429CJ-3X2
Elite Explorer
- Joined
- November 6, 2009
- Messages
- 1,643
- Reaction score
- 398
- City, State
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '01,'02, '04 Sport Tracs,
Those of you who have completely removed a Sport Trac bed, do you have any suggestions on how to lift it besides good ol' muscle power?
I'll be swapping the bed on my '01 soon. I don't have readily available help on hand, and I'm halfway considering changing shocks while the bed is off. If I do that, I don't want to make someone hang around while I change shocks, or ask them to come back later. I've lifted the bed (with factory cover on it) that will be going on the truck, so I know it isn't all that heavy even with the cover on. The truck currently has a 1 pc fiberglass cover that I'll swap to the new bed, so both covers will come off before the swap. The covers probably weigh about as much as the bed itself, so without the cover the bed will be easy to lift. I have a set of camper jacks used to lift a slide-in camper that I might make work. Any other suggestions?
Anybody know the real-life life span of the Monroe Sensatrac/OEM Spectra shocks? The ones on the truck have only been on it a couple of years, but sometimes I feel like I'd like to firm up the rear with some air shocks. Changing shocks while the bed is off is appealing. I had an especially difficult time even getting a wrench on the top front bolt on the driver's side on this truck - far more difficult than the other truck. It seemed like there wasn't as much clearance, or maybe room around the nut/bolt head on this one. I ended up grinding it off. Getting a grinder up in there wasn't easy, or something I'd recommend.
I'll be swapping the bed on my '01 soon. I don't have readily available help on hand, and I'm halfway considering changing shocks while the bed is off. If I do that, I don't want to make someone hang around while I change shocks, or ask them to come back later. I've lifted the bed (with factory cover on it) that will be going on the truck, so I know it isn't all that heavy even with the cover on. The truck currently has a 1 pc fiberglass cover that I'll swap to the new bed, so both covers will come off before the swap. The covers probably weigh about as much as the bed itself, so without the cover the bed will be easy to lift. I have a set of camper jacks used to lift a slide-in camper that I might make work. Any other suggestions?
Anybody know the real-life life span of the Monroe Sensatrac/OEM Spectra shocks? The ones on the truck have only been on it a couple of years, but sometimes I feel like I'd like to firm up the rear with some air shocks. Changing shocks while the bed is off is appealing. I had an especially difficult time even getting a wrench on the top front bolt on the driver's side on this truck - far more difficult than the other truck. It seemed like there wasn't as much clearance, or maybe room around the nut/bolt head on this one. I ended up grinding it off. Getting a grinder up in there wasn't easy, or something I'd recommend.