BED INSTALLATION
Adjusting Stringer Width
The series 2500 truck bed comes with adjustable width 4”x2” stingers. On 86” and 102”
long beds (for pickup box removals), the stringers are factory set for the 42” frame width
trucks. On 112” and longer beds, stingers are factory set for 34” frame width trucks.
Before installation, verify truck frame width. The truck frame should measure roughly 34”,
37-5/8” or 42”, depending on make and year of truck. Outside surfaces of the stingers
must match truck frame width. On most trucks, the 1/2” rear receiver hitch plates that
drop from the stingers will overlap the truck frame at the rear and at installation they will
be bolted to the truck frame. Therefore, the stingers need to be just wide enough to allow
the 1/2” plates to clear the truck frame. Even if the stingers are already in the correct po-
sition, the hitch bolts and the bed mounting bolts may need to be temporarily loosened to
allow the bed to freely slide over the rear of the truck frame.
On some trucks it will be necessary to
adjust stinger width. First, remove the
(8) 5/8” bolts and remove the receiver
hitch assembly and spacer plates.
Next, remove the 1/2” bolts that attach
stingers to the gooseneck plate and to
the aluminum bed. The aluminum bed
mount brackets and gooseneck plate
have holes for all 3 width settings.
Move stingers to the appropriate loca-
tion and reinstall 1/2” hardware.
The drawing on this page shows the
rear receiver hitch and how to position it
and the spacer plates to match the truck
frame width. “Hitch A” (34” wide) can
only be used in the 34” setting and does
not use spacer plates. “Hitch B” (41”
wide) is used for the 37-5/8 and the 42”
setting and uses spacer plates. As the
drawing shows, the 1/8” spacer plate on
each side can be removed as needed to
exactly match the truck frame width.
Reinstall and tighten hardware. Torque
nuts to 65 ft. lbs. for 1/2” hardware and
110 ft lbs for 5/8” hardware.
Special applications may require the
other hitch than what is included with
the bed. These are available as kits
through Hillsboro Industries and our
dealers.
Page 5
Summary of Contents for 2500 Series
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