The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun nine foot bed assembly

I'm finally getting ready to start putting my bed together, but all the information I've been able to find seems to be for 1/2 and 3/4 tons. From what I've seen, thry have the cross sills already on the frame when they put the bed on. But that doesn't seem right to me for my one ton. It seems to me that the cross sills should be bolted to the bed sides before the bed is installed on the frame.

Does anyone have good directions for this? The bed is heavy enough that I don't really want to be putting it on and taking it off more than absolutely necessary. Hints, tips, and advice wlecome.

Tim

I only have a 1/2 ton but i think you have to bolt the cross members to the bed then place in the frame. I n my case I built the whole bed on saw horses and then backed under it and lowered on to the frame. Then taking a floor Jack i raised each point where a wood block was located and inserted the eccentric washer and bolt from the top through the wood through the cross member through the wood block into the frame. Repeated f or all six in my case then fine tuned the bed position and tightened all the bolts.

I also second assembling it on the floor and then putting it on. There is less chance of banging a cab skin or dropping a box side. Plus, with the 1 ton (as I have) as the sills are bolted to the bed side and this provides very good pickup points. I have a homemade overhead crane with two chainfall hoists on it. I used 4 ratchet straps at 4 corners and this enabled me to pick hat bed up laser level, roll the truck under it, and very easily, precisely and independently install the bed myself.
Once on, readjust as necessary, but if you took your time on the floor and it’s square, it should slide right down and on.

I just completed the 9ft bed installation. Didnt quite understand the question.

About 20 years ago I redid all the sheet metal on my 3800 PU. I unbolted the box assembly minus fenders, jacked it up and drove out from under it. It immediately crashed to the ground because of dodgy sawhorses and uneven ground on a hill. I couldn't have maneuvered the assembled box into position to back under it for the above reasons. So, I assembled it, already painted, one piece at a time on the frame. This worked out fine and I needed help only to position the sides and get a couple of bolts started. didn't scratch anything. All that aside, I didn't get the cross sills exactly centered but I have been able to run 255/85x16 tires anyway though the tire on one side is closer to the box.

BTW I couldn't get cross pieces for the 1 Ton so I had to weld in repair sections. No problems in 20 years.