I was out looking at a 1998 f150 4.6 I am interested in purchasing. The body was in great shape except for the front box support closest to the cab. It is completely separated from the frame. You can push down on the tailgate and the whole front of the bed pops up. As well when driving you can notice the bed moving separate from the truck. The rear bed support seems to be Ok.

My question is how big of a deal would it be to fix this? Is it possible to do without getting a whole nother box?

How is it that the rest of the truck can be practically rust free and just these box supports have rustle out?

Any idea the cost of this?
The picture is of the passenger side, the drivers side is a bit worse.

 

I find it hard to believe the rockers and corners are "in great shape" on that truck

 

They are solid. If I had pictures I would post them. The only other rust on the truck is surface rust on the bottom of the doors and alittle surface rust up front on then bumper. I couldn't believe either that one part would rust so bad and not any others.

But my question still is is the repairable at a reasonable cost?

 

I suppose you could attempt to fix it with some c-channel or box tube. These trucks are great trucks, but they do have their quirks. The classic rust areas being one of them. Of course, most 20 year old vehicles are bound to. Like 02_Black said above, it's hard to believe there's not some rust on the rockers and corners. Take a magnet with you and check for body work because this looks and walks like a duck. If you are madly in love with it, I'd use this as a haggling measure to get the price down a bit. I wouldn't be putting any loads in it like that.

I've been wanting to figure out what exactly makes them all rust out there. I noticed when it rains, mine drips more from that area.

 

The Devil.

 

That figures. Little bastard!