Bed Assembly question - rear tack welds

[Bagd72Chevy]

When you guys are reassembling beds do you tack weld the rear crossmember back in like from the factory?

I took mine apart and had all the bodywork done when it got flooded. I sandblasted it and started over. It is in epoxy primer right now and I am finishing body work again. I was going to assemble the bed prior to paint but was wondering how others handled those tack welds.

[Hart_Rod]

I would tack weld them like the factory. That way you will not get any movement of the bedsides that could cause your tailgate not to close correctly.

[Bagd72Chevy]

Thats what I was thinking. Now I need to come up with a way to transport an assembled bed with no floor.

Maybe I will make a bed cart and bolt temporary crossmembers up or something to attach to the inner bedsides.

[Hart_Rod]

Why not just borrow a welder?

[Bagd72Chevy]

I have plenty of welders but the paint shop is an hour away. Got to weld it before paint but put floor in after paint

[cleanfreak]

Been thinking of the same thing also. how about drilling a couple more holes to fit tightly on a 5/16 bolt after alignment has been done?

[Katrina/10]

I never welded mine after taking it apart and putting it back together, and it has never moved. Just made sure all six bolts on each side are really tight. If you plan to haul heavy loads against the bed sides, a weld might be needed.