My cab is leaking at the very back and to seal it properly I need to remove the bed. Do I just need to remove 8 bolts, remove bumper, disconnect tail lights, remove spare tire hoist plate thing on the back of the bed, and unscrew gas filler? Does the tailgate need removing or is it just this stuff?

 

I think you listed it all. The tailgate fastens to the bed so that can stay. I know u mentioned the filler neck but just don't forget!

 

I know not to forget the filler neck. My buddy with a Ram was removing his bed and forgot the filler neck and ended up making a new one out of exhaust pipe.

 

I removed the tailgate on my 1988 because that was some additional weight I didn't have to hoist. To REMOVE it's not needed, but it IS extra weight.

Then again, my Dak has the 8' long bed ... if yours is shorter, it may be enough lighter to not be a problem.

I had a ground wire point at the center front - it was the same bolt as the eight bed-to-frame bolts, so you'll have to check that and make sure it's free, or the bed won't go very far.

If you haven't done the gas pump yet, this would be a GREAT time to do that, along with the hoses at the pump (again, mine was a 1988, has over 260,000 miles - those were all in very sad shape.)

RwP

 

Weight doesn't matter to me because I have a 2 post lift. My truck is an 01 with a little over 50,000 miles so I don't think anything needs replacing.

 

Ah. Wish I had a 2-post lift - my two posts were me and my stepson *grins* But we COULD pick the bed up and walk it over the rear wheels.

I'd still eyeball all of the hoses etc. at the gas tank - better to at least get a visual on them.

And don't forget to check for the cab/bed ground straps.

RwP

 

Thanks for the tips. I won't be doing this until I finish putting A/C on my Mustang.

 

Since you are using a lift to take the bed off you dont really need to remove the bumper. I used the steel I beam in our garage to hoist mine up. About an hrs worth of works its pretty easy. Id also spend the time and clean the frame up.

 

I have a Harbor Freight electric hoist in my garage that lifted my bed off with no problem. I'm not usually a big Harbor Freight fan, but I've had the thing for years and it works great.

 

I read I think it was in the 4wd off road mag. They tested warn,milemarker,superwinch,ramsey and harbor freight(few others I believe). Warn came out on top of coarse but the harbor freight also made it though. Other than a very slow line pull the HF made it out alive. Some of their stuff isnt top notch but isnt too bad either.