Went and looked at a moderately rusty box today, didn't seem to have alot of bondo and it had a canopy, all the panels were there it just had some trouble areas, small holes above the rear tails, alot of bubbles in random spots along the sides.. I can push my finger through a few of the bubbles on the sides were its just rotted, probably most of them.. the passenger side seam is just starting to go aswell. It seems to be mostly free of bondo besides a hole thats filled on the tail gate but it looks like someones done some metal work to it before. The floor wasnt too bad, right near the tail gate it was a little rotten but fixable im sure, didnt really get a good look otherwise but it appears to have been covered by the canopy, I didnt climb in because the truck is literally going to break in half. There is some bubbles/holes up underneath the lip on the sides aswell that would suck to try to repair. Just wondering what I should offer or if I should even waste my time repairing it, IMO for a B.C. box its not that bad, its on an 80' pickup thats frame is breaking in half which makes me nervous where the bondo could be hiding on the box. I initially offered $150 sight unseen which he was fine with but im thinking along the lines of $75 considering the tails are in good shape.. I could atleast sell those if it the box turns out to be majorly crap.

Wondering if you guys think I should risk it and give him between $75-$150 for it, if it turns out to be junk.. well, tail lights I could probably get $45 for and the gate isn't all that bad, he might even throw the canopy in( I could sell that). My Yota fund is getting pretty low($1200 and I still need to buy Hi steer and Sky Boomerangs as well as alot of small things so its a risk for sure budget wise). Not looking for a show truck mint box here but I want something that I can atleast use for the next 3+ years that wont get me issued a Vehicle inspection and attract alot of attention from the cops (They have nothing better to do but harass us 4wheelers about tires, rust, suspension, doors etc) How much would be involved in fixing these trouble areas? Im pretty much a noob to sheet metal/body work but I have access to a mig welder, sheet metal rolls, a shear and a sheet metal break to make replacement panels with, I also have bondo and the necessary hand tools to make it happen, I dont want to spend more than a weekend fixing the rust id say, then id want to paint it... For anyone that is experienced with sheet metal how hard would it be to replace the troubled areas(cut out, weld in, bondo) and make it look half decent(its going to be navy blue to match the cab) for a noob like me? I cant afford to buy replacement bed sides from Slacker as tempting as it is. I could probably get him to send me some pictures to post up, if not il drive down and snap some because im going down to pick up a Weber carb and a couple other Toyota parts this week anyway.

Oh and anyone else wanting help with rusty box/panels heres the thread to post in for help!


(Actually, I could probably afford replacement sides after all, Might go that route)

 

I wish you could make it down to Portland, decent boxes come up every now and than. Trying to form an image of the bed in my head and it sounds like $50-75 would be the high side....sounds like a lot of work...

 

I replied to your mail ...
hope it helps .

 

^ thanks for the input.


Yeah, Id love to come down there and load up on parts, but since I live on Vancouver Island it makes it pricey just to drive down. Ferry's are around $90 each way in the truck since its over 20ft, The truck gets maybe 15mpg so theres $100 to fill one of the tanks which it would burn no problem crusing at hwy speeds, id have to stay on the Mainland on the way home too so theres another $150 easily.. Makes a simple trip across the border cost a crap load, its mostly the ferry cost though. I check Portland craigslist alot and it annoys me how much first gen stuff there is down there, theres lots here but most body panels/cabs are garbage, The box I went and looked at is one of the better B.C. boxes ive seen, but still alot of work to make look half decent.

 

Wow, BC ferries are expensive, If I stay under 30' It costs me just over $60 to get out here (the return trip is free). I made my raft trailer so I'm just under when hitched to my Subaru (my truck is shorter) Living on the islands is pretty expensive.
I keep thinking about replacing my bed, it's pretty bad , but I don't have to worry about denting it anymore. There's lots of nice parts trucks around here, but I think a small flatbed will be more practical.

 

B.C. ferries is stupid compared to the Washington state ferries, I rode from Friday harbor to Orca's Island on one and its a way smarter way of doing things. People dont need arcades, gift shops, casino's, restaurants etc on a 1.5 hour ferry trip, Theres alot to see out the window and if your hungry maybe you should have brought some food with you, they spend all of their money in the wrong places and guess who pays for it? the people that depend on them to get to the mainland.


