Rusted bed...

[Sparrowhawk]

The last owner punched a few holes in the bed and let them get rusted out! Can I replace the bed? What methods of fixing this are best? Someone said to watch out for bedliners 'cause they can cause more rust...

[72'CaminoKid]

yes, you can replace the bed, but post some pics of it and the holse first, odds are it's repairable

[Sparrowhawk]

I'll try to get a pic but it's definitely all over the bed...

[mudseeker]

you can get a used bed at a junk yard for a decent price. it all depends on how much work you want to do. you would be hard pressed to find a color matching bed, but unless you have access to a chemical stripper you will be spending many many hours trying to get the rust off your current bed. what ever you do don't buy that stuff that claims to turn rust into black primer, that stuff is a joke.

[eaclark]

Ive heard horror stories my self about the bed liners. If you want to do a bed liner once you have a new one in I've heard alot of good about Rhino liner. You wont be able to use Rhino liner on your rusted bed though as it is a liquid you can have put on or do it yourself. Dont try to hide the rust it will make it worse. They do make a great small rust job treatment called OSPHO. But wont do good in this case. It works great. It is a mild acid basicly that eats the rust away then you are left with pretty much clean metal. I have spent the last 6 years in the CG living on the coast from AK to FL and have had/seen a few beds and fender wells go. Best bet is get a new bed, or turn it into a flat bed, then worry about paint matching.

[72'CaminoKid]

if it's as bad as you say, just go to ajunk yard, buy a bed for a pretty cheap price, then pay and have a cheap paint job done on it.

[chevyguy]

Toyata beds are know for rusting out. Just get another bed

[Sparrowhawk]

Thanks for the advice... Does anyone know an average price for a bed at a junk or salvage yard?

[elkfool]

I never found a good way to repair my bed and could never find a bed to replace it that was any better - I finally broke down and built one.

It is a flatbed with fender sides to cover the underside of the truck. I matched all the body lines on the cab. Total cost with paint was close to 1000.00 , it took me about 2 solid weeks from tear down to installing all the cab trim.

I am looking for the pics, when I find them I will post.

[Sparrowhawk]

Originally Posted by elkfool

I never found a good way to repair my bed and could never find a bed to replace it that was any better - I finally broke down and built one.

It is a flatbed with fender sides to cover the underside of the truck. I matched all the body lines on the cab. Total cost with paint was close to 1000.00 , it took me about 2 solid weeks from tear down to installing all the cab trim.

I am looking for the pics, when I find them I will post.

That would be great as I've thought about building one but wondered how it would/could look...