Bed Box Drainage etc.

[Wayne64]

Hello all, While dissecting my box I came up with some observations. The following picture shows the front X-member caked with crap. Mine lives outdoors and after a rain it took days for the box to stop dripping. As I have read the front panel takes a real beating with rot, as mine did. So lets put our minds together about saving our panels for the next generation. In the front water runs up to the front panel, from here it travels under the raised part of the floor. Then over the top of the front flange on the X-member and then into the hat channel. It then has to run to either side and drain out next to the side panel IF the channel is clear. What I have done so far is to cut a 1/2" x 2" slot in front of the tool box floor on each side. My rear X-member was also rotten and that got the same treatment towards the center. Our trucks served well, but improvements might help. Any input Guys?

[skinnedknuckles]

After sand blasting, I drilled a couple of small holes in the bed and crossmember for drainage and then I coated the inside of the bed crossmembers , floor of the bed and toolbox with POR 15 then while it was still tacky I sprayed a dust coat of primer. I have heard both good and bad about POR 15 , I think sand blasting gives it some thing to grab on to it should be better than just primer and paint