How to Replace a Truck Bed

Replacing a bed requires you to crawl under the truck.

The bed of a pickup truck is one of the first parts on a truck to rust. The paint scratches off when you fill the truck bed, and this causes premature rusting. Replacing the truck is a matter of removing several bolts and a few wiring harnesses, but other than that the task is not overly difficult. You can have your old bed off and your new bed on in less than an hour.

Things You'll Need

• Socket set
• Carriage bolts
• Second person (optional)
• Sanding block (optional)
• Frame paint (optional)

Instructions

1. Disconnect your taillight harnesses if your taillights mount to the bed of a truck. Most late model Ford, Chevy and Dodge trucks use bed-mounted taillight lenses.

2. Locate each carriage bolt located on the floor of the truck bed. Carriage bolts have smooth rounded heads and a square flange under the head to prevent them from turning in their hole. Note the locations so you know where to find the nut under the truck that secures the bolt to the frame.

3. Crawl under the truck, locate the nuts for the carriage bolts and remove them using a socket and ratchet. Push the carriage bolts up through the frame and into the truck bed.

4. Lift the old truck bed off the truck. The use of a second person makes this easy.

5. Sand the surface rust off the frame rails using a sanding block, and paint the frame with paint specific for frames. Painting will help extend the life of your truck frame. You can usually locate this type of pant at an auto paint supply store or even an auto parts store. You can forgo this if your frame is in good shape with its paint still intact.

6. Place the new truck bed onto the frame rails and line up the bolt holes. Again, the use of a second person makes this easy.

7. Slide new carriage bolts through the holes in the top of the truck bed. Crawl under the truck and secure the carriage bolts using your socket and ratchet.

8. Reconnect the wiring harnesses for the taillights.

References

• :Ford F-150, F-250, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator Repair Manual 1997-2009"; Eric Michael Mihalyi, A.S.E., S.A.E., S.T.S., Jay Storer; 2009
• "Dodge Ram Pick-Ups V6, V8, V10 Gas & Cummins Turbo-Diesel Engines Repair Manual 2002-2008"; John A. Wegmann, John H. Haynes; 2008
• "Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra 2WD and 4WD Repair Manual 1999-2006"; Jeff Kibler, John H. Haynes; 2007