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Bed Removal

2K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  CADASH 
#1 ·
So this weekend i tried to remove the bed of my truck to fix my air dog install. Dropped the tank initially but wont do that again! So the first 2 bolts came out no problem. The rest of them wont budge. I broke 2 T50 bits trying to remove them. One of the guys that works at the hobby shop on base said ford uses threadlock on those bolts.(he used to work at ford) So after he said that he just walked away. No help or anything like that. So what penetrant will loosen those bolts up? Im a fan of PB blaster but not sure if it will be good enough on that threadlock. Its the blue threadlock to!! Any help would be great.
 
#2 ·
my buddy owns a body shop and last month he had to take the bed off a 06 f250 and he said he will never do one again. He tried welding nuts on top of the bolts to use a socket. but as soon as he started to budge them the nut on the bottom broke loose and there is no way to grab hold of that one to hold back. he ended up just digriding them off. it took him a while and he swears he wont work on one again. good luck let me know how you end up doing it.
 
#3 ·
Heat the nut with a torch. The nut will expand and it will be easier to get off. Whats wrong with dropping the tank? Its fairly simple and easy on our trucks. I pulled mine (1/2 full) and replaced it by myself in my driveway in under 3 hours
 
#4 ·
Bed Bolts

I agree, Heat is your answer. The locktite will let loose once it is heated up. Use an impact if you have one. The combination of heat and the rattle of the gun work great together.:thumb:
 
#5 ·
I thought about dropping the tank again but i would rather pull the bed. I have some rust spots id like to take care of and i have never pulled a bed off before. So another check in the box. So heat is the answer!! I will give it a try!!
 
#6 ·
I am not sure its even the blue locktite that ford uses, Its the fact that the water is channeled down the bolt into the nutplate, then rusts itself together. Happened to me with my 2000 Ranger that I was putting a body lift on a few years ago. Probably your best option is to take big drill and drill out the head of the bolt, once you have the bed off you can either cut the rest of the bolt off and replace all those bolts and nut plates you cant get loose. Buts its going to cost you about $75.00 in replacement hardware.
 
#7 ·
use heat on the nut?? what nut? the nut/flange that hooks onto the frame? you may be able to heat some of them up but 2 of them are right next to the fuel tank. I had a problem with 4 of mine coming out. the previous owner has a 5th wheel in there and where the bracket thing was the bolts didnt want to come out. I also have a LineEX liner in there so i couldnt take much heater to anything. i pulled out the grinder and just took the head right off the bolt so that the bed would just lift over the bolt. i replaced all the bolts with a bolt with an actual nut on it not that stupid star bit BS.

marty (maintain) did something like that but he actually welded the nuts on, its a pain in the butt sometimes to get the bed off for the first time. and btw i broke like 2-3 bits myself
 
#8 ·
Bed Bolts

If you try the heat, you don't HAVE to use a torch. A good heat gun will do wonders, and it is safer around the fuel tank, even though diesel takes a ton to get cooking. But if all else fails, just cut the heads off like mentioned above, then when you reassemble make sure and use some never sieze for future removals.:thumb:
 
#11 ·
Sounds like heat is the plan. We will see what happens this weekend. Thank you all!!
 
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