weak beds

[Bob V]

I was looking through the Dodge body builders guide ( http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/ ) and saw this under "Ram Cautionary Notes



When installing a toolbox to the front of your pickup bed,

you must use Mopar toolbox brackets available from your

dealer. Failure to install the additional support may lead to

significant bed damage. (The part number for the toolbox

brackets is 82205240. ) For more details please visit the

Mopar website (www.mopar.com).

 

[Diesel Nut]

my stock bed was flat hurting when I got rid of it. I used to raise pigs and our feed came in 55 gallon cans. Well, after 5 or 6 feed hauls and hauling some hay I noticed the floor of my bed looked like a old 80's Ford farm truck. The bed floor was sagging between supports, BAD! Truck was a year old, meticulously maintained, and if you dropped the gate looked like an 84 F250. WTF?! I guess they just don't build em like they used to!

 

[Bob V]

Saves $ and #

 

[lcaad1249]

I've been looking through the Ram cautionary notes and haven't found anything about it. It's only 3 pages and I've went through it a few times. I've also called the local Dodge dealers who have no idea. Weatherguard told me this was the first they'd heard about Dodge needing the brackets also. I'm planning on installing a box this weekend. Has anyone else had any experiences with this? I'm not looking to spend an extra $91 if I don't have to. Takes away from the bombing funds.

 

[Traveler]

I believe I saw it in the owners manual that brackets were required.







Ron

 

[SRadke]

I've head a heavy protech box on the rails of my 03 for more than 2 years now with no issues.



-Scott

 

[JCrockett]

Put a spray in liner and a 3/4" piece of CDX plywood in the bed, that will help

 

[testraub]

I installed the new weatherguard DEEP box on my 05 LWB, with Line-x liner but I also got a "Back Rack" (no box in reader rig) it works great. and all you need is a longer bolt to mount with. Haven't had any problems with rail sag. Worked fine on my '95 Ram gasser too.

 

[Boonieman]

Maybe it's a good idea, but I've had one in my '03 since I bought the truck and believe me it's full of chains, tools, chain binders etc... . in other words it's heavy. I haven't seen any issues at all on mine.

 

[Heavyweight]

The beds are weak... . Garbage. I am going to get mine line "X" when it gets scratched up enough... If you have not already purchased a rubber bed matte, do so, they work well, and help to prevent gouges in the paper metal bed. Also, like Crockett said, put in a piece of cheap ply wood for heavy duty use. What would be cool, get a piece of CDX Line "X"ed... . Sucka would probably Warp,,, just have to flip it.

 

[Diesel Nut]

The new beds are just fancy sheetmetal and good for little. Just made to look good, not hold up to much punishment. Ask anyone that has dropped a 5th wheel on thier truck. they just fold. When I jack knifed my trailer (long story, sorta my fault) the bed flat wadded up like a beer can. Did more damage to the truck than the trailer. These trucks are built to be light wieght and effiecent. Not really tough as nails like they used to be. Heck, I side swiped a brick wall hard with my 93 dually and it scratched the fender. Not no more. Heck you lean on your truck now you'll leave a dent. OMy 93 QC 4x4 was like 8700 lbs or so empty as heck, and the ship wieght on my QC 4x4 Dually was what? 7800 lbs. With a heavier trans and bigger axles. The math tells me something took a big hit in strength, and I know it wasn't the frame . . . . .

 

[JRMora]

Geez,



I have a Truck Trunk tool box (loaded with chains, straps, toys, etc. ) since almost new - no problems. I've hauled 3500# pallets of bricks (seven so far), no problems. I've hauled busted up concrete, rock and gravel (over 4000 per load), no problems. I didtched my drop in liner a year ago and Line-X'd the bed and rails. No problems here.



???



Juan

 

[Diesel Nut]

Those drop in liners absorb a pretty large amount of impact, and they tend to help disribute the load, kinda like the plywood on the bed idea. They do have their positives. The line x looks better and isn't as slippery, but gives less impact and stress protection. Still, I had it done on mine when new. I put my pickup through some pretty good use, lots of wieght, but I just wasn't expecting the bed floor to be cved in so bad after only a year.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Deja Vu all over again! These type of stories are older than dirt. If I might digress a bit I remember as a boy in the late 1940's when the new style cars first came out that were different than the prewar cars. The '49 Ford was just so neat but the neighborhood men stood around and opined that they sure looked nice but the sheet metal was so thin, they just didn't build them like they used to. You could dent the hood just by leaning on it! Probably happened in the 1930's too when they stopped making the Model A Ford and came out with the "streamlined" models. You know you're getting old when you see repeats of almost everything. I for one believe that motor vehicles have never been better. No tuneups and changing plugs and points every 10,000 miles etc. etc. Ever seen an older pickup truck? They look tiny next to the new ones. If the metal were made thicker we would need semi truck size wheels front and back just to hold the weight of these giants. Enough musing but these threads make me chuckle as I say to myself that nothing really ever changes when it involves people talking about their vehicles...

 

[jsimpson]

My 03 bed is stronger than my 94 bed was, but weaker than my 89 bed was. Whaddaya expect? They gotta make them as light as possible and the metal is all recycled. Bet your bottom dollar the 4th gen will be lighter yet! But don't count on a plastic bed like the competition now that petro is hitting the roof!

 

[OSalinas]

Deja Vu all over again! These type of stories are older than dirt. If I might digress a bit I remember as a boy in the late 1940's when the new style cars first came out that were different than the prewar cars. The '49 Ford was just so neat but the neighborhood men stood around and opined that they sure looked nice but the sheet metal was so thin, they just didn't build them like they used to. You could dent the hood just by leaning on it! Probably happened in the 1930's too when they stopped making the Model A Ford and came out with the "streamlined" models. You know you're getting old when you see repeats of almost everything. I for one believe that motor vehicles have never been better. No tuneups and changing plugs and points every 10,000 miles etc. etc. Ever seen an older pickup truck? They look tiny next to the new ones. If the metal were made thicker we would need semi truck size wheels front and back just to hold the weight of these giants. Enough musing but these threads make me chuckle as I say to myself that nothing really ever changes when it involves people talking about their vehicles...

:-laf you're prolly correct