Pickup fuel pump replacement - lifting bed

[NUTTERDW]

Hey guys I need to replace the fuel pump on my 06 Ram 2500 short bed. I've gone back and forth debating which method to access the tank - drop the tank or lift the bed? I'm still on the fence but could use a few questions answered to help me choose if yall don't mind?

First, how do I rig the bed to use the tractor to lift it? Do I used chains or ratchet straps? If so, where do I attach? Corner pockets or down at the corner tie downs?

Or instead should I use a lifting bar setup of some kind to support under the bed rails? Like those H-shaped bed lifts? Do they have to be metal or could a 2x4 jig be fabbed?

Backfilling some other info here on the rest of the scenario...

As for the tractor, I've got pallet forks or I can remove the forks from the SSQA mount and use the lifting shackle on the receiver hitch slot. Tires are filled w beet juice and I've got a box blade attached. I'm confident there's enough counter weight for the lightweight stock box (probably several hundred pounds?). I plan to remove the cross bed tool box. It has a few items in it, not heavy, but enough to cause a balance issue when lifting.

If I drop the tank I do have several floor jacks to assist. I have a Badlands 3T offroad jack and a Strongway motorcycle lift jack. Some assorted bottle jacks too. I would be working outside on an uneven caliche driveway, no flat cement here.

As for the truck, I've calculated I have 13-15 gallons of diesel left in the 34 gallon tank and don't have any place to transfer the fuel too. The fuel in the truck is treated w tcw3/atf for the 5.9 and I cannot run it in the tractor nor the 07.5 6.7 truck. And I think my utv is mostly full w a 7gal tank. I've only got a 5gal diesel jug on hand. I could go buy more jugs, didn't want to, but I could...

Anyway, that's the scenario I'm working with. Help on ready-ing the bed would be great. Or if you've done this before, I'm ears.

took an 8 Ft bed off of my chevy a few years ago and two of us lifted it and set it on saw horses. I was surprised how light it was. Of course it was a chevy not a dodge or Ford.LOL

 

[pmsmechanic]

I've done this several times. Measure carefully and cut a hole in the bottom of the box. I used a zip cut blade on an angle grinder. Just cut deep enough to cut through the metal on the box. You don't want to cut into the tank. Save the piece you cut out and replace it by adding some flat metal on each side and screw it back in. Then when it comes time to replace the fuel pump again it's even easier to do.

 

[Squirrel's242]

On my 1990 F250 with 8' box, I used two 6' step ladders and a 2x2 steel bar between them with ratchet straps hooked into the holes just below the top of the box. I used more straps to attach the 2x2 to the ladders. My straps are twice as thick as the typical cheap ones. At the rear I used ratchet straps hooked to the bucket on my tractor. Be sure to have some saw horses available if your loader slowly sinks like mine. I did this job alone with no help and didn't experience any problems. Lifting each corner a few inches at a time was easier than you might think.

I'm glad you said something about trying this method. I wondered if that would be more manageable. Seems it would be easier to watch out for the bed corners so I don't mash them into the cab or the rear fenders into the replacement bumper. I have 4 ladders 2 Atype, 2 werner Atype extensions. Pipe I don't have, except for the fence and those are too heavy. I do have several squat bars in the gym. I did wonder if I can set the loader up, lock it out and use that as the lifting point positioned in the center of the bed. I can take off the tailgate and gain room to bring the tractor in. I appreciate the idea.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I helped with an older Ranger, taking the bed off was pretty easy. Used forks to help lift up and out. I did see a video of cutting a hole in bed for pump access. It was an older truck though. Didn't look too bad either when all was done.

 

[Squirrel's242]

Lifting straps are not that expensive at Harbor Freight and will scratch less than chains. I suppose you could use an engine hoist if you have one just to only lift as much as you have to and no more.

I saw videos w the engine hoist but I don't have one.

How much does the bed weigh? It may be easier to get four healthy lads to stop by for pizza. I helped remove a VW body years ago when a bud built a dune buggy and it wasn't all that difficult.

