Should I Do a Bed Swap Myself or Pay Someone

That depends on the State you live in, where I live, a bent or tweaked frame doesnt automatically total a vehicle. Im in the collison biz

 

Not necessarily a death machine.......

 

I actually slid on black ice. Spun out on the highway in the mountains. I almost died TBH. I almost went off the mountain then spun back and saw headlights coming straight at me. Some dude dinged my rear end but the damage came from smashing a guard rail. I did not get collision insurance on this thing because it's so old I though if I wrecked it I'd just buy a newer one. As I'm sure many of you know you get a really attached to these old trucks which I now am. I'm lucky I didn't get collision TBH or it would be totaled at the moment.

 

Looked at the frame again it's so barely bent I think I can still thread the mounting bolt through it without issue. I won't have to mess with it. I'll get it looked at but honestly I've put a couple hundred miles on this thing since it happened and it drives completely fine.

Cops even encouraged me to keep driving it lol.

 

Glad youre still with us....

 

Thank you. Never been so grateful to have my wrenches in my hand

 

Is the frame itself "wrinkled" or is it the mounts that connect the bumper to the frame?

 

The frame has a single wrinkle where the bed mounts to the frame and that’s it. I’ve been all over that frame there’s nothing wrong with it. I think I can still mount the bed to frame through the hole too it’s ever so slightly bent. The bumper mounting bracket is mangled. But I already got all the parts I need for a new bumper.

 

Holy fawk that truck is crusty.

“with a clip remover, remove the wire harness from the body…just kidding - just yank it off with your hands.”

How is that dude not wearing safety googles? I’d have so much rust flakes in my eyes.

 

This may be the best usage of the term "crusty" in the history of man.

 

Got the bed fellas. Pulled the wiring through the crushed metal from the accident without having to cut anything. That's probably the hardest part (famous last words). Might just be able to pull this off and keep my truck alive.

Really appreciate the support fellas

 

Post some pictures along the way. We’re all wishing you the best.

 

COOKING WITH GAS NOW BOYS

 

Is that the new bed? I wouldn't even take it to have any repairs if the other side looks just as good. It looks good as it is, who cares if it has a few dings. All the bed bolts go back in? If they all went in with no issues the frame must be pretty close to square still.

Is that a wheel weight or a chip in the rim? I want to say it's a wheel weight but it looks black which is weird. I wouldn't keep running it if it is a chip.

 

The other side has a nice ding in it but at this rate I don’t care. All bed bolts went in but one so the frame does have a problem. I found some someone who can help me with the frame. Honestly at this point I’m just happy I pulled off the swap and if I can’t get the frame fixed at least I learned some new skills

 

Have you considered getting a high clearance bumper? With a lot of those bumpers you cut off the bed right under that body line but some you don't it just covers it. Would probably be a little cheaper or around the same cost as fixing that bedside but you get a cool offroad bumper and the damage is covered or cut off.

Something like these

https://www.relentlessfabrication.c...ts/96-04-tacoma-wrap-around-rear-plate-bumper

https://chassisunlimited.com/products/1995-2004-toyota-tacoma-high-clearance-rear-bumper

 

I do like these and it would be cool to have one will def consider it if I can get this thing back up and running

 

Also yeah thats a chip in the wheel. This thing pretty much sits in my garage at the moment. If the frame situation gets sorted out I'll replace the wheels. But yeah not driving this thing at the moment for sure