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Bed underside rust

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 1stgenDrew, Nov 1, 2019.

  1. Nov 1, 2019 at 6:08 AM
    #1
    1stgenDrew

    1stgenDrew [OP] Member

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    Drew
    San Diego, CA
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    Magnuson Supercharger URD 7th injector kit Snow Performance Water/Methanol Injection Kit Leveling kit Front and Rear Bumpers
    Hey everyone. I’m looking for a little bit of guidance on how to fix up my truck; yesterday I discovered some rust on the underside of the bed. It completely flaked off leaving only the bed liner above it. Does anyone have some recommendations on how to fix it? Any guidance is greatly appreciated! I posted a few pictures to help illustrate where the rust is exactly. I will do a more through inspection later on today.64C9D37E-FD9A-4C91-A8CC-F844E344BF05.jpgD49D2939-F699-487E-A6A0-AA7175E781AA.jpg8D51B83C-C1F6-4367-9BFE-BB98EDE40244.jpg
     
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  2. Nov 1, 2019 at 6:18 AM
    #2
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    did you remove the liner yet?
     
  3. Nov 1, 2019 at 6:22 AM
    #3
    1stgenDrew

    1stgenDrew [OP] Member

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    Magnuson Supercharger URD 7th injector kit Snow Performance Water/Methanol Injection Kit Leveling kit Front and Rear Bumpers
    It’s a spray on linex style liner so I wouldn’t know how to go about that
     
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  4. Nov 1, 2019 at 6:28 AM
    #4
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    that might complicate things a bit
    did you have the linex style liner put on?
     
  5. Nov 1, 2019 at 6:35 AM
    #5
    Xbeaus

    Xbeaus Well-Known Member

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    Toytec coilovers. Height adjustable Bilstein's. 265/75/16 MT. TRD wheels. Rebuilt r150f. Marlin clutch kit. All kinds of new parts...
    I had that happen on an old chevy. I cut the bedliner away from the affected area. Took a cut-off wheel and cut the cancer out. Welded in some plate plate metal to cover the hole and then coated in chassis saver paint. about 4 layers of that. I had easier access though. Better it's the bed and not the frame :)
     
  6. Nov 1, 2019 at 6:48 AM
    #6
    1stgenDrew

    1stgenDrew [OP] Member

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    Magnuson Supercharger URD 7th injector kit Snow Performance Water/Methanol Injection Kit Leveling kit Front and Rear Bumpers
    The ben liner was put on by the previous owner unfortunately. That’s what I was thinking as well, guess it’s time to buy a welder!
     
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  7. Nov 1, 2019 at 6:59 AM
    #7
    testelle

    testelle Well-Known Member

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    I'm gonna be making a build thread that shows my restoration efforts for my rust bucket truck soon. You might want to check that out. I'll try to remember to post here a link to it when its up. But I just swapped off my entire rusty bed with a gently used one, and I'm very happy and rest easier at night. But to specifically answer your question (OP) I'd highly encourage you to lift the bed. Sounds like a crap ton of work, but having just done it its not the hardest thing I've ever done. Pull the tail lights, undo the six bolts that hold it down, winch it up, drive out from under it, let it down, flip it, and go to town with whatever rust cleanup you want to do. Much easier than crawling around on a creeper under the bed, banging your head, straining you neck, dripping crap into your eyes, etc. Grind the bad spot(s) all down to bare metal, patch weld in the holes with some fresh metal, metal filler (ex. USC All Metal) over that, prime, paint, undercoat, put the bed back on, badabing.
     
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  8. Nov 1, 2019 at 7:02 AM
    #8
    1stgenDrew

    1stgenDrew [OP] Member

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    Magnuson Supercharger URD 7th injector kit Snow Performance Water/Methanol Injection Kit Leveling kit Front and Rear Bumpers
    If I had the resources to do that I would be down but I can’t think of how I would be able to take the bed off given the tools I have at my disposal. I’m not an experienced welder but my roommate has more experience than me. I’m going to get under there after work today and do a full assessment. If this is the one spot then I will fix it, if there’s more I’ll reach out and have some help swapping beds!
     
