Body work ?

[otsenre]

I have a very noticable bow on top rail of one bedside. How can I straighten? I dont think I can use a porta-power, has anyone ever dealt with this?

[mbgmike]

Wheres the bow? looks good to me.

[unclewatts]

It looks to me in the pics with the level that the bedside is bowed inward slightly owing to the gap you can see at the far end of the level. Is this correct? If it is then I would lay the bedside down flat on a concrete floor supported by blocks on the ends and apply downward pressure on it, (like jumping up and down on it) Rechecking until it's straight. Of course you would need to lay a large wooden plank on top so you wouldn't dent the bedside. Or use a cable comealong on it. You could take it to a body shop or buy an aftermarket one which would cost you about a million dollars and nobody wants that!

[ebfabman]

I don't see any bow in the pics. an attempt to change it may create something you can see.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by ebfabman

I don't see any bow in the pics. an attempt to change it may create something you can see.

I agree... If it's not abviously noticeable to the naked eye (I couldn't see the bow last night) and if the tailgate closes, etc., I say leave it alone.

These large fleet sides have no supporting metal between the outside and the inside sheetmetal and will warp or bend easily. I've experienced that already.

[LockDoc]

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It looks like the center is bowed out a little to me. The 71 4x4 was that way so I put a piece of 2x4 across the back where the tailgate would be and a 2" ratchet strap across the middle. On the side that wasn't bowed I put an 8' 2x4 so it couldn't pull that side in and cranked on the ratchet strap. It did straiten it out some but not completely. Mine was worse than yours though. Only thing is my bed was together and sitting on a trailer so I could hook the strap to the trailer at the bottom.

LockDoc

[otsenre]

There is definately a bow there, my pics didnt quite show it but looking at it from back, end to end, you can see it. I sure dont want to make it worse by trying to straighten it

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by otsenre

There is definately a bow there, my pics didnt quite show it but looking at it from back, end to end, you can see it. I sure dont want to make it worse by trying to straighten it

They make a tool to take the bows out of tailgates. I know its not cheap but it can be fabricated. Taking the bow out of a tailgate is easier than the bedside however. It is hard to see in the pics and I am not sure that a slight bow like that would be easy to do. You can do a body pull on it if it was attached to something like the bed. Thats what I would try

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by mbgmike

They make a tool to take the bows out of tailgates. I know its not cheap but it can be fabricated. Taking the bow out of a tailgate is easier than the bedside however. It is hard to see in the pics and I am not sure that a slight bow like that would be easy to do. You can do a body pull on it if it was attached to something like the bed. Thats what I would try

Not to highjack, but I'd like to see that tool....

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Not to highjack, but I'd like to see that tool....

Here is one style.

They make a different style that is a little less expensive. These run around $300.00

[68gmsee]

What does the outside edge look like?

I'd stretch a string across the outside to see if it was bowed also. If it's just the inside, might consider some fiberglass. I did that to a ding on my tailgate and it came out pretty close to being normal and definitely strong (so far).