Josh Brickman

I've recently taken the bed off of my 1995 F-150. It's a long bed, 4wd.

Has 81,000 miles on it. It's the 302 motor.

Anyways, as you can see in the pictures, the brackets that connect the bed to the frame have rotted off.

My plan is to completely grind off any portions of these two brackets, and weld this new 1/4" thick square tubing in its place. I was going to weld the tubing straight onto the bottom of the bed.

I'm concerned this will be too rigid and not allow the bed or frame to flex at all.

I think I may be over thinking this, but it's best safe.

Thanks!

Josh Brickman

Alright well I may as well keep people updated in case anyone else is doing this. I used an air hammer. I went through the bed 5 times, three in one corner. Oh well. It sucks.

The last picture is why I went with such thick steel without thinking it through. Ford seems to have added small brackets to stiffen up the thin steel that the bolts go through. Enjoy

Boombots

That will be rigid. I have some weak spots but I am putting the bed on without doing anything but some POR15. I hope it holds up a few more years...