Forum Discussion

Camper_Jeff___K's avatar
Dec 14, 2015

Fixing the front of the truck bed wall. Picture links fixed.

Here are the picture links Bedlam provided to correct the display issue.
Thanks again Pete!

Bedlam wrote:
It has to do with the path length to get to the photos. I copied them to DropBox. Phones and tablets are still lacking in browser sophistication...

Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
We've all hit a bump or dip in the road leaving an ill feeling as the sound of the TC slamming forward or sideways in the bed brings out the worst uh oh thoughts. I straightened out mine today after it suffered another blow. Fortunately this time it was cargo not the TC that finally pushed the bed front wall into the back of the cab permanently touching. I had to devise a way to pull the three distinct bends back from the cab and straighten the top of the wall across the back of the and inline parallel with the cab. After trying a crowbar and a other implements, I figured out a device to make bending it back easy. I used a Simpson 16"x5/8" foundation anchor, A 3" square x 1/4" foundation washer and 2 5/8" bolts to hook behind the bed wall between the wall and the cab. To keep the anchor bolt from falling, I laid a 5' 1"x4" across the bed side walls and the end of the foundation anchor on that so it would not fall into the bed. I then connected a heavy ratcheting cargo strap to the foundation anchor and routed the strap out the back of the bed to the towing anchor chain hook points of the truck trailer hitch. Placing the pull point of the foundation anchor at each of the three bend points on the front bed wall, I ratcheted the strap tight pulling the front bed wall into the correct position, repeating for each of the bend points in the bed wall. After a couple pulls from each location I was able to bend out the damage and straighten the bed front wall. It had begun to rain heavily when I finished so I closed up shop at that point but plan to install a piece of 2"x2"x1/8" aluminum angle across the top of the front bed wall attached to the left and right side wall to strengthen the front bed wall. I'll show that fix later.













These next two images show the finished result. After it quits raining, I'll fabricate and install the aluminum angle across the top between the two side walls to reinforce the front of the bed wall.













These next two images show the finished result. After it quits raining, I'll fabricate and install the aluminum angle across the top between the two side walls to reinforce the front of the bed wall.


27 Replies

  • Pics show up fine on my PC laptop, not at all on my iPhone.

    Also, I think I would something a little more stout than 1/8" aluminum for bed reinforcement.
  • TCinmydreams40yrs wrote:
    I can't get the pictures to come up.
    What's up with that?


    Must be source location. They were fine last night. Will look into it after work.
  • I can't get the pictures to come up.
    What's up with that?
  • wcjeep wrote:
    How did the tailgate handle the strap pressure?


    The tailgate handled the pressure fine. It has the hard plastic cap and there is no sign on the tailgate of the strap ever being there. The amount of force from the strap was perhaps 3 to 400 pounds force. Not a huge amount. I was going to remove the tailgate but just went for it and all worked out fine. Opens and closes just like before.
  • Clever thinking. I love when I have Mcgyver thought's and they work out. Nice job.