Truck box removal

I am wanting to remove the box from my '97 Tacoma to get at the frame for all the sanding, grinding and welding I am about to do to repair the rot.

Any comments or suggestions about removing the box? I see 6 bolts, the fuel hose and the rear electrical wires. Anything else I am missing?

 

I guess you mean the bed .

That is about it 6 bolts the light harness and the fuel filler neck.

If the frame is bad it might be a good idea to have new hardware for the bed as well.

 

Yep that's it. You may have to remove the rear bumper to get at the rear bolts. The bumper bolts are directly below the bed bolts and there isn't much room to get a wrench in there. Once you do it once it will be easier the 2nd time.

 

How heavy do you think my 6' 1st Gen bed would be? One guy on each side or it is a four person job?

 

don't forget to drain the fuel tank so wait till its nearly on empty to do this job.

one last tip is pull the tank and flush it while the bed is off, it might be your only chance to do so and pout a new fuel pump while your at it (bought from Toyota dealer or dealer brand) then put a new fuel hose on it (also bought from Toyota dealer or dealer brand) when it goes back together. it might look ok but it has to be rotted after all these years.

 

2 people can definitely do it, it is not that heavy. A 3rd would help to keep it balanced.

I pulled my pump out when I had the bed off to fix the sender unit and every looked and worked fine. So I just put it back in there after fixing the burnt wire on the sender.

 

It depends if the both of you are the type that have tossed those little 50 pound hay bales 15 or more layers high and most wagons need a few layers removed to get in the shed .

You should be fine if not get help

I have seen six people that could not lift one