[TheForge] sheet metal repairs

[Bruce]

Terry,
I"m way out of my depth here, but I recall being surprised, a decade or so
ago, to learn that independent shops are often the fabricators of box
trucks for special applications.
What I'm wondering is whether it might make sense to remove the bed and
replace it with a completely new fabrication, made by such a shop.
Alternatively, I know of a shop (in NJ) that modifies vans with wheelchair
lifts, etc., and presume such shops exist elsewhere as well.
Bruce
NJ


On Sat, Oct 2, 2021 at 2:18 PM terry l. ridder <terrylr at blauedonau.com>
wrote:

> hello
>
> the ford f-150 pickup bed needs to be either replacements with a
> salvaged one that is in better shape or have the rust cut out and new
> sheet metal welded in.
>
> The VA has decided that i need a mobilty scooter to allow me to be
> independant. This requires that a mobility lift be installed in the
> driver side forward corner of the bed. the probelm is that the bed is
> rusted and i have doubts that the bed would safely support the lift.
>
> used truck prices are greatly inflated. I am not going to spend tens of
> thousands of USD, so that I can transport a $3,000.00 USD mobility scooter.
> There is stupid and then there is really stupid.
>
> i think it would be easier to repair the bed if it was removed from the
> truck. there  are six bolts which hold the bed on. must boddy shops just
> cut the head off the bolts and use new bolts. The bolts are secured
> using thermal lock tight. the bolts have to be heated to several hundred
> degrees in order to be removed.
>
> has anyone repaired the rusted bed of a pickup? what are the things to
> look out for?
>
> There are body panels available for the pickup truck. some people butt
> weld these  in place to the original body metal which has been cut away.
> some people weld the body panels over the original sheet metal. I would
> cut out the rusted metal and use the replacement body panels either
> slightly overlapped or just butt weld.
>
> several people have used salvaged beds for the replacement sheet metal.
> mostly for the wheel well curved pieces.
>
> I am looking for suggestions and guidance before jumping into this
> project.
>
> some links
> www.pickuptrucksalvage.com
>
>
>
>
> --
> terry l. ridder ><>
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