OT truck bed floor repair

Nick167 · Jan 8, 2019

I got a new tractor new hauler last weekend a 2013 f350 single rear wheel and the truck is in really nice shape except for the previous owner had a fifth
wheel hitch in the bed and there is a rust hole in the floor of the bed right in front of where the back mount would have been it?s not quite as big as a fist.
I?m looking for some ideas on the the best way to fix it so that it matches and looks good when I?m done. So any ideas are appreciated!

kcm.MN · Jan 8, 2019

Truck bed tool box
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-BWmPaBfjQ

kcm.MN · Jan 8, 2019

...Forgot to mention, this design is meant for use inside a topper. With a little modification and better materials, could make one that's weatherproof.

Janicholson · Jan 8, 2019

Find out from the Ford dealership body shop which ford trucks had the same floor panel structure. Call wrecking yards and determine if they have a truck matching the pattern. find one with a damaged bed, that you can cut a piece out of. Trim the rust hole to good metal. Trim the new piece carefully to match (time spent here it important). Use a wire welder to practice welding two pieces together of the scrap you trimmed. Tack in the new piece, never getting close to a prior tack. Some welders have a pulse weld setting that limits the weld time to parts of a second, if so, adjust to best make a spot weld. weld slowly and cool the material with a wet rag. complete the first full weld spots so they just touch each other. Use an 4"angle grinder to smooth out the bumps (slow steady not overheated). If you spend time and carefully flatten the welds, the results will be marvelous. A small amount of surfacer, and more sanding and then paint to match. If you put spray on bed liner (pro stuff, not consumer grade) you can avoid some smoothing. Jim

ss55 · Jan 8, 2019

Can you install a bed liner or throw in a $75 rubber bed mat?

gab · Jan 8, 2019

Bed liner looks nice but is slicker than snot, lay something on a rubber bed mat and it stays put. I've had both and prefer the mat.

ss55 · Jan 8, 2019

I prefer rubber truck bed mats too.

When I trade trucks the old bed mats go on the concrete floor in front of a work bench, the 3/8 in thick rubber is a poor man's anti-fatigue mat.

showcrop · Jan 9, 2019

To make it nice you will need to cut a square out. Bend a new piece from 18 gauge steel, and weld it in. You will need to stitch weld it with your MIG. If you have not done this before, do a practice job first using the piece of material that you pick up. It is very easy to overheat the panel, especially in the corners, and distort it. You will have to go SLOWLY.

Nick167 · Jan 9, 2019

Thanks for all the ideas ! I?ll post back with the results when I get it fixed

Fred Werring · Jan 9, 2019

They do make floor repair panels, this was just a quick search on ebay.

Maybe you can find a smaller piece.

Fred
ebay patch panel

OT truck bed floor repair

Nick167

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kcm.MN

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kcm.MN

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Janicholson

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ss55

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gab

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ss55

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showcrop

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Nick167

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Fred Werring

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