Ive been working on the flatbed idea but ive priced out the materials id need and the lights and stuff and its going to be close to a grand to build what I want, I need something thats actually useful as a bed for hauling firewood and stuff. I hate flatdecks because you have to strap everything down and you cant carry certain things and they generally just look funny on first gens. I really need something with sides where the stock bed is perfect and at the same time looks good. So heres what im going to do, Im going to offer the guy $150 for the Bed, Canopy, Rear drive shaft and e-brake cable.. Im going to take it home, sand blast it, that should give me a pretty good indication if its worth my time or not. If it isn't usable il pull the tail lights and the tail gate and sell them, sell the canopy and drop the rest off at the dump, if theres enough to weld to and it isnt going to be an epic 6 month project il buy a sheet of steel make some replacement pieces, run it up to my buddies palce because he has a nice little mig to weld it up with, little bit of bondo, spray the sides blue, rust coat the rest and run it!

 

I did not realize the Ferries would so stinking much money...I went to V-Island as a kid and remember it as being a great place. I want to get my kids up there sometime soon.

It sounds like you have got a good plan for your bed build. Good luck and post up some pictures when you get it home...

 

Hmm.. dude isnt answering my emails anymore..

Anyone have pics of a 3rd gen box on a first gen?

 

Thats pretty cool, never knew about them and they have a warehouse in Vancouver!. Anyone know where I can get factory fender flares from? Found a decent box but it doesn't come with them, Oh and thanks to that link I found out where to get the plastic bumper ends from, Awesome link.. thanks!

 

They are the same metal panels I sell (and I cringe) .. THERE CRAP .

They are made from a flat piece of sheet metal , bent up on a brake .. There are NO compound curves , or hole for the fuel filler or markers . also the top rail does NOT match the gate .. they are ton of work to install , and if you arnt well experanced in welding and bending sheet metal .. well need I say more

up to you .. it's your time and money .. GOOD LUCK ! .
If you do decide to get the steel panels ... PLEASE ..PLEASE post it up .
most guys that buy em , set them in the corner to do later !!!!

your best bet .. is to pony up the cash , and buy one of ours .



you can use it as you would a STOCK bed , and it will last a lifetime .

 

fiber glass beds for the win....once i get down to my bare metal on friday, i may be callin you for box sides lol

 

yep .. we got those 2

 

Slacker, Are you sure they are the same? The ones on their site say they have fuel door holes and they also sell replacement floor sections aswell, I just thought it was pretty cool someone else out there sells them too aswell as rockers, bumper ends etc.. And yeah, id buy a $1000+ box if the truck was even worth that, but id rather build a cage/tube deck for less.. thats what I want to do, but cant afford it so a $100 shortbox is what im using for now, just needs a little work and some stock flares which I cant find anywhere, havnt tried any junk yards yet though.

I also noticed the fiber beds dont have hooks along the rail which would bother me, one of the main reasons im putting a stock box on it for now, Need to tie the dirt bikes and such down.

 

YES .. I am POSITIVE .. They are the supplier .

you wont build it for much less .. with todays prices ..

tie downs are on the floor .. NOT on the outer rails .

 

My old rig .. 12 years



and my current rig .


a few years ago .. but still about the same .

Allan Becks /82


Marks /87



how many more do ya want ?



and as I mentioned .. tie downs are a piece of cake .. they are just not on the outside .

 

Oh, didnt know they were the supplier, I realize I wont be able to build a deck/cage much cheaper but id way rather build a deck/cage than buy a stock box(fiber or not) the only reason im going with a stock box right now is I cant afford to build a deck/cage how I want it, its going to be about $900 to do. Tie downs on the floor are alright but I love having them on the outside, makes things way easier when tieing down two bikes in a tiny little Toyota bed but it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

 

ok .. and a real shocker for ya ..



pick up one of our Trekker conversions $4000.00 ... BAR gooooooon !



guarenteed to be ... SWeeT



.

 

haha, Id rather buy a first gen runner for $3500, But sweet that someones buildin them! Keep up the good work!