hello

To allow for easier removal of the bed I am taking the rear bumper off. The bumper is in excellent condition so no need to replace or repair it.

The towing gear needs to be derusted and then coated with a rust preventive coating. Thinking of using POR-15.

Once the bumper is removed the bed should be able to slide back off the truck.

I do have a question about the wiring in the bed. Is there a disconnect between the Cab and the Bed wiring? I really do not want to have to remove the wiring from the Bed if it can be avoided.

Will use my bobcat to lift the bed off the truck.

Once the bed is removed I can clean up the towing gear and replace the rear leaf spring shackle brackets and rear leaf spring shackles.

Are there any gotcha that I am overlooking?

 

you do not need to remove the bumper, doing so will require you to remove the plastic bumper caps. I can almost promise you, you'll break or ruin the tabs and they will never set flat again. You may be able to remove the bumper with the bracket from the actual frame but I'm not sure. When I did mine I removed via the bumper caps

 

Hello

yes the plastic covers on the rear bumper have to be removed, that is a given. As to where they will never sit flat again remains to be seen. If necessary I will purchase new ones from the dealer. I am confident that I can remove them without any serious damage.

If the rear bumper is not removed, removing the bed is more difficult. The bed would have to be tilted to avoid scratching the cab with the bed.

Probably will install a rear camera while I have everything apart.

 

go for it then lol. Those plastic tabs will snap off in a heart beat. You don't know that yet because you haven't done it. More power to ya... It's also easier to just lift the bed up instead of going through the trouble of removing the bumper to slide it back ? Filler neck? You say your using a bobcat why not lift it straight off ?


-right you got it figured out

 

Why not just remove the tail light and the license plate light? Don't forget to measure the distance between the bed and the cab or make an alignment mark.

 

I do not have it completely figured out but I am close to having it figured out.

Concerning lifting the bed. Two heavy duty ratchet straps hooked to the tie down in the bed they are brought up above the bed and slid on the forks of the bobcat.
The bed is lifted up perhaps 1 inch. Clear the fuel tube and slide away from the cab.

The plastic tabs on the rear bumper covers just need the right tool and patience.
Sheet metal pliers compress the tabs so that they slid out of the oblong slot easily. Patience is required. "Walk" them up the same amount slowly.

I found coating them with baby oil/mineral oil allows them to slid easier.

I am in no hurry. I am taking it slow and methodical.

May i suggest that you read my introduction which i posted today.

I am an Electrical Engineer, B.S.E.E., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL
I make computers sing & dance.
I survived a head-on-collision August 6th, 2007. Not my fault. Both legs were broken by the firewall being crushed down on my legs. My avatar is a photo of the Pontiac Montana van i was driving. I do what i am able to do with limited mobility. Trust me, there are things worse than death.

 

Much easier to remove the fuel filler from the cab if you will slide the bed instead of lifting it. Before sliding the bed., remove the 3 bolt on the filler cap and loosen the clamp holding the filler hose and vent hose to the frame's tongue.

The opposite side of the chrome in the front and rear bumpers are badly rusting like the bottom of the tailgate.

 

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To remove my back bumper, only 4 bolts and whole bumper came off. Mine is the step side bed. 21MM socket and open end wrench and it was no issue. I did spray them down with Kroil 2 days in a roll.
Pete