1 ton dually with flat bed?

[BSkinner]

I think I've converted my buddy from GM and Ford to Dodge. He needs a 1 ton, 4x4, dually and needs to put on a flat bed. It seems to me I read on TDR that installing a flat bed might be a problem?



I recommended, 1st choice-HO with 6 speed and 3. 73, 2nd choice-HO 48 auto with 4. 10. He'd prefer the auto (so would I) but told him I just don't trust autos anymore. He works his trucks hard. Any comments?



As I understand it, there are only Goodyear tires as of this date that will fit. Is it possible to fit other tires if spacers are used? The downside to this is ???



Bob

 

[JWillms]

cant answer any of those but the tire one. My firend has an 03 3500 DRW and ordered some Toyo(I THINK) tires and there suposed to be in any day now so Ill let everyone know how they fit and what size they are.

Justin<><

 

[DCaswell]

Hi Bob

Put a deck on mine, no problem. Friend of mine just replaced Goodyear with Michelins on an 03, 3500 SRW. same size as DRW

 

[420welder]

I ordered an 04 3500 DRW to put a utility body on. 1 week after order the salesman from reading body called and said we can't put the body on because Dodge won't let us it will fit but theres some legal issue so we can't certify it. On the 03 it was OK. there was talk of a chassis cab on the 04. 5s but I don't know if it happened.



Walt

 

[EB]

They are all over the place down here in South Texas, I've got one that I picked up at the dealer just like it sets now. Go to my readers rig gallery to see it. It was sitting on the dealer's lot just as you see it.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Put a flatbed on this weekend. I'll try and attach a photo if I can get it figured out. Oh well, I did get the pics into my gallery - a major milestone.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=9285&width=1



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=9286&width=1

After looking for some studded winter tires with no success I've stuck with the Goodyear GSAs and have been pleased. I figure by next fall when I'm in the market for another set of winter tires there will be more options out there. Cooper supposedly has a tire in the works. Toyos are great tires.



My personal preference is for the skinny stock size 235s. Seem to work well in the snow.

 

[MUDDY]

put fb on my last rig. 03 srw. no prob at all. someday will put one on present rig [drw]

 

[DCaswell]

If I ever figure out how to put pics in here will post a couple of mine

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by 420welder

I ordered an 04 3500 DRW to put a utility body on. 1 week after order the salesman from reading body called and said we can't put the body on because Dodge won't let us it will fit but theres some legal issue so we can't certify it. On the 03 it was OK. there was talk of a chassis cab on the 04. 5s but I don't know if it happened.



Walt

I think this is what I remembered reading. So, it's a legal issue (possibly in your state?) as opposed to a structural issue?



Bob

 

[420welder]

Yes it's a legal issue but I don't think it was just in my state. I ordered the truck in NJ and the body was to be put on in PA. When I called the Dodge dealer and told him what Reading body told me he said "I never herd anything like that"So he called the place that they deal with for utility body's (not reading) They told him there was no problem. My reply was call them back and tell them I will take there body but when it comes in and they find out that they cant install it they can eat it and the truck. The Dodge dealer calls me back in a couple of hours and tells me that he just got off the phone with the factory and it can't be done because of litigation reasons. It could be put on a 2003 but not the 2004 that I had on order. This was only the DRW, so after looking at Ford and Chevy again I ordered a SRW quad cab and never been happier. there is no reason that you can't do this yourself but most body dealers will not because if something happens like an accident they could be held liable and so could you if you install one yourself.

 

[DF5152]

what kind liability are we talking here. that if the bed falls off and kills someone or what. I used to work in a performance auto shop and they have been sellin nitrous for years now the place i buy my welding gas from want to sell it but is afraid of a liability issue if they sell it to some kid and he goes out and gets into an accident while he's racing down the street with his nitrous on. I can see some lawyer trying to do this but now if you stop at the gas station and put super unleaded in your car or 50 cetane diesel in your rig can you sue the gas station. what next ???

 

[geusterman]

Gee Traildog, it's ok to get a little closer to the truck, ya know. I am drawing up my bed for my new 04. 5 and I really appreciate stealing good ideas. More close-up pics? Or am I dreamin'? geusterman



PS that snow makes me want to go sledding. Going to Cooke City end of this month.

 

[DPelletier]

It's probably illegal to change your front bumper too. Or your rims, or your tire size or... ... ... ... ... .

There is no real reason not to install a flat deck on a new Dodge, as far as I know.



Dave

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

guesterman quipped:

I really appreciate stealing good ideas.

Not much in the way of good ideas. This is just your basic no frills low end flatbed. They were asking $850 for either the Temco or a Circle D. IMHO, better CYA around here, the Temco was a stouter bed with a much better headache rack. Mounting, mudflaps, lights, and fuel hookup was $200. . I will say the bed is welded to 1 by 3 square tubing which is then bolted to the regular bed mounts. The middle regular bed mount is also bolted to a piece of angle welded to the flatbed main runners. I like this because it uses all the regular bed mounts and avoids any issues concerning the frame TSB.



The J&Is are nice beds for around $950 but I liked the headache rack on the Temco better and all the J&I dealers wanted $400 plus parts to install.



If you got the bucks the Cadets and Rugbys are powder coated and look nice. However, they are 1500 uninstalled and the dealers wanted $400 plus parts installed.



So therefore, I got the bed plus two Circle D boxes ($400 installed) for less than the other options. Besides I plan on munging it up humping firewood anyway.





Enjoy your time over at Cooked City. We have real had some good snow this year. Not much has happened in January but cold at night -12F and warm & sunny in the day 20F. We are suppose to get snow this weekend. This morning when I went to work 0530 I saw the northen lights. Thought to my self "thats suppose to mean it is going to turn cold in a couple of days. But since its -12F anyway who knows?" When I got to work and checked the weather the hazardous forecast is looking for very cold following the snow this weekend. So bundle up for the sledding! But then again you are from Gt. Falls so you aint a pilgrim.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

guesterman quipped:

I really appreciate stealing good ideas.

Not much in the way of good ideas. This is just your basic no frills low end flatbed. They were asking $850 for either the Temco or a Circle D. IMHO the Temco was a stouter bed with a much better headache rack