Removing Wood Bed and Parts from a Junkyard -- Am I Crazy to Try?

[Mapearso]

Came across a shortbed in the junkyard today with a topper that has a nicely preserved wood bed.

I am thinking IF (BIG IF?) I can pull all the parts this would be a nice cheap way to put a wood bed on my truck

Am I nuts to think I can pull all the parts in an afternoon? Is it worth trying?
What will I need? Just my hand tools -- or power tools to cut rusty bolts?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks Thanks Thanks

[HeavyD]

Eh? You mean pull the wood off and leave the bed? Or buy the complete bed, do it up, and install itnon your truck?

On a side note i cant believe a swb with a decent bed went to the wrecker..i live in the wrong place if you go back take some pics, even though it will prob be heartbreaking.

There must be electric impacts available for sale? Would be a must have for certain situations.

[74baggedbug]

Before you start hit the bottom of the bolts with pb blaster or something along those lines.. If you have a cordless impact that would help also .. Worst case cut the stubborn bolts off

[68bowtie]

not sure if you're going after the whole bed or just the wood, but either way it's going to be a long day if you want to disassemble it there. if there's any way you can take the whole bed with you you're better off. if not you'll need a set of combo wrenches, a socket set, an assortment of extensions, and a breaker bar. you'll likely need to over-torque all the carriage bolts until they shear. if you try and loosen them, as soon as you get a thread or two off the carriage head pops out of the sheet metal and the whole thing just spins. you'll want a 4" grinder with grinding discs and cutoff wheels handy for the ones you can't get out, and you'll need to cut the four welds at the rear cross brace. oh and if you have a good friend or son-in-law bring them along too!

[In The Ten Ring]

Bring and WEAR your safety glasses. And wear boots and long sleeves. Ear muffs are good too for grinding.

I'd bring a 1/2 inch socket set and breaker bar with a few extensions if not already mentioned. I use ZEP 45 as a penetrating/rust breakup oil on stubborn bolts. I also suggest you buy the whole thing at once and take it with you.

Keep ZEP 45 on bolts and nuts for weeks and they'll often come right off.

[leddzepp]

Remove 8 bolts and take the whole bed...before someone else does

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Remove 8 bolts and take the whole bed...before someone else does

I AGREE. you could always sell the bed when you get done if you don't need it, plus you can work on it with your tools (power) handy.

[Mapearso]

Went back today and the truck was gone....

But... There was a '70 there with an intact AC system which I grabbed

So not a total bummer

[zamboni2354]

Bummer it was gone. Glad you didn't walk away empty handed.

[Mapearso]

Thanks! Trip was still worth it!