Pulling the bed - with pics.

[Revhendo]

So, I got around to changing my fuel filler neck and had decided the easiest way was to pull the bed. I actually came to this decision after reading up on it here.
After searching, I couldn't find any good pics of it being done, so I took pics as I went. Well, as best I could. It's actually stupid easy and the best way to go if you have to get to anything major under the bed.

Get access to the bolts. For me, I had to pull the bedliner out. I recommend soaking the bolts even if you don't live in the rust belt.



Unbolt the bed. There are six bolts (mine's a '95).



Unscrew the filler neck and disconnect the tail light harness connector (didn't get a pic of the connector, stupid phone) it's under the left rear.........



I strapped up the bed to lift with my engine hoist, but it's pretty dang light. Get a 12 pack and I'm sure a couple of buds will stop by to help.



And lift......

 

[Revhendo]

It makes everything easy to get to.......

 

[Mark_88]

The frame looks clean, but this is a good time to do some work on it also. Seek and destroy any rust spots, bare spots, and maybe paint the inside frame rails yellow...don't laugh, it actually helps see things under there if you need to crawl around chasing brake line or fuel leaks...

Anyway, good pics...not sure if there is a tech article, but if you write one up you could get it published~!

 

[LearjetMinako]

Done the same thing too. Expect I didn't use the engine hoist, used good old muscle power to lift mine off.

 

[Mark_88]

I managed to pull mine off by myself also...they are not very heavy, just awkward to try to move around until you get the leverage right...

 

[cvar]

Nice write-up. This should be #1 at the top of the tech library.

 

[Dune Runner]

I did mine by myself. I backed it into my garage and used tie down straps to hoist it off hung from the rafters.

 

[Revhendo]

Thanks for the positive response. I'm just trying to give back for the help this site has given me. Cool idea about painting the inside of the frame rails to help detect leaks (and cracks).
The truck is back together now, but detailing and some other tricks are in store the next time I pop it off.

I should add that the bed bolts are T55 Torx head bolts. Make sure they are cleaned out before you try and turn them. I used a 1/2 inch breaker bar with an adapter on my Torx socket. I used anti-seize on the bolts when I re installed them so they would be easier to take off the next time.

 

[straycat]

This has been posted a bunch on here. Man!! It is a lot of work to do. I never removed a bed on any truck before to replace a fuel pump or a fill neck. I am so glad that I have a few friends that have lifts I can use when I need a lift...lol

 

[1simpleman]

I did mine two weeks ago...While the bed was off,I swapped out my 7.5 open for an 8.8 LS,and changed all my spring hanger brackets too....very easy to get at everything with the bed out of the way great write up!!! BTW.... I used a tap and die set to "chase " the rust off the threads on the bed bolts,and the frame U-nuts,along with plenty of anti-seize before I put everything back together....thread size is 12 mm x 1.75

 

[Mark_88]

This has been posted a bunch on here. Man!! It is a lot of work to do. I never removed a bed on any truck before to replace a fuel pump or a fill neck. I am so glad that I have a few friends that have lifts I can use when I need a lift...lol

I prefer the bed off for one simple reason...you don't have to look up when you do things...you look down and watch all that carp fall that would normally hit you in the face as you're trying to get something undone...and it generally falls in BEHIND your safety glasses, gets in your eyes and with greasy rust covered hands you remove the glasses to clean your eyes only to find that you've just smudged and maybe even scratched a new pair of $15 glasses...

I guess I just like being on top...

 

[97RangerXLT]

What Mark said x1000.

I found that it was more of a chore to remove the bedliner than it was to remove the entire bed.

If you don't have a lift, two people can easily lift the bed off and put it to the side

AJ

 

[straycat]

I prefer the bed off for one simple reason...you don't have to look up when you do things...you look down and watch all that carp fall that would normally hit you in the face as you're trying to get something undone...and it generally falls in BEHIND your safety glasses, gets in your eyes and with greasy rust covered hands you remove the glasses to clean your eyes only to find that you've just smudged and maybe even scratched a new pair of $15 glasses...

I guess I just like being on top...

LOL. That is funny. I wash my trucks and don't worry about stuff falling on me...lol.

 

[Revhendo]

LOL. That is funny. I wash my trucks and don't worry about stuff falling on me...lol.

Oh Crap! You're supposed to wash trucks?

 

[cvar]

Isn't that what RAIN is for?