since july 1st my truck bed has been rather out-of-sorts. the rear end impact of a ford f250 pushed my bumper down and in, kinked the very end of the box tubing frame and forced the sheetmetal over the wheels out sideways.
this left the truck looking rather sad and somewhat hunched back on the rear wheels.
with the help of a local equipment operator, a short chain and a backhoe we attempted a bit of shadetree bodywork. the bucket of the backhoe was laid flat near the crease in the interior of the bed and a chain was looped around the bumper near the bracket attatching it to the frame. the other end of the chain was looped over the teeth of the bucket and securely hooked to itself.
with a slight, yet powerful curling motion the bed was forced down and the bumper pulled upward. once one side was roughly straightened, the process was repeated on the other side of the bed.
most of the worst kinks were taken out and the bed looks happier and perkier.