I don't have an exact weight but I believe 250-400lbs, 5 tops maybe? I thought about undoing the bolts and giving it a lift to see how much I'd move it on my own. Got another healthy adult in the house but my additional wrenching help is in Houston, they'd help but the availability is the catch.

took an 8 Ft bed off of my chevy a few years ago and two of us lifted it and set it on saw horses. I was surprised how light it was. Of course it was a chevy not a dodge or Ford.LOL

I think these days manufactures of all brands are using lighter gauge panels. If I sneeze wrong standing next to the truck it'll dent.

 

[Squirrel's242]

I've done this several times. Measure carefully and cut a hole in the bottom of the box. I used a zip cut blade on an angle grinder. Just cut deep enough to cut through the metal on the box. You don't want to cut into the tank. Save the piece you cut out and replace it by adding some flat metal on each side and screw it back in. Then when it comes time to replace the fuel pump again it's even easier to do.

No. lol
I am too squeamish to cut into my sheet metal. While I'm built a lot out of function and practicality, my OCD to keep things original and together overrides the first two. I can't cut into my baby.

I helped with an older Ranger, taking the bed off was pretty easy. Used forks to help lift up and out. I did see a video of cutting a hole in bed for pump access. It was an older truck though. Didn't look too bad either when all was done.

I also saw a video of a guy using the bed panel cut access. The most work he had to do was take the junk out first to get to the bottom lol I can't do it though, not on this truck.

 

[not2old]

I found that if you lift it from one central point that you don't have good control. it is very likely that you will end up scratching something badly.

 

[1M05]

The Torx bolts are not Torx. They are Torx Plus. That is why regular Torx bits break. 81090 TP-50 Torx Plus® Bit

 

[ljgordon]

Hey guys I need to replace the fuel pump on my 06 Ram 2500 short bed. I've gone back and forth debating which method to access the tank - drop the tank or lift the bed? I'm still on the fence but could use a few questions answered to help me choose if yall don't mind?

First, how do I rig the bed to use the tractor to lift it? Do I used chains or ratchet straps? If so, where do I attach? Corner pockets or down at the corner tie downs?

Or instead should I use a lifting bar setup of some kind to support under the bed rails? Like those H-shaped bed lifts? Do they have to be metal or could a 2x4 jig be fabbed?

Backfilling some other info here on the rest of the scenario...

As for the tractor, I've got pallet forks or I can remove the forks from the SSQA mount and use the lifting shackle on the receiver hitch slot. Tires are filled w beet juice and I've got a box blade attached. I'm confident there's enough counter weight for the lightweight stock box (probably several hundred pounds?). I plan to remove the cross bed tool box. It has a few items in it, not heavy, but enough to cause a balance issue when lifting.

If I drop the tank I do have several floor jacks to assist. I have a Badlands 3T offroad jack and a Strongway motorcycle lift jack. Some assorted bottle jacks too. I would be working outside on an uneven caliche driveway, no flat cement here.

As for the truck, I've calculated I have 13-15 gallons of diesel left in the 34 gallon tank and don't have any place to transfer the fuel too. The fuel in the truck is treated w tcw3/atf for the 5.9 and I cannot run it in the tractor nor the 07.5 6.7 truck. And I think my utv is mostly full w a 7gal tank. I've only got a 5gal diesel jug on hand. I could go buy more jugs, didn't want to, but I could...

Anyway, that's the scenario I'm working with. Help on ready-ing the bed would be great. Or if you've done this before, I'm ears.

Have you thought about installing an electric pump, installing a new line and just bypassing the old line and/or tying into it closer to the engine.

 

[jdcork]

I figured out on my 2000 F150 4x4 that by far the easiest way to do it was take the back bumper off, remove the 4 bolts that held the bed to the frame and used a chain hooked to my tractor to pull the bed back far enough to get to the top of the tank. Was about a 2 hour job.