BEST Way To remove Truck Bed Floor

[fhoyt700]

I cut out all of my old rusty bed floor.Was wondering if anybody has any tips oninstalling the new one?Also if anybody has used flat steel and what thickness?I was thinking it would look good painted?

[averagef250]

If you go flat, go thick like 12 or 10 gauge steel. Thin and flat has no strength. If your bed floor was flat and made of the same thickness it would bend loading groceries. I've never replaced the whole floor, but have taken a few of these beds apart to repair them. I had a real nice bed, but the front 3" of the floor and the bottom of the headboard were rusted away. I built a new headboard from 10 gauge that was broke at the bottom and extended under the good bed floor. I also had to build a new front crossmember for the bed. It actually turned out real nice. I also replaced the flat sections of that beds floor, ahead and astern of the wheelhouses with 10 gauge. I had the edges broken and spot welded them in places just like the factory stuff. They sat up 1/16th higher since they're thicker, but looked sharp. My original plan was to cut holes in these plates and weld some roundstock underneath to give some real solid tye down points in the bed. Ran out of time and didn't finish the tye downs, but they probably would have worked. I sold that bed after I found a perfect one for a too good to be true deal.

[frankc67]

How about using some 10 gauge diamond plate steel, not the bright aluminum stuff, the regular diamond plate can be painted to match truck color. Note 10 gauge is a little less than 1/8" thick (0.1019") only draw back I can think off, is the extra weight, guessing 150-200 lbs. for a 4'X8' sheet.

[gmcjimmy88]

If wieght is ur concern You could go with the aluminum. Good luck whichever way you go.

[kid]

I form stress curves with heat and sections of pipe when I replace thin metal pieces. Use a large flame tip and heat and area as long as the pipe. Set the pipe on the heated area and whack it with a hammer. You can lay this on sand or in another pipe to do it. You only dent the hot area and then through cold water on it. That makes real thin 22 - 16 gage metal stronger the bend makes the plate less flexible. It does not have to be deep just a long dimple.

[Buckinthebowtie]

I step notched the rear of my frame over the axle and will be raising the whole bed floor and installing a new one. Brothers Truck parts ( I know they sell Chevy stuff) has new repop steel bed floors for '73-87 I think Chevys and I'm gonna use one of those to redo mine so it looks like a stock floor. Who cares what it's out of as long as it looks good!

[bocheetus]

If wieght is ur concern You could go with the aluminum. Good luck whichever way you go.

'I' before 'E', except after 'C', unless pronouced as an 'A' as in neighbor and weigh

[MAK]

If you go flat, go thick like 12 or 10 gauge steel. Thin and flat has no strength. If your bed floor was flat and made of the same thickness it would bend loading groceries. I've never replaced the whole floor, but have taken a few of these beds apart to repair them. I had a real nice bed, but the front 3" of the floor and the bottom of the headboard were rusted away. I built a new headboard from 10 gauge that was broke at the bottom and extended under the good bed floor. I also had to build a new front crossmember for the bed. It actually turned out real nice. I also replaced the flat sections of that beds floor, ahead and astern of the wheelhouses with 10 gauge. I had the edges broken and spot welded them in places just like the factory stuff. They sat up 1/16th higher since they're thicker, but looked sharp. My original plan was to cut holes in these plates and weld some roundstock underneath to give some real solid tye down points in the bed. Ran out of time and didn't finish the tye downs, but they probably would have worked. I sold that bed after I found a perfect one for a too good to be true deal.

I don't suppose you could post some pictures of that? Would love to see how it looks if you have time.

[69CSF250]

Here is a picture of a brush truck I just bought with a steel diamond plate bed. not sure the thickness but it is very ridged and painted to match. I actually really like the way it look but might have it linex covered.

[averagef250]

I wish I could take pictures of it, but I sold the bed. I found a perfect, correct year, original paint, correct trim bed for my truck for $150. Only took 5 years to find that bed. That diamond plate looks pretty good in there.