Hey guys,

To fix or not to fix, that's the question I'm faced with. Keep in mind that this is a Ranger Edge bed with the fender flares.
The average price for one there beds is $500-$600, I can have someone fix it for $400 ... and that's paying them cash under the table.
Option 3 would be fixing it myself ... I want to use the least amount of bondo as possible.
I was also wondering what would be the best way to pull this dent out? I can get to it from the back side, but there's not much room to swing at it with a hammer.
I'd really like to have one of those body shop slide hammers that spot weld little studs onto the metal.
Any suggestions?

Here's a picture of the bed.

 

I'd buy a new bed or bed skin.

 

When you say bed skin it ... Are you talking about replacing the whole side panel?
That's what I would like to do, but how do you remove the old panel and how much does a new one cost?

 

You can usually get a good bedside from the junk yard for 100-150. To change it you need to drill out all the spot welds and reweld the new bedside on. If you watch craigslist you can find beds for around 300+/- sometimes. The edge bed is the same as a regular 4wd bed, just reuse your flares. A 4wd short bed from 93 up will work.
As far as straightening it it can be done but it will never be just right. I have used 2x4's and pipes to reach up inside the bed to straighten dents. The bottom wouldn't be too bad to fix but from the pinstripe up is going to be tough. Count on a lot of bondo...

 

Yeah, you would never get the bed side perfect with all that damage. Well not without a lot of bondo, which I wouldn't do.

 

Yeah, I don't think I'm going to attempt to fix that bed and I don't have the tools to remove the side of the bed and replace it. So, I'll be looking for a replacement bed. Hopefully I can find one for 300.
I've heard from a lot of people that the 93-97 beds won't work because of the fuel filler tube. (I think there was another reason too, but I can't think of it.)
I was also wondering ... how hard would it be to drill the holes in a non-EDGE bed to install the fender flares on the bed and the fenders?

 

filler necks are easy to swap...just make sure you get one from another fleetside...flareside wont work

 

Thanks for the info DJ
I hope the filler necks aren't riveted on.
Are the spaces where the tail lights go in, are they the same size on the 93-97 beds?

 

they are usually bolted in but when unbolting the neck from the bed they usually snap off...theyre either 7 or 8 MM bolts

yes