Can a large bed rail dent be fixed?

[cancow]

How does one fix this?

[Florian]

Hmmm, I'm by no means a good body work guy, but maybe you could cut the damaged area in several slices with an angle grinder and the bend them back to their normal shape and weld it up.

Or take a big hook and try to lift the truck hooked to the damaged bed rail. That would be the redneck fix for sure

[BobbyFord]

Yes, port-a-power using a 4X4 piece of wood on the bed floor. Make sure the piece of wood is as long as it can be to fit in the spot between the front of the bed and the wheel tub (to spread out the force against the bed floor). I'd use a section of 2X4 under the top rail, also.

[70 ranger]

That is the best way! A few bucks for a porta power will go a long way! If the cost of a porta power isn't in the cards a well placed bottle jack (on the 4x4 and 2x4) may also work!

[Whateverman]

Or take a big hook and try to lift the truck hooked to the damaged bed rail. That would be the redneck fix for sure

yup .
i've done similar stuff to this with a come-along and a sturdy tree (and ever better : a forklift) , as long as the hook doesn't mangle things too badly (like tearing thru the sheetmetal) it'll usually get it pulled out close enough to finish tuning it up with a hammer and dolly

[cancow]

I tried the bottle neck jack but started to get worried I was going to snap the welds on the supports. Maybe I will give it another try.

That is the best way! A few bucks for a porta power will go a long way! If the cost of a porta power isn't in the cards a well placed bottle jack (on the 4x4 and 2x4) may also work!

[billbates40]

I had almost the same on my bed. I used a jack underneath. I also used a hammer on top and hit the high points as another was slowly jacking up.

[72BahamaBlue]

I had a similar dent in the same area...ended up cutting a 'V' shaped notch on that inside lip. Also, brace the bed floor where the jack sits. I used a piece of 4x4 between the bed floor and ground. Makes a more solid footing when bashin...uh, finessing the dent out!

[cancow]

What do you mean about the "V shaped notch"?

I had a similar dent in the same area...ended up cutting a 'V' shaped notch on that inside lip. Also, brace the bed floor where the jack sits. I used a piece of 4x4 between the bed floor and ground. Makes a more solid footing when bashin...uh, finessing the dent out!

[72BahamaBlue]

I notched the lip/inner rail...the 1" lip that hangs down, the innermost metal along the inside. Sorry I can't seen to describe it better. I cut an upside down 'V' out of that 1' inner-rail, where it was bashed down the most. I found it impossible to straighten it while raising it with a jack, until it was cut. Had to trim a couple of times as I lifted it with the jack, or an overlap would happen. Got it close, then welded it.I could explain better with pictures. Will take photos tomorrow describe and post, hopefully when I'm fully rested!

[Joe_68_F100]

I put a piece of 3" angle iron on the top of the bed rail, and used a bunch of big c-clamps to push the dent up starting from the ends and working my way in. That brought the dent up enough so I could finish it off with a BFH and a shaping dolly.

[cancow]

I like it! I will try the c-clamp idea once I get the rail up to specs with the bottle jack and the "V-cut" once I figure it out.