Yeah I'm thinking repair is a better route the damage is isolated; the rest is solid. A new bed would run at least $500

I don't want 4x4 anymore, just a small lift and an LSD (maybe even a locker) it's more of a street rod at this point (becoming). Plus this truck is very sentimental I'm going to make due








I can't figure out how to remove the two rubber anchors toward the front of the bed, the one's at the rear were different:

 

Yeah, the Dakota's have poorly designed beds when it comes to rain. Mine is water-tight, it's like a swimming pool! I got home with it one night when there was flooding from the rain, in some spots 7-8in of water, and I opened the tailgate and about 2-4in of water just rushed out from the whole bed. I'm pretty sure every 1st gen Dakota has the surface rust in between the bed and the tailgate where you have that surface rust.

 

Mine doesn't!

 

Wire wheel with a drill will do wonders! take it down to bare metal them prime and paint. at least if its all surface rust.

 

Thats cause Rabid your from B.C, lol
Fair enough that it has sentimental value, I can feel ya since my truck does to being my first ride. Wire brush is your best bet, and I would through that rust protection with a paint brush, it might not win you any rewards for look, but if you go light 4x4 then the paint won't scratch. I would also advise not going with a locker, the LSD is more than enough for our trucks.

 

Hehehehe One of the few places where the roads get dirted.
I'd add something constructive in here but my bodywork experience really ends at simple dent work and paint repair.

PS: My trucks originally from Alberta I hear they like their salt!

 

Over here in New England our roads are HEAVILY salted, yeah I will try a wire wheel first and see where it goes I'm not in any rush to replace I will monitor the rust through the summer and see if it comes back through.

Mine fills with water too I was going to drill some drain holes toward the front and back of the box.

Any idea what to get an LSD from? I heard 87-89 Cherokee's had the LSD

 

Looked under my bed liner a couple days ago to see what I was going to be dealing with this summer....and mine seemed to look fairly decent. I was rather shocked....as holes were cut in the bed liner for something for the topper to attached to, and holes through the bed for the fifth-wheel coupling, so I was expecting some rust.

 

Yea with my truck being originally from Alberta I'm pretty impressed with how well its held over the years. I'm willing to bet someone repainted the frame during its life. Cause I can still see black paint under the front end. Even with that as a possibility I still can't find any places where the frame has had any issues. There is really only a few rust spots on the paint that are just surface rust. Nothing eating through yet which with me repainting the truck asap that won't be an issue.

Its really a shame my truck is a rebuilt since it was in an accident before I bought it.

 

Thats because Alberta can afford to use salt. lol
Well you guys are lucky that your truck isn't super rusty, mine on the other hand was an old farm truck and the previous owners never washed it one since only the truck for 17 years. The first time I washed it, it cost me 50 bucks at the car wash, and when I drove back home I was following it in a different car and noticed chunks of rust falling from the undercarriage on the highway. But shocking enough the frame is in very decent shape, only surface rust, better than though's jap vehicles