replacment truck bed??

[Loco-Nomad]

Not sure this is the right place to post this but here it is. I have a '03 2500 Ram Cummins and the bed is starting to rust over both wheel wells pretty good. Should I replace the bed or go with a flatbed or what? I have thought about the flatbed but now with 4 kids, the extra space is sounding even better. Thinking of mounting a bench seat in the bed (with seat belts) and giving us some extra space during travel. It has a cap on the truck bed so I would just need to do some minor tweeking to make it a comfortable space. Local salvage yard getting $1800 for a used bed... What are your thoughts??

Also thought of having the entire truck bed sprayed with a Rhino liner/bedliner type material on the outside to stop the rust. Don't know if it will but should be an interesting look anyways. These are my options..

 

[Capt Sport]

I'd check with Dodge, I think most trucks have a long rust proof warranty on the bodies of their trucks. It's worth a try.

 

[chasespeed]

My 01 has a different bed on it... doesnt match the paint on the cab....

Pretty standard for the body of a Dodge to rot out.

I would look into a custom flat bed....

Chase

 

[bftank]

did some looking around for you, cincinnati craigslist

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pts/1673201719.html

$1000 white longbed

http://fortwayne.craigslist.org/pts/1662639542.html

$700 shortbed

or you could go real crazy since you need the room and swap your drivetrain into a crew cab oneton from ford or chevy. wait you said four kids, i mean suburban!

if it's just over the wheel well get an estimate from a body shop to replace them. and then linex the wheel wells and the inside of the bed. very good rust proofing. or try it yourself linex is very good at hiding not quite professional body work.

 

[86cj]

About 10 years ago a Big three paint supplier told me Dodge skips a step in the primer process. I am not sure if they don't galvanize or do it differently. We have all the big three trucks at work, the story has come full circle. My 2003 Dakota is rusting severely over the rear wheelwells and any paint chip will rust within days. Our chevy trucks seem the best, paint chips don't rust for years, the Fords seem to be almost as good as the GM. I have also noticed the 1999 and older GM's were the most tolerant of our yearly salt bath and barrage of stones all year long. Have you noticed all the Dodge Sprinter Vans with cancer on every paint chip?

This issue has me holding on to my 1998 Chevy Dually, it is rust free and looks good for at least one more season. $50,000 Dually and rust just after the last payment is not a game I want to play anymore, no matter who is the MFG. I will put a flatbed on mine and live with rusted rockers when the time comes.

My future does not seem so bright I have to wear shades, like it did around 2000 when I bought 2 new trucks.

 

[cocco78]

I'd skip the truck bed lining on the outside, trucks tend to rust from the inside out, it would help with paint chips tho. I'd look into replacement bedsides instead of cutting out the rust and welding in a patch panel. Its about the same cost but with the bedside off you can treat all the hidden areas to prevent further rust through. I did this exact thing on a 94 F150.

BTW, I currently have a 99 GMC Sierra. The rockers are completely gone, cab corners are rusted through, rust over all 4 wheel wells. The body is junk, it started rusting before it was paid off...

 

[86cj]

BTW, I currently have a 99 GMC Sierra. The rockers are completely gone, cab corners are rusted through, rust over all 4 wheel wells. The body is junk, it started rusting before it was paid off...

Yep, My buddy has a 99' Silverado with a 5.3, he could have bought a "Classic" Body style that year with a 5.7 and regrets his choice due to rusting rockers. We both try to keep ahead of the rust with thorough washings and waxing often, the old body style just seems to do a little better. My 96' Chevy work truck went to auction in 2003 with no visible rust, it was washed only a few times a year and never waxed.

It seems to me some MFG's improved the rusting 70-80's sheetmetal and the bean counters gave it back to us.

 

[OTR]

I would stay away from mounting a seat in the bed. You would have to mount it to a cross member or the frame, I wouldn't trust the sheet metal strength in that type of situation. There is also minimal surrounding protection in the event of an accident. The cap would be crushed and/or break appart in a roll over incident or from being hit from the side.