I thought that somebody on here might be interested in how I installed my bed by myself. If you have plenty of friends and neighbors around, you may not need this. I used a good heavy cherry picker engine lift. I ran good strong rope from corner to corner on the bed, plus from side to side at the center. The cherry picker hook was connected at the center of the bed, where the ropes crossed. I lifted the bed off of the saw horses, and backed the truck under it. When I lowered the bed down to within 4 or 5 inches of the frame, I dropped pieces of steel rod through the mounting holes in the bed wood, and down into the corresponding holes in the frame. On the front 2 holes, you have to put a nut or something on the top of the rods to keep them from falling through the frame. Then as I slowly lowered the bed on down, it self aligned itself to the frame holes using the rods in the holes. My bed was very close to dead on. If I had used 3/8 rod, it would have been even closer. I used 5/16 rod because I had it laying around, and I'm a tight wad. I knotted the ropes at the point of the hook. I think that this helped to keep the bed from slipping or shifting, which was the only think I feared a little bit in this process.
Last edited by Mike Burns; 08/25/20255:35 PM.
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe 1947 Indian Chief 1943 Indian 741
Nice work Mike. I was worried for a bit that you had drilled holes in your bedsides, but then I realized you threaded your center rope thru the fender mounting holes.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Another use for my cherry picker! If I have trouble rounding up some guys to help with my bed, this might be the ticket for me. Thanks for posting Mike. Oh, and nice looking bed!
Last edited by UtahYork; 08/26/202511:29 AM.
~ John in Utah 1946 1/2Ton w/4-speed manual transmission w/1960 235 engine Here We Go Follow in his DITY Bay
- If you think about it, it has been one year ago today!
On the corners, I attached the rope through holes inside the stake pockets. On the side centers I attached the rope using the top center fender mount holes. I'm not sure is the side to side rope was really necessary. It was an afterthought. I just thought that more attachment points meant more stability. Also, having someone there to hold the bed somewhat level wouldn't be a bad idea.
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe 1947 Indian Chief 1943 Indian 741
my cherry picker is a real beast. It's bigger than most, and heavier too. I bought it years ago from a professional shop that was closing down. I don't really see why a smaller lighter one wouldn't work just fine though, as long as the arm was long enough to reach the center of the bed
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe 1947 Indian Chief 1943 Indian 741
