2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission How to Replace Cab in my driveway?

[CWeaver]

Hello, The cab on my 1996 club cab with 34inch tires is rusted badly and a friend offered to sell me a rust free 2001 club cab (4 door) and fenders for a fair price. So How can I remove the old bed and cab, install the new cab, and paint and install the old bed?

I do not have access to a auto lift. So how do I remove and install the bed and cab without a team of 8 guys?
I can get a few folks to help out but need to figure out how to lift it from the top, or support and jack it up from the bottom? Has anyone done this or have ideas?

I don't have a tree or existing structure to attach a hoist on unless I rent or build something....
I do have welding skills but not much access to metal...

I'm open and interested in your ideas and opinions!

 

[BarryG]

I have no idea if this will work on a this model ram as they may be heavier, taller, front of the cab /engine/bellhousing configuration may be substantially different. At one time long ago I had a 74 chevy k10 pickup. I had to replace the cab. I rented an engine hoist/cherry picker the tallest one I could find and lifted it off with that. If I recall I stuck the arm inside the cab and lifted it from the floor. I only had to get it high enough to clear the bell housing. And then wheeled it to the side easy peasy. I also used the same picker to get the newer cab out of the bed of the truck and the old one back in the bed to haul to the scrap yard. Myself and one other person was all it took. Now the cabs were totally empty seats, doors, glass. Oh and did it in an apartment complex parking lot. Went in to eat lunch and some scumbag stole one my doors.

 

[GAmes]

Are there any old time gas stations with service bays or oil change places that are empty and for rent near you? I'm doing a frame off restore of a '54 Ford and wouldn't consider lifting the body off the frame outside in the driveway.

 

[Helicopter Dan]

you can make an a frame out of wood or rent a skid loader or a lull, small boom truck etc

 

[CWeaver]

I was told that the 96' Gen 2 and 01' Gen 2 cabs should be the same? If anyone knows for sure, or knows different please let me know. Thanks for the suggestions so far. Good Ideas. I'll have to see if anything is rent-able around me... and if it's cost prohibitive.

 

[AEdelheit]

Im assuming in the first post you meant to say 1996 not 2006?

 

[BarryG]

While I am unsure if the cabs are the same my 96 extended cab did not have rear doors just the extra space behind the seat and a fold down rear seat, my 01 quad cab does have small rear doors with a fold down rear seat not sure if the 01 year had the option of the extended cab without doors I don't recall seeing them when I bought mine but I also wasn't looking for them as I wanted the doors. However they may be the same size with or without the doors as I don't think I gained much if any space with the doors just easier access.

 

[mwilson]

Sounds like a Saturday afternoon BBQ invite for several guys....and then......BEFORE you bring the beer out........

"Hey, while you are all here and waiting for the steaks to finish why don't you help me lift these two cabs???"

 

[CWeaver]

Correct! I'm planning to put a second gen 2001 cab on my 1996 dodge, sorry for the confusion.

 

[Regcabguy]

Maybe the local Ford dealership would let you rent their lift mechanism for removing cabs on the 6.0's.

 

[surfbeetle]

Maybe you could find a crane service to come out to lift the cab off and then put on the new cab. Had some neighbors do that with a jacuzzi to get it into their backyard over their house.

 

[NGuzik]

Remove the bed first and crib it up with a floor jack and roll the truck out from under it. Than repeat with the cab just make sure you have room for the wheels to roll by. I've done this with full jeep body's in the past. I'm actually going to swap out my flat bed for an 8 foot bed on my 06 this weekend. If I get to it I'll take some pictures and post them up. Not sure how rich some of these guys are but for what a crane would cost to come to you and spend afew hours with you swapping stuff around it might just be cheaper to pay someone to do the swap for you.

 

[Simplysmn]

Know anyone with a Backhoe .That's how I did the Last Cab change out . This go around I have a Hoist .I just hope it goes Tall enough .

 

[MMeier]

Maybe the local Ford dealership would let you rent their lift mechanism for removing cabs on the 6.0's.

Great idea, but ..... I'm sure the blue oval clan has plenty of trucks in line waiting to use the lifts !!!:-laf

 

[fest3er]

Great idea, but ..... I'm sure the blue oval clan has plenty of trucks in line waiting to use the lifts !!!:-laf

Shirley, you'll visit aitch-ee-double-hockey-stick for that.