Bed cross rail problems

[mainermikeyd]

Alright guys, lookin to replace the bed cross rails on 8' fleetside, was lookin at replacin the whole bed or floor, but one it costs some significant $$ to ship, two the rest of my bed is in REALLY decent shape, minor scale rust but no rotten panels!!! I see so many SWEET trucks on here was wondering if anyone has had a similar problem or found a replacement part for these through either a distributor or fabricator!!!! Any help or info would be appreciated THANKS

[87c10slammer]

im not sure of the exact measurements but i plan on using box tue or similar to do my bed. but then again im doing a body drop on it so i am making my own bed height...

[ont_guy_38]

I had a place that makes dump boxes,replacment flat beds and stuff bend mine up.Way cheaper and believe me they are heavy duty compared to anything aftermarket or the orignals even

[James McClure]

No one makes the cross beams you are refering to. They are usually in worse shape than the bed itself. You will have to make them or have them made. My bed was in such bad shape I had no choice but to replace everything except the front panel.Now it's done up right. The whole inside and underneath is sprayed with bed liner. jim

[87Wrangler454]

I am in the process of doing the same repair on my 87 long bed. I found the cross rails at my local crosscanadaparts.com supplier, they are 72" x 3" pre bent galvanized heavy gauge steel and sell for $40 Canadian (about $32 US) each.
You have to cut and weld some short pieces of pipe were the carriage bolts pass through and punch some holes in them so you can spot weld them on.
They also sell the tailpan assembly complete for $214, mine was missing and somebody had welded channel iron in place of it. I also stripped the paint off the bed floor and found it to be galvanized steel and in good shape since the previous owner had a bed liner in it. Good luck it takes a while to drill all the spot welds out.
The small middle rails I could not find new but once I drilled them off they look repairable and will reuse them.

[ont_guy_38]

I had all mine bent up inclucing the tailpan assembly for 120 dollars

[chevymotocross]

You are not alone! That is what is left of my rear rail on my 87 shortbox. The rest of my bed is pretty decent. It is ashame. As you have found out, no one really makes these. I think Raybuck sold them at one time, not sure, I will have to check again. This spring, whatever it takes, I am replacing that brace as well as the tailpan which is also pretty shot. The dirt, salt, sand, road debris, etc, collects all up in there, causing the rot.

[mainermikeyd]

Thanks 87wrangler, that is what I needed to know, and the last thing I want to do is put the same spagetti thin metal GM put on these trucks!!! I only wanna do this once so I want a thicker gauge metal!!! Thanks

[87Wrangler454]

I checked the bed rails and they are 16ga. (.063) thick steel.