Rebirth Update #1...

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Truckman's adventure with his new ride continues with this first update...The admittedly shabby looking finish on the flatbed was noted in the accompanying pictures on my photo blog...After deciding the show quality finish offered at my favorite paint and body shop was not what was needed on this truck, I went by TER Texas in Conroe (Truck and Equipment Repair), a manufacturer of new flatbeds of all description and other service bodies for trucks...A discussion of my needs with Richard Lyons of TER led me to leave the truck with them to refinish my flatbed...

There were many new trucks there already awaiting installation of new bodies and equipment, yet they worked my truck into the schedule just as if I was as important as their biggest customer...The flatbed was removed along with both Rawson/Koenig  sideboxes, and all the exterior surfaces including boxes and headboard were cleaned, sanded and repainted with an industrial grade finish...In addition a new trapdoor over the gooseneck ball was fabricated and welded in place with new hinges...New LED sidemarker lights were installed and the reflective DOT tape on sides and rear were replaced...The bed was reinstalled and the truck test driven to insure there were no rattles or unwanted noise...New photos for comparison here...

Edit: In my original discussion with Richard Lyons of TER, new mudflaps were to be installed...However they were inadvertently left off the work order when the truck was dropped off, and I never noticed the absence until I got home and started taking new pictures...A quick phone call to him got me scheduled for a while-you-wait appointment for the following business day to get them installed...As usual when two veterans get together, we swapped war stories over coffee while his crew installed the new mudflaps...The work was quickly done, and Truckman was again on the road...Kudos again to TER and their policy of seeing to it a customer is satisfied...Pics of the enhanced look can be found on the photo link in the preceding paragraph...

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