Rusted frame cross members? Replacement 8 foot bed?

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2 questions

 

What does a new truck bed cost? Where do you buy one?
Just wondering what a replacement 8 foot truck bed would cost.
Where do you buy something like this? I don't see anything online.
Also, how many hours would a shop charge to replace one ?

 

How major a repair is replacing rusted frame cross members?  How common is this?
How many hours would a shop charge to replace the 2 main ones?
Seems like a huge repair

 

 

 

[CamGTP]

You can't buy a "new" bed anymore. You buy the pieces to make a new bed. I think there are 6 pieces in total. The floor panel, header panel (back piece) two inner fender/bed and two outer skins. I think you can still buy all the parts through GM if you really wanted to go that route.

 

Body shops and most people buy new outer panels when rust eats them away. They are several hundred dollars each and the 8 foot bed probably adds even more to that.

 

The other option is to find a replacement bed from a wrecked or parted out truck. I've seen clean rust free beds sell for $500-1,500 depending on what year truck and length. Finding your exact color makes it even harder sometimes too.

 

I've heard of labor rates for panel replacements are $50-60 or more and 5-7+ hours per side. Then it's paint cost on top of that. Contact a body shop for exact quotes as prices are going to vary alot depending on where you live.

 

Rear cross member rust is pretty common on the early GMT-800 trucks in the rust belt, I see it all the time. It's worse if you never washed the underside of the truck often. No real idea what a place would charge to fix that. I would question the quality of the rest of the frame if they are rusted so bad that they are paper thin with holes in the cross member already.

Edited July 1, 2020 by CamGTP