GEN 1 REMOVING THE BOX after 10 years

[Oldfart]

As I mention before though I think if you just get some work done to the sides the box can look and function like brand new.....new ones can be hard to find these days....

I guess, they can get very expensive to replace sometimes also.

 

[PorterW1111]

I guess, they can get very expensive to replace sometimes also.

The best part is no matter how you read these reply’s you can find both on Craigslist lol

 

[B E N]

I recently did bed bolts on my 78, mostly it wasn't a problem I just used an impact and blasted them off. The ones that didn't cooperate I just drilled the heads off of. You have good access once the bed is off so it isn't a big deal, just go in with the mindset the bolts are sacrificial and zen your way through.

I also use 3' breaker bar regularly, no reason to stress my body... easier to just get more leverage. Sometimes even fire and oil dont work, so when that isn't enough...


20 ton air over and vice grip 7lw usually fixes the problem.

Raptor from Canada has redefined what stuck fasteners are.

 

[IDI-Charlie]

I never in my life have needed a 3 ft ratchet. Heat is your friend. A series of hot and cold with get just about anything free. I feel like I would strip or break any bolt I put that wrench to. Lol


On a side note do they sell a 10mm socket for that? Hahah

Unfortunately heat isn't always the answer - not a fan of using the torch on hazmat tankers lol. Between the fertilizer and brine/salt we had our fair share of heating stuck fasteners. Actually had to use that ratchet on a drain plug once.

They do, but they're expensive or you can't get them anymore!

 

[CoronaRaptor]

I recently did bed bolts on my 78, mostly it wasn't a problem I just used an impact and blasted them off. The ones that didn't cooperate I just drilled the heads off of. You have good access once the bed is off so it isn't a big deal, just go in with the mindset the bolts are sacrificial and zen your way through.

I also use 3' breaker bar regularly, no reason to stress my body... easier to just get more leverage. Sometimes even fire and oil dont work, so when that isn't enough...
View attachment 153391

20 ton air over and vice grip 7lw usually fixes the problem.

Raptor from Canada has redefined what stuck fasteners are.

I'm going to soak those f'n bolts all winter and early spring before I try to take them off, I'm hoping by then I can just take them off with my 1/4" ratchet

 

[Jakenbake]

I'm going to soak those f'n bolts all winter and early spring before I try to take them off, I'm hoping by then I can just take them off with my 1/4" ratchet

I had to cut mine out on my 2014, just as a heads up.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

I had to cut mine out on my 2014, just as a heads up.

NOOOO, don't tell me that stuff. lol. I'm fully expecting the worse. I don't have a cutting torch, but worse case i will drive it to a welding shop and get them to cut them off.

 

[Jakenbake]

I used a dremel saw max with a cut off wheel to cut a cross pattern, then I took a chisel and hammer to remove the head. Really wasn’t bad.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

I used a dremel saw max with a cut off wheel to cut a cross pattern, then I took a chisel and hammer to remove the head. Really wasn’t bad.

Oh okay, so once you have the box off, does the rest of the stud come out with the nut really easy? Or does a guy have to fight with that as well? Even if my bolts and nuts come off, I'm replacing them and dipping them in neverseize. I want this truck to last another 10 years easy, so I'm willing to do whatever. This will be a cheap repair/prevention for future years.

 

[Jakenbake]

Oh okay, so once you have the box off, does the rest of the stud come out with the nut really easy? Or does a guy have to fight with that as well? Even if my bolts and nuts come off, I'm replacing them and dipping them in neverseize. I want this truck to last another 10 years easy, so I'm willing to do whatever. This will be a cheap repair/prevention for future years.

So the front most two and the rear most two will fall straight out once you cut the heads off. You can also get a wrench on the head of the bolt on those, but they weren’t having any of it.


The middle bolts are actually inside the frame and these you have to cut the captured nut and bracket apart to get out.


I didn’t completely remove my bed last time, just jacked it up about 3 inches. So I needed up sawzaw-ing the bolts flush with the frame and then cutting the captured nut bracket. I may still have the two pieces of the captured but and bolt inside the frame rail somewhere. Used to occasionally poke out of a random hole, but I have not seen them in a while.

I actually may go look for them this weekend lol.