Bed box and rust

[Cheyenne]

The back end of these trucks toward the back on these trucks rust everytime. I guess it's because it's a goofy design with the cross member collecting all the mud and junk back there. Every bed box seems to rot out. The truck I have now has no holes in the bed box,but it's getting soft. This is a southern truck that went out west and has a sprayed in bed liner. My dads 78 always had a top on it and yet it still rusted toward the back end when I got it. Maybe I'm posting this in the wrong part of the forum. I want to one day replace the bed box,but is there anyway to get around the rust issue. It's normal to get rust but not like this.. Am I the only one, I'm new to fixing trucks i'm a car guy just learning teach me anything you guys know thanks..

[bigchevyc30]

i have a 80 c-30 and it dont have a issue with the bedd rotting its in good sape at the rear but in the front corners its got some small wholes and around the wheel wells are separationg fue to previous owner took some bolts out

[87454westernhauler]

they all seem to rot out in the back half. my 80 c10 and 79 c30 both did the same thing as yours in the back half of the trucks. they wernt pretreated very well from the start and if they wernt washed regularly in salty enviroments, they will do that.

[Cheyenne]

If I put a replacement bed box in there anyway I can prevent this again thanks everyone.

[zieg85]

If I put a replacement bed box in there anyway I can prevent this again thanks everyone.

You can only slow down what is inevitable.  A good undercoating will help but keep it parked during the winter.