55.2-59 Can three of us lift the bed?

[toymanbob]

I need to install the bed, a long one. Can three of us old guys do it or do I need more. It's located just behind the truck so it's a short walk, I don't want to get anyone hurt. BOB

[mr48chev]

If you are an old guy my age I'd say no. At 74 I figure out a lot of ways to do things with less strain on my body than I did when I was 50.

I have used a cherry picker or chain hoist to lift my bed on or off by myself several times over the years.
With that, what have you got that you can use to lift the bed or lift/hold up one end of it?
Can you block the bed up high enough to roll the chassis under it and hen let it down if you don't have a cherry picker? Meaning set a long wood plank or something else strong enough under the front and back of the bed and raise it up so that you can roll the truck back under it? What ever holds the front up has to be out far enough to clear the tires but the back just has to clear the frame.

I lifted this 31 Model A body and frame on and off trailers by myself three times with the chain hoist and cherry picker. I had to balance it at the bac to keep it from tipping but I did it without help each time.


I don't have the photos of the 85 Dodge Van I swapped a raised roof onto anymore as it looks like I deleted the album but I used that same Gantry with a couple of ratchet straps on one end and the same cherry picker at the other end. Lifted the roof of one van and shoved the other one under it in a one man operation.

[mongocanfly]

I'd say crib it up and back the truck under it...me and my buddy can pick a bed up fairly easy..getting it over the rear wheels isnt..its awkward...at least 3 needed.4 is better...
Like Clint E. said , " a man's gotta know his limitations "

[svr]

I cherry picked mine off and on several times, after paint i had wife help stabilize to keep from crashing into the cab, along with a heavy moving blanket protecting

[_Ogre]

just the bed you could do with 2 guys, we did it often on my 58 truk during fab
i used 4 guys to install truk bed, fenders, steps, trunk lid and part of the bedwood installed and no one broke a nut
we had to thread the hitch thru the roll pan and didn't nick any paint

[MiraclePieCo]

I do it by myself with a cherry picker and fabric straps.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

I do it by myself with a cherry picker and fabric straps.

Working smarter, not harder.

They most likely have it on now but I was just thinking that a 8 ft 2x4 laid across the bed about 2 ft from the front with some ratchet straps holding it to the box securely and a guy at the back might be pretty well balanced and the two guys at the front could lift with the board on their shoulders.