How to shim the bed

[Damon23]

This is going to drive me crazy. Was under the truck today looking at all the bed bolts and how it bolts to the frame. Looks like it just sits on the frame and bolts down with nothing between the bed and the frame. Am I correct? If the bed of my truck is running downward towards the rear then I would assume one would use something to "shim" it to get it to raise up. What would I need to use? I was thinking washers or maybe a real solid rubber piece I could drill a hole in and run the bolt through. Anyone have any advice on this?

[1972hiboy]

I used big washers I bought at ace hardware and stacked them up in all six spots until it was level and right.

[BobbyFord]

If you are basing your assessment of the bed alignment as it relates to the cab, make sure your cab supports are solid and your insulators aren't sagged out.

[Damon23]

Cab mounts are all in great shape. I tried to level it out with a shim. Fail. I removed the two rear most bolts from the drivers side. Placed a piece of metal between the bed and the frame on those two spots and all it did was push the frame down ward and make the bumper crooked. The rear shocks are completely gone but I know that has nothing to do with ride height. After the new springs and shocks up front is has the rear droop. As much as I don't want to face the fact I think the rear drivers side spring is shot. Thinking about how the truck sat at a angle for 5 years straight and the bed loading up with leaves and dirt, I'm just delaying the inevitable in fixing that spring.

[motzingg]

yeah man, i'd probably try to block up the frame with cinder blocks and 4x4's and get it level to get a baseline. these trucks flex quite a bit and 'straight and level' is relative

[fordman]

The downward rake of the truck is due to worn springs or rubber cab mounts. The bed was never shimmed from the factory. If u did want to shim it. Washers will work. I seen a truck use pipe to give the truck a body lift.

[FORDification]

You're right, the bed just bolts straight to the frame with no shims or spacers. You then use the bed's bodylines to shim the cab and front sheetmetal as necessary. Rubber bushings for the cab and core support will collapse over time, the cab mounts will rust away...or even a tweaked frame from a previous accident could cause bodyline adjustment issues. But shimming the bed to compensate for other issues is going backwards...and it's like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm.