Bed removal - Any tips?

[scoob8000]

Thinking about pulling the bed off my supercab 88' ranger. Never removed a truck bed.

6 T55 bolts, taillight plug, and filler neck. Thats all right?

How heavy is the bed, can two people lift it and set it aside, or do I need more help?




(If your wondering, I'm fixing the gas gauge sender, and wirewheeling/painting the frame/under the bed while I have it off..)

 

[Earl43P]

Yep on all counts. Nice to have a buddy to spell you, from cranking on the bolts.

Get the longest breaker bar you can heft.

I used a 42incher. Soak the threads from underneath.

If there's a transfer pump, I'd replace that too.

I pressure washed the tank top before trying to get the ring to turn. T'was caked.

 

[Sunk]

Its not too heavy, but lifting it over the tires/axle hump can be difficult. The more friends the better.

 

[KELLY88]

One buddy is good to help, 2 is better to help get the back end over the tires and bumper. I set mine down on a set of sawhorses rather than on the ground but if you put in down in grass it should be fine. Depending on the condition of the bolts they can be fairly easy or a real PITA. It may seem kind of difficult but bed removal is one of the easier jobs really.

 

[scoob8000]

Thanks for the input.

Should I plan on replacing any of the bolts/clip nuts? I assume they are a dealer only item.

 

[scoob8000]

So my progress has come to a halt.

I broke two bolts off (sheared about 1.5" from the head), and broke my T55 bit.

Does anyone know of a source for these bolts? I don't even want to know what Ford charges for em. :0

 

[KELLY88]

You might get lucky and find a set from a junkyard but the condition might not be much better. I think the dealership charges about $8 per bolt.

 

[scoob8000]

I'm looking at just some u clip nuts and bolts at mcmaster carr.

Any idea what the length of these bolts are? And are they all the same?

 

[87Rangerdude]

another tip, if you have any WD40 or PB Blaster around soak the tops/bottoms of the bolts, let them soak overnight while you sleep. also if you have a torch heat them up till they're glowing and pop them off, i had to bring my truck to the shop so they could heat the bolts up and use an impact wrench to break them loose.

 

[86_cookiemonster]

I had to take my bed off a two years ago, me and my dad did it by ourselves. Note my dad swings a 20 pound sledge for a living, so that might have made it easier for us.

I noticed that you said you sheered the head off the nut. The best way to avoid sheering the heads off anymore bolts is to use an air tool. I recommend an impact wrench. The impact wrench doesn't apply the torsion forces that a breaker bar does. And don't forget there is no such thing as too much breaker oil.

To replace those bolts I would check out LMC Truck, you can get almost every part for a ranger you could ever want.

 

[ZMan]

keep in mind theres 2 different size bolts (length) holding the bed on too.