one advantage of lifting the bed is that you can reconnect everything and test/operate it. if heaven forbid there is a problem, you can troubleshoot or remove it w/o having to redo everything.

 

I also elected to lift the bed....I didn't completely remove it, I just slid it back far enough to gain access to the fuel pump assembly. It's definitely a two man job to move the bed though. And like a dummy I forgot to disconnect the license plate light plug...that mistake rewarded me with some time spent splicing the harness back together lol. Oh well, live and learn..I'd prob slide the bed back again next time

 

I have done both. Dropping tank took me and my son the better part of a day and 1 1/2 twelve packs. Lifting the bed took about an hour and didn't even kill a sixer. Take out front 4 bolts. Loosen back 2 half way. Raise front of bed, support with jack stands. Sooooooooo much easier and faster this way.

 

I dropped the tank, but I also did it by myself. I drove it till it had about 5 gallons in it and dropped it. It was actually harder to get back in than it was to drop. I did it all by myself in about two hours, which included cleaning the tank.

 

If you're in a place that you can, and the bolts aren't rusted to bad, I say lift the bed.
Last time I did mine I was in a gas station parking lot on a holiday weekend. I had just filled the tank clear full then pulled into a parking spot so other people could pump.
I knew the pump was getting ready to go and had ordered a replacement the day before. Thankfully the parts store had gotten it in that day and I carry a lot of tools. The parts guy was even nice enough to go back an hour after closing and bring it to me.
I had the tank out in less than an hour, but everything went downhill from there. The ring was frozen on, then trying to get 26(?) Gallons back up into place was fun, to say the least. 6 hours later (about 1am) I was finally heading home (about 14 miles away).
Moral of my story: either drop it empty, or lift the bed!

 

You can get the bed up by yourself with four feet of chain, a come-along, and a sturdy shade tree. Take off all but the two rear bolts, and leave the two rear bolts barely on.