I have seen wood beds in some. Is the bed really trashed/ rusted/dented? Picks help.
VW Pickup bed
I would like to replace the floor of my 1982 Rabbit pickup bed, mainly between the wheel wells. Searching internet hasn't been productive. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Carsonic
Thanks,
Carsonic
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
You may be best off looking for another Pickup with a good bed on it. There isn't a lot to pulling one off and replacing it. Well you do need to cut it off and weld it back on. If that is out of you skill set or tool box then maybe just cutting off the existing metal down to were you can attach some new diamond plate steel or thinner steel for a new bed. That still leaves the attaching work to the older bed up in the air. Weld or overlap with new steel and caulk underneath that to seal it? I would be putting a coating of bed liner on it on both sides before installing it. That way all the parts below can be covered and you won't be getting rust in the future.I would like to replace the floor of my 1982 Rabbit pickup bed, mainly between the wheel wells. Searching internet hasn't been productive. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Carsonic
I wouldn't do wood over the existing metal. No real good support or attachment that way. Plus you would need some sort of metal rails down the length of the bed to keep from gouging up the wood if you put heavy things in there or went to shovel a load of bark chips or soil out of the bed. I have seen some nice work done with ship lapped siding on metal supports with metal strips down the length but those were show vehicles and not working dogs like mine.
Pictures might help us help you figure out a good system for you. Keep us up to date OK?
Thanks for the ideas. I have seen photos of wood floor being installed...just don't know if I want to go down that road. As for pictures of the bed, I haven't been very successful in posting any photos. Guess I just don't understand how to do that. The bed is rust free and only has "craters" in the metal between the cross-members, like waves. Obviously heavy loads were dumped on the bed.
Thanks again for the responses.
Carsonic
Thanks again for the responses.
Carsonic
Sounds like you can get away with a thin or medium thickness gauge of steel plate on what you have. Might have to counter sink the bolt heads to keep from catching on them. Use those angled head bolts and attach with flat washers on the under side of the bed with a locking nut. Could be a good cheap fix. Then bed liner it on the top, spray paint the bottom before you install with something like Rustoleum as it will have water sneaking in there.
I have a small metal brake, and I have made some sections of bed to replace rusted out sections. Sound like yours might be ok, just just sagging. I like the idea of diamond-tread/plate, I think you could do that pretty easily. Do the whole thing. Send pics of your process!
I've thought about the diamond plate. However, I can't seem to find it in the width I need (52") without it costing a fortune and I'm not sure how to join smaller pieces together.
Also, the tailgate I have for this pickup is bend outward along the bottom inside (heavy object dropped on it, I'm guessing) Any way to straighten that bend out? Somewhere I read about driving over it with a car while the two ends are supported underneath by wood blocks. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Carsonic
Also, the tailgate I have for this pickup is bend outward along the bottom inside (heavy object dropped on it, I'm guessing) Any way to straighten that bend out? Somewhere I read about driving over it with a car while the two ends are supported underneath by wood blocks. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Carsonic
I wouldn't be driving on the tailgate to straighten it out. Just not enough finese or control on that method.
I would be removing the gate, placing it between some sturdy immovable object. Sandwich it in between some fence posts or a wall maybe. Then get a nice sturdy pipe and put it in that bottom hole and see if you can get it about halfway down the tailgate. Apply pressure on the pipe and ease it into a straight line again.
Maybe you can take it off, put it on backwards and drop another heavy weight on it. Or get it close to a wall and get a hydraulic jack on it with a nice two by four between the jack and tailgate and push it straight.
I would be removing the gate, placing it between some sturdy immovable object. Sandwich it in between some fence posts or a wall maybe. Then get a nice sturdy pipe and put it in that bottom hole and see if you can get it about halfway down the tailgate. Apply pressure on the pipe and ease it into a straight line again.
Maybe you can take it off, put it on backwards and drop another heavy weight on it. Or get it close to a wall and get a hydraulic jack on it with a nice two by four between the jack and tailgate and push it straight.
See if building a tool like this is possible. Link taken from VWCaddy forum. http://www.vwcaddy.com/showthread.php?40496-Make-a-Tailgate-Repair-Tool
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
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