Bed Rust Reduction

[Ranger Kip]

I finally got around to removing the rust from the bed of my truck, well.... those dupli-color paint cans are expensive and you dont get much, so I decided to go with a spray-on bedliner.

also decided to get the side of my bed too, because, well, it looks hideous with the primer showing.

started out cleaning up the loose paint in the bed and on the railside, and painted my first coat onto the side, and then I removed a large quantity (if not all) of the rust from the bed, leaving as much existing paint as possible (no image, forgot =p).

then I taped him up nice and good an put on my first coat of bed liner.

then the second...

then I did some finishing touches on the bedside and inside of the bed and this is how he turned out.

also found some rust spots I took care of on the cab and door.

I didn't know those were plastic things on the cab.... why?

 

[grumpyguy]

Those are there to cover the seam where cab parts are welded together. Unbolt from the inside in case your curious.

 

[Mark_88]

I did mine last summer and removed the box completely. I had plenty of pics but can't find them...but I did very similar work on mine taking it right down to the metal and then hitting it with the sealer paint first...I didn't find the rust converter until after I did the box but I'm going to do the frame on mine also...need to remove the cab before I hit that though...

Looks like a clean job...but I'd really recommend taking a look at the bottom side of things and hitting the frame with the same treatment...maybe even invest in the wire wheel attachment for the grinder to get more of the surface rust out. They were around $30 the last time I looked but are worth it for this type of work...

The under side of the box and the wheel wells are really more important than the exterior if you are going to keep this truck...

 

[Ranger Kip]

underside of my truck is nearly clean, lot of surface and starting rust though, plan to remove my bed when there is a clear weekend (thur-sun are my days off), so I can really get the work done properly. I'd probably also need another person or two to help me remove it from the frame, I've done a sport trec bed, but those are plastic and small lol and took 2 people itself to do.

this cost me about $30 to do in total, I still have 1/3+ can of bedliner left, it only took 1.5 cans almost.

I assume the frame will take at least $50-$70 in materials. But next are getting rims from the junkyard for my new tires, then pads, then I can do the frame.

 

[Mark_88]

All in good time, as they say. The bed is not that heavy but a second or third set of muscles makes it easy...or a lift/block and tackle...or a tree branch and a well placed pulley system...

To do the frame right won't cost that much...the grinder wire wheels are expensive here but in your area they might be half that price...it's the rust converter and rubber guard that can up the cost...

My first frame cost me about $1,000 to do...but I paid someone to sand blast and epoxy spray...plus he did the bottom of my cab (still in good shape) and welded huge washers on two of my cab mounts...

So it was a bit more involved...but if you want to keep it you need to stay on top of that...of course, if you don't deal with tons of salt and whatever chemicals they toss on icy roads then you're already ahead of the battle...

 

[Ranger Kip]

no, we have the salt and chemicals =p plenty of it, Pennsylvania vehicles can rust if they just sit (no flat tires), given 10 years any vehicle will be completely useless, its move to survive here lol.

I plan on replacing my bed bolts if I find replacements cheap enough, and possibly redoing my brakelines in stainless to get ahead of the salt.

I am just going to do the back of the frame for now, I can do the sides of the front of the frame, but I don't have the tools nor manpower (willing to help) to get my cab off and on again. Not unless adsm08 wants to have a fun weekend XD

 

[Mazda]

Nice Job Ranger Kip,

Why didn't you spray the front of the bed?

Also got get your moms or sisters hair dryer and a plastic putty knife and get those body stickers off of it.... Please

You don't need to replace the bed bolts. Cover the inside of the bolt with some model putty and then have them dipped or powder coated by a paint shop. After they are done get a dental pick and pick out the putty..

 

[swifttony]

Sandblast it and coat it with Rustoleum.

 

[Ranger Kip]

Nice Job Ranger Kip,

Why didn't you spray the front of the bed?

Also got get your moms or sisters hair dryer and a plastic putty knife and get those body stickers off of it.... Please

You don't need to replace the bed bolts. Cover the inside of the bolt with some model putty and then have them dipped or powder coated by a paint shop. After they are done get a dental pick and pick out the putty..

I like my reflective tape! Lol I want to remove each fender one by one and strip and paint them.... probably take 10 weekends or so but I'm up to the challenge