Sources for rust free beds?

[chucky2]

I have a red 2003 Level II where the center of the bed is rusted out (looks to be from exhaust or something). I was thinking of maybe just trying to get a new bed, and other than a couple of places on the net, just aren't finding anything - and those couple that pop up, don't have any beds for a Ranger/my color.

For those that have looked into this/done this, where did you go to get rust free beds for your Ranger?

Locally for me is going to be problematic, in the Chicago area we believe in salting our salt in the winter...

Chuck

 

[Mark_88]

you might have to consider buying an entire donor truck...maybe one that has a blown engine or has front end damage. Wrecking yards are the best for that but check for low priced ads on local listings...craigslist if your area has one.

I read somewhere recently that there are many beds for sale in southern states that are in mint condition due to no salt...you could drive down with your truck and pick one up...just remove the old bed on site then load it back onto your truck and take it in for scrap...although they don't actually weigh too much...maybe 100 lbs...

EDIT: I forgot to mention that my truck has been sitting in the driveway for over a year...in that time I've had two offers from people wanting to sell me their box...one was $250 with tailgate and one was a simple swap for the one I have...and that is Canada...where they are scraping anything older than 98 and only have private sales to get parts from...

 

[chucky2]

Thanks Mark for the reply, sorry for not responding back to you sooner. I'll have to start digging into the internet, maybe using a Craigslist search engine or something. We're going to move next year and I'd like to try and get this handled something this year if I could. I guess I could always work on the finding the bed and then next Spring move it over. It'd be nice to take off the existing bed and do some rust prevention on the frame and whatnot...

 

[Mark_88]

No problem...sorry also because I didn't see your reply till just now...

Anyway...I've been busy with spring hangers on my truck...all four have been replaced...I just did driver side...might want to check them while you're poking around there because they are common rust targets and are not hard to replace...but the box must come off...

I made sure this time, also, to use the c-nut clips on the frame...I replaced my first box and used just regular nuts and bolts...when I had to do some work on the frame I kicked myself in the butt for not using the original equipment (they are not expensive to replace) because the one behind the gas tank is hard to get at...

I also did some rust removal and sprayed some rust converter and then rubber guard on it before putting the box back on...so doing that work when the box is off is a good time...but give yourself at least a few days to go over it well...get a good chisel to bang off the shale/scale or whatever it is...the surface rust that forms like a flaky crust on the metal...knock that off and blast it with something like rust converter or that Por15 or whatever it is...

The more effort you put in the longer it will resist rust...

 

[chucky2]

Yeah I'm already preparing for a rust removal ordeal haha. Not looking forward to house projects, work, parents, and working a truck I'll constantly hear to 'just trade it in and get something new!'. Yeah, let me sign up for a $40k payment before buying what'll probably be a $300k+ house...winner logic right there...

 

[Mark_88]

Sounds like you will have quite a bit on your plate and hopefully your truck lasts for you...my last one I built in 2002 and with a bit of motor work here and there lasted me until just last year when I blew the engine...I could have gotten it back on the road with another engine and just been happy...but...noooooooo...I had to go and rebuild the whole thing...lol..

Anyway...these trucks can last a long time and give great service if you take care of them...and that looks like your plan...

I've bought a few new vehicles over the years and they are nice...some last long too...but the payments...ugh!

Been trying to avoid taking that plunge for quite a while...

 

[chucky2]

If something was out that I really liked, maybe, mmmaaaayyybe I could be convinced to get something new. But honestly there is nothing that wows me so much that I'm like, Wow, I've GOT to have that!

If ford had brought a modern 2.7 to 3.0L diesel to the new F-150, and then not charged the needless diesel markup on it, that is something I could bite on. But Ego boost mpg...nah, already have something that gets not good mpg and it's free lol...