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  9. Nov 1, 2019 at 7:03 AM
    #9
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    i am highly interested in this with many questions, I have to take the bed off of mine for safety and have been trying to figure out the best method to do that without having a body shop do it
     
  10. Nov 1, 2019 at 7:11 AM
    #10
    Actionjackson

    Actionjackson Well-Known Member

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    I have been obsessive about rust prevention, but my truck bed is rusting in the exact same area. No where else. I will have to cut it out and either make a patch or weld in a section from a junk yard unrusted bed. (very unlikely)
    Dissapointed this area collects crap and rusted even with all my frame coating in fluid filming .......
     
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  11. Nov 1, 2019 at 7:30 AM
    #11
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    collects inside the bed or inside the wheel well?
    i am on the obsessive side a bit myself
     
  12. Nov 1, 2019 at 8:00 AM
    #12
    taco57

    taco57 Well-Known Member

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    My 2003 rusted in the exact area as yours, it is from the outside in. I know because I have a BedRug along with a bed cover so it is not moisture from on top going down. My fix was to cut out the rust and basically caulk in a new piece in (can't remember what I used, but it was automotive caulk) and then sealed from underneath. Check twice a year and FluidFilm 2X a year also. I am in a rust belt state of Ohio so far it has held up well.
     
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  13. Nov 1, 2019 at 9:07 AM
    #13
    testelle

    testelle Well-Known Member

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    Tool list to remove the bed (IF... it wasn't as crappy as mine, needing some other tools): Long 1/2" ratcheting breaker bar and 17mm impact level socket (this removes the four front more bed bolts, my ratchet is from Harbor Freight); Phillips head screwdriver (for the tail lights); 17mm short socket and or box end wrench to remove the back most bed bolts because you gotta get the ratchet in-between the rear most part of the frame to unbolt those two; a tree with a long heavy branch you can reach, or a beam in your garage; a basic deer hunter gambrel winch pully system (I have a $20 cheapo one, used to lift the bed by myself); two heavy ratchet straps (most people have these if they have a truck, winch them down diagonally, tying in the middle to each other); a carabiner heavy enough for the load (mine is a basic rock climbing quality one I have from that hobby, the bed really isn't all that heavy); angle grinder both with cutting and sanding discs for the rust repair; that's about it for the job. Safety glasses, and mechanics gloves!
     
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  14. Nov 1, 2019 at 11:28 AM
    #14
    Xbeaus

    Xbeaus Well-Known Member

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    This is why I need a bigger garage (shop). So I can do it all indoors in the winter time :)
     
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  15. Nov 1, 2019 at 1:53 PM
    #15
    testelle

    testelle Well-Known Member

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  16. Nov 1, 2019 at 7:46 PM
    #16
    joe25rs

    joe25rs Well-Known Member

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    I too have this bed rust...passenger side bed wheel arch area.

    I want and need to address this very soon. The frame was replaced several months ago, but this a separate issue outside the scope of the service. The sooner I can get this repaired the sooner I can get the bed LineX’d.



     
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  17. Nov 8, 2019 at 2:00 PM
    #17
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    your frame looks really clean!
     
  18. Nov 8, 2019 at 2:34 PM
    #18
    joe25rs

    joe25rs Well-Known Member

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    Thank you! The frame was replaced in the springtime under warranty by the previous owner. I’m attempting to do everything I can to protect it now. I need to get this bed rust situation under control ASAP. The truck had a bed mat for most it’s life and this was lurking below. I’m currently trying to find a local body shop willing to get into the project. Hopefully it doesn’t cost too much...
     
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  19. Nov 8, 2019 at 2:42 PM
    #19
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    TW education is the best! but I am still perplexed about how this starts out in the wheel well if its been undercoated :notsure:
    lately i have been tapping my fingers inside in this area on my truck listening for a hollow sound but doesn't sound odd or anything
    i had a plastic drop-in for over 22 years piled high with snow and ice in the winter sometimes and had never removed it until this year
     
  20. Nov 8, 2019 at 5:08 PM
    #20
    joe25rs

    joe25rs Well-Known Member

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    I could be mistaken, but I believe it has something to do with the bed support rail acting as a crap catch allowing moisture build up.
     

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