Bowed/Bent forward Pickup Truck Bed - Fix?

[Rusty Heap]

Any ideas whats the best way to pull back the bowed forward leading edge of a pickup truck bed? It's bowed forward so much, that it's now rubbing on the passenger cab rear all when the frame flexes............crappp.


1st major bow was first "implanted" 5 years ago when I was hauling a pallet full of Concrete blocks stacked a meter high, and an idiot in front of me slammed on his brakes at the instand lights changed green to yellow at a stop light so he wouldn't go through a yellow. Pallet of Cinder Blocks slid/tipped forward, bent the truck bed forward, and yah shattered my rear slider window. sigh. Forker drove off with me at his drivers window saying "WTF did you just do that for"???

Suspension wise, my truck can handle a 4400 pound truck camper, but it's the sliding bed loads that screw"ed" me.

So this last weekend, I was hauling a 400 gallon water tank (3200+ pounds full weight) and had it ratchet tied down against the front bed. Didn't have any panic stops or anything, but after draining the tank I notice that the bed has now rubbed through the Cab clear coat and the leading bed edge needs to get pulled back. Cab paint needs saving!!!

At the center of the deflection, only maybe 6mm - 1/8" clearance and not much room between the cab and bed to affix a "puller"

Options?

A) unbolt the bed and slide it back a couple inches, then put some steel C-channel or 90 degree angle iron to wrap over the top of the bed leading edge, then pull back with winch or hydraulic ram against the back of the bed?

B) Drilled 2-3 holes through the bed leading edge, affix eye bolts with nuts on the cab side then get winch/ram on the eye bolts?

Other Ideas?

I just don't have clearance to grab or get ahold of that very center of bow.


I don't mind sliding the bed back, but there's 8 bolts that affix bed to frame, then gas filler tube and electrical wiring, then I still need to somehow brace against the back of the bed if it's loose.

I'd VERY MUCH RATHER leave the bed fastened, and brace against my truck frame or Grade 5 trailer hitch.

Time to go to the steel scrap yard tomorrow and see what C-channel or 90 angle they have to fab some pulling brackets............most likely will affix 90 degree Stainless or powder coated 4130 steel to prevent this in the future

help?

[Red88Carrera]

I'd use a heavy ratchet strap going from the receiver, over the front of the bed, then down under the box. protect the rear window. I have ratchet straps rated at 27K pounds, purchased at Sam's club($14). If you can't get enough pull using the ratchet, add a come-a-long to the end.

[Scott Douglas]

Here's what my brother did for his bent bed.
Before:

During repair:

After:


His is a beater bed so ymmmv.

[b2524]

I had this issue. I used a c clamp on the front bow then hooked a come a long on it.
Since you have no room use two clamps spaced as close as you can get them. It takes very little force to bend it back. Mine came out great. The slight kink in the top edge of mine got covered with an aluminum cover.

[b2524]

That's my truck in the pictures.

[Rusty Heap]

I like that ratcheting strap idea going from the trailer hitch, over the bent bed and down to the frame to at least get some clearance for clamps and a short 1' spreader plate to distribute the load, then rest of the pull with a come-along.



THANKS FOR THE IDEAS GUYS!

[Zeke]

I'd make up a pulling fixture. Just needs to be a folded over piece of plate with a hold in it for the hook. Make it 6" wide to spread the load. I'd also jack the truck up at the middle to expand the gap to get the fixture in.

[fidelstick]

check out bedhedtrucks.com. It can solve issues with Ford 1/2 & 3/4T pick-ups!