Remounting the bed on a '53 1/2 ton

[TrampSteer]

As we are finally moving forward with our project I started looking at the sequence of events that will be coming up. One of them is getting the bed back on the vehicle. Problem is, the mounting that was there was about as bad as the rest of the build.

 

I know that what I have now really should not work. The three steel tubes that hold the pieces of flooring together were mounted directly to the frame (or some tagged on piece that made it look straight). And the only thing that held the sides, fenders, tailgate etc. on was the fact that the flooring was tightly jammed in place.

 

It looks like there was a bracket at one point, but it is torched off.

 

I didn't see anything about the bed at all in the parts manuals that I have. Does anyone know what it should be setup like? If you have pictures of the bracket then perhaps we can make some if nothing else.

 

Thanks in advance.

[ggdad1951]

On my B3D the bed is mounted with long bolts that go through the wood then a cross member and finally the frame. No brackets.

[Jeff Balazs]

I am stuck at work but you are welcome to come take a look at my truck bed any time. My shop is just a few miles south of you ...across from the Irvine Auto Center. (949) 461-9558

 

Jeff

[NiftyFifty]

Same here, long bolts with huge washers on the wood side that went through the three parts, I torched all mine off, not a hope of coming off.

[Brent B3B]

Same here, long bolts with huge washers on the wood side that went through the three parts, I torched all mine off, not a hope of coming off.

visual

[pflaming]

I bolted the cross members to the frame. Your bed in the post above shows only two cross members. I think mine has four. If I were at home, I would pull a picture for you, but I haven't learned how to navibatge this ipad.

[Brent B3B]

I bolted the cross members to the frame. Your bed in the post above shows only two cross members. I think mine has four. If I were at home, I would pull a picture for you, but I haven't learned how to navibatge this ipad.

sorry, only a visual for the bolts, did not mean to confuse anyone, i already torched off the other bolts as well......

i'll stay out of it.

Edited June 27, 2014 by Brent B3B

[TrampSteer]

Thanks guys - I've got three cross brackets highly customized (drilled like crazy) to hold the wood because it is not really stock. I can see where I could attach them to the frame and that makes sense. The visualization I still struggle with is how these cross members hold the sides of the bed. It doesn't seem right that just the floorboards wedged in there should  be enough. I'm missing something in understanding or parts.

 

Jeff, I'd like to take you up on your offer. When I was up at Paul's there wasn't enough time to really crawl all over his in detail. Being able to see what a pilothouse is supposed to look like would be a major boon. I'll PM you soon.

 

Mike

[pflaming]

Trampsteer consider: First the sides have an angled top with a formed tube on the outer edge and the bottom edge has a 90 degree bend so that panel cannot flex. Add to that the fenders are attached and they add strength to the middle and then if you have the high sides the pressed in pattern adds even more strength. Thus the bottom boards are not needed to keep the sides in line. I put a 3/4" sheet of marine ply wood in so that guarantees that my bed will remain square. Bolted to the frame then just reinforces all other issues. It is a well designed bed in my opinion.

[Jeff Balazs]

Mike;

As I said you are welcome anytime. It does help to be able to see things up close. I got very lucky with my bed as it is all original and was just in need of new boards. I took it down to bare metal and had it painted so it is nice and clean and you can easily see how it all goes together.

 

Jeff

[JBNeal]

ya might need this bracket to clear the fuel tank area

[jpwuertz]

 I have attached some pictures of the truck box as I dissembled it   It shows the cross members as they were from the factory.  As you can see on the finished picture I did not put the big bolts in the 2 outside boards.  I figured the cross members were bolted to the frame and the floor is secured to the cross members so the big bolts would not be necessary to hold the floor in place.  

[Merle Coggins]

 As you can see on the finished picture I did not put the big bolts in the 2 outside boards.  I figured the cross members were bolted to the frame and the floor is secured to the cross members so the big bolts would not be necessary to hold the floor in place.  

 

I did the same thing. It hasn't moved yet and I like not having the large bolt heads and washers showing.

[ggdad1951]

I did the same thing. It hasn't moved yet and I like not having the large bolt heads and washers showing.

half the charm, be boy, half the charm!

[TrampSteer]

Thanks Jeff for letting me crawl around your truck and snap pictures, and to 48Dodger for pointing out that maybe I was over thinking the whole thing.

 

It just seemed there should be more than the wood holding the box, but apparently it is what it is. I now have a good understanding of what is going to be stressed; so feel confident about making a final fit and the odd "addition" here and there. Always better than guessing.

 

Found some writings from Dave too. Between you guys and these links, it finally makes sense. I'm going to keep an eye out for that bracket too JBNeal. Thanks.

 

Firstly, the weight of the entire metal box – sides, front and tailgate – rests on the two angle

strips on each side of the bed. These angle strips sit on and bolt to the two outside floor boards

inside the bed. The exception to this statement is that the very last inch of the back of each floor

board is bolted to a cross sill just inside the tailgate, which also helps support the metal bed box

to some extent.

 

http://p15-d24.com/topic/2995-i-cant-believe-it/

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/misc/Pilothouse%20Pickup%20Bed%20Reflooring1.pdf

Edited July 4, 2014 by TrampSteer