How to Remove a Bed From Vehicles

by Contributing WriterUpdated June 12, 2017

As a result, lots of different parts and supplies are available Vehicles automotive stores and wrecking yards everywhere. If your Vehicles gets into a wreck or has body damage on the bed, it might be easier just to replace the bed, since you can find them so cheaply and in so many different colors. Doing the job isn't very difficult, but you do need help to do the heavy lifting.

Under The Hood:

 How to Remove a Bed From a Chevy Truck

Removal

Lay out two blankets in such a way that both sides of the bed will rest on them. Open the gas door. Remove the three screws that secure the fuel filler housing to the bed, using a socket and ratchet.

Open the tailgate and tilt it half way down. Lift each tailgate support cable so it points straight out. Raise the support cable clip over the bolt, then push the cable forward and rotate it down.

Disconnect the electrical connector for the rearview camera, if equipped. If your truck is equipped with electronic tailgate assist, hold the tail gate about 2 inches from latching position. On non-assisted models, hold the tailgate half open. lift the passenger side off its pivot point, then lift the opposite side. Set the tailgate aside.

Remove the two screws for each taillight housing. Pull outward on each light, then disconnect the wiring harness. Set the taillight assemblies aside. Push the wiring harness for the taillights through the hole in the bed. Follow the wiring harness for the taillights and license plate lights and gently pull the retainers from the bed.

Slide under the Silverado and locate the four bed mounts on each frame rail. Remove the bolts from each mount. Lift the bed off the frame with the help of three other helpers. Remove the bed from the truck and place it on the blankets.

Installation

Tip the bed up on one side and thread a length of threaded steel rod into each mounting hole on the bed. Pick up the bed, align the mounting pins with the mounts on the frame rails and lower the bed into place. Remove the steel rods one by one and install the bed mounting bolts. Tighten the bolts to 63 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

Route wiring harness for the rear lights and back up camera, press fitting the harness retainers as you work toward the rear of the bed. Plug the center wiring harness into the license plate lamps. Route the taillight harness into the taillight cavities.

Connect the wiring harness to the taillight assemblies. Press fit the assemblies, then snug the retaining screws. Guide the driver side of the tailgate into its pivot, followed by the passenger side.

Install the support cables to the tailgate. Connect the wiring harness to the backup camera, then shut the tailgate. Align the holes in the fuel filler housing with the holes in the bed filler cavity. Install the screws and tighten them to 44 inch-pounds with an inch-pound torque wrench.

Items you will need

  • Two large blankets

  • Socket set

  • Ratchet

  • Phillips screwdriver

  • Threaded steel rod (eight 8-inch-long pieces M21 by 1.75 thread)

  • Torque wrench

  • Inch-pound torque wrench

 How to Remove a Bed From a 2000 GMC Sierra

Pull open the gas door. Unbolt the screws inside the gas door using the 3/8-inch ratchet and Torx-head sockets. Push the gas filler cap into the bedside.

Crawl underneath the driver's side of the truck. Unbolt the four bolts running down the length of the frame--one at the rear of the cab, one forward of the axle and two rear of the axle. Repeat for the passenger-side of the frame.

Crawl underneath the rear bumper. Locate the wiring junction panel located in the center of bed near the license plate. Unplug the wiring to the junction panel with your hands.

Place your assistants on the corners of the bed. Lift the bed straight up off of the frame, then move it rearward, carefully making sure it doesn't hit the rear bumper or tires.

Items you will need

  • Two to three assistants

  • 3/8-inch ratchet, extension and socket set

  • Torx-head socket set

 How to Remove the Bed From a Chevy S-10 Pickup

Open the gas door, and unbolt the filler neck from the bed side using the 1/4-inch ratchet and socket and the Torx-head sockets. Then push the nozzle inside the bed so it's out of the way.

Open the tailgate and unscrew the two screws on the sides that hold in the taillights, using the Phillips-head screwdriver. Then pull out the taillights, and twist out the taillight plugs with your hands. Push the wiring down through the taillight holes and onto the ground so they are out of the way.

Crawl underneath the bed by the tailgate and make sure that no wiring is connected to the bottom of the bed. If there is, undo it using your hands, and place it to the side.

Unbolt the bed from the frame using the 3/8-inch ratchet, extension and sockets. There are eight bolts holding the bed in place, spaced evenly among the frame, and are all easily accessible.

Place an assistant on each corner of the bed, or at a bare minimum, one per side, and lift the bed up vertically using your legs. Lift the bed up and off the back of the truck, being careful not to hit the gas nozzle on the bed or hit the tires with the bed.

Items you will need

  • 1/4-inch ratchet and socket set

  • Torx-head sockets

  • Phillips-head screwdriver

  • 3/8-inch ratchet, extension and socket set

  • 1 or 2 assistants

 How to Remove the Bed on a Ford Ranger

Open the gas door and unbolt the gas filler neck from the bedside using the 1/4-inch ratchet and socket. When it's unbolted, push the filler neck inside of the bed. Otherwise, when you lift the bed up, the filler neck could catch on the bedside and impede your lifting progress.

Unscrew the taillight from the bedside using the Phillips-head screwdriver. Once the light is out, hold it in one hand while using the other hand to twist out the taillight bulbs. Once they are all free, push the light harness down under the bed until it hangs on the ground.

Crawl underneath the rear of the vehicle and locate the ties that connect the taillight wiring to the bed floor. Clip the ties using the wire cutters so that the wiring is separate from the bed.

Unbolt the bed from the frame using the 1/2-inch ratchet, extension and socket. There are several bolts that hold the bed in place, and they're all located along the sides of the frame.

Position yourself and your assistants around the bed. If you only have two people lifting, then lift from the fender wells, centering yourself on the bed. Lift the bed vertically, using your legs to lift the heavy load. Slowly move the bed away from the frame, moving slowly to make sure that you're not hung up on any wiring or connections.

Items you will need

  • 1/4-inch ratchet and socket

  • Phillips-head screwdriver

  • Wire cutters

  • 1/2-inch ratchet, extension and socket set

  • 1 or 2 assistants

 How to Remove the Bed on a Nissan Frontier

Open the gas door. Unscrew the screws on the inside of the gas door using the Phillips screwdriver. Push the gas cap into the inside of the bed with your hands.

Crawl underneath the rear of the bed. Locate the wiring leading to the license plate lights on the rear bumper. Unplug the harness to the lights using your hands. Locate the wiring harness leading down from the taillights. Unplug the connection between that harness and the frame-mounted harness with your hands.

Unbolt the six bolts that secure the bed using the 1/2-inch ratchet and socket: two just behind the cab, two behind the rear axle, and two just above the rear bumper brackets.

Arrange your assistants around the bed of the Frontier so that you can evenly distribute the weight. Lift the bed straight up simultaneously, then move it rearward toward the rear bumper. Set the bed down carefully on a level surface.

Items you will need

  • 2 or 3 assistants

  • 1/2-inch ratchet and socket set

  • Phillips screwdriver

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