Cutoff Lower Bed Half
 

has anybody cut off the lower bed half? i have an 85 truck with the japanese bed, and was in an accidnet not too long ago, the lower part of the bed cracked off at the seam, and i am planning on just cutting off everything under the tailights... hoever, i want to keep a working tailgate... i notice the tailgate mounts to the bed floor, and the basic structural H shape of the rear will not be as strong with the lower sides removed... how can i keep my gate functioning and still reinforce the area? i have a welder :welder: :fireman:

from this:
http://www.explorerforum.com/data/3366/4019Pic00013.jpg


to this (photochop) essentially:

Check this out.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f88/gave-my-truck-trim-55948/
This guy just did it on his.

no writeup on that thread.. and the issue i am having isnt hacking it, its what to do to keep the tailgate functional.. the hinges are in a wierd orientation and i cant see a real way to reinforce them in that area.....

In some of the pics you can see where he left part of the rear on. I'm not sure if there is a seam there or what. I would PM him and ask. :)

the bed is differnt as well, but i dont think that part matters.... i know where to cut the bed in half thats not the problem, i am trying to figure out what the best way to reinforce the hinge area to still allow a working hinge

There is a roll pan below mine as long as you cut below the tailgate it should be ok.
You need you get under there and look though.

yeah i am removing the rollpan too, everything below the floor....

the mounts for the tailgate however are actually angled downward off the floor of the bed... how would/could this be reinforced?

how 'bout this...cut along green line, then if there's room put a piece of maybe 1" sq. box tube behind the hinge - and just weld it in...if no room for box use angle... use something with about a 1/8" thick wall.

the issue i am refering to isnt that i cant weld soemthing on there, its jsut that the part where the hinge is is not flat its cut at an angle to the bed floor... how can i deal with that angle?

Hmmmm. I think I see what you mean. Look at my new illustration. Does this side view show the angle @ the hinge like you're talking about? If so I think you could still weld in a piece of angle (in green) to help supprt the sheet metal.



Just an idea....what ever you do I think some weldin will be in order! :hillbill:

Any progress? I am taking mine over to my friends house today to finish cutting the metal patch and bob and finish it up hopefully. I'll probably drink some beer too :drink:

nope nothing yet... im waiting to hear back from the other insurance company in case they need to actually see it or something before i chop the bed off

Here's a guy's site his bed that has been bobbed and done like that:
http://4x4republic.com/southwestvood...vyflexpics.htm