Bed Lift Off

[custom10nut]

How much bracing will I need to build in order to lift the bed off my truck?
LWB
My plan is to use my tractor loader as the lift, but I’m wondering how much bracing will be needed to prevent twisting or tweaking the bed sides.
I’m taking the bed wood out prior to lifting it off since I’m replacing it anyway, so I won’t have that weight to deal with.
Any pointers, advice, or pictures of what you used would be great.
Also what can I sit it on to work on and paint it?
Also what does it take to unhook the bed wiring?
Ok that’s all

[Astro-Balls]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWAwEUgz3PI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qA_Dn99CcE

[palallin]

Got three friends?

Forget bracing and lift it off manually, one to a corner.

Brace the friends (afterwards) with a case of their favorite beverage.

[custom10nut]

Response to both. Thanks a bunch, but it’s only me and one buddy.
The videos gave m a great idea though.
I’m thinking I’ll use a pallet (I have pallet forks for my loader) and us 4x4s across and up under the lip of the top edge(padded of course.
That way, it’ll be a very controlled and I’ll be able to move it anywhere I need without having to worry able stability.
I’ll just have to build a temporary rolling stand, so I can work on it and move it around if needed.
I still need to know about un hooking the wiring harness

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

I still need to know about un hooking the wiring harness

Just crawl up under there and you'll see what's going on with the wiring. There's only 1 cable, it is flat ribbon cable with 4 wires and it runs along the frame, so you can leave that alone. At the end of that cable at the rear of the truck the tail light harness plugs in. Unplug it. You probably have a license plate light on the bumper that you can also disconnect or unplug.

Edit: also disconnect any ground straps that you find connecting the frame to the bed.

[57taskforce]

Ive picked mine with a crane and an a frame hoist. Never braced anything. I just ran two heavy duty ratchet straps from the front lower cross sill up the top of the bed, down the tailgate to the opposite corner of the rear lower cross sill. The straps should from an X. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of it in the air but I moved it around a good bit with the crane truck and didn’t have any issues with sliding or damage to the bed or gate at all. In this picture you can see the straps still on the bed after I set it on the truck. The front and rear cross sills have a lip that The hooks from the ratchet straps hold on to really well.

[57taskforce]

Just for reference this is the crane I used. I don’t have a picture with the bed in tow. I swung it close to 180 degrees about 4 feet of the ground and then into place on the truck. it was stable for me. You do want to make sure you have the lengths of the straps right so it will lift level. I think this could easily be made to work with a tractor as well. These beds are pretty well built If they aren’t rusted out or busted to hell.

[custom10nut]

That’s great info. And thanks on the wiring info too.
Now I don’t feel so nervous about lifting it off