to remove the traditional truck bed for a flatbed or a utility bed. To do that, you must first remove the stock bed, or box, as it's sometimes called. This is not a one-person job, but it can be done at home with hand tools.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips-head screwdriver
• 3/8-inch ratchet, extension and sockets
• 1-3 assistants
• Sawhorses

Instructions

1. Open the tailgate of the truck. Use the Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the taillights from the bed of the truck, and then place them to the side. Run the wiring for the lighting back through the bed of the pickup and onto the ground, so that when you lift the bed up, the wiring is completely out of the way.

2. Open the gas door and unbolt the gas filler neck from the bed, using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Once it's disconnected, push the filler neck inside of the bed so that it's out of the way.

3. Crawl underneath the bed and unbolt the box from the frame, using the 3/8-inch ratchet, extension and sockets. Depending on the length of the bed and the size of the truck, anywhere from four to eight bolts will secure the box, and these bolts should have access holes through the frame so that they can be removed easily.

4. Place the sawhorses opposite the bed, so that when you lift the bed off of the truck, you can set it on the sawhorses. You want this to be convenient, so space them out as best you can.

5. Place yourself and your assistants around the bed of the truck so that you can evenly distribute the weight of the vehicle among all of you. Lift the bed up, using your legs, and move it off of the frame and onto the sawhorses.