Off With His Bed

[Palf70Step]

That was my Sunday afternoon project today. I made a rack system to help steady and keep the bed level. It was going to be prettier, but I forgot to buy some things so I made do.

I cut two old bed rails(angle iron or??) to 70" That gave me just enough room to slide completely and securely under the bed lip and not have a chance at sliding out.

I had planned on setting it up so the two cross pieces would be just shy of touching the front and rear stake pockets, thus it would not slip front to back (that would be 69" for a short fleet) However I didn't have anything that long, so I attached the bedrails (with lag screws from the top) to the double 2x4 I used to lift the cab with (58"). I took some old camp shell padded tap and wrapped the ends so I wouldn't mar up the bed.

Next to try it out.

I used an old tow chain wrapped around the board. I used some horse shoe fencing nails to keep the shain from sliding.

I centered the rack in the bed. I had to jack up the rear of the truck a few inches so the cherry picker would slide in under the tires. I centered my lifting point in the bed since I couldn't make the lift as long as I wanted. I hoisted the rack up and aligned it with some pencil marks I made so it would be equal distance front to rear.

Then jack and roll away. My once cab stand is now a bed stand.

The last picture is a closer look at how it looks snug against the rails.

The bed rails flexed some under the weight, but I have no worries that this would easily handle a long bed as easily as the short bed.

I did this with the tailgate on, but I am pretty sure it will work with the talgate off and strill not cause the bed to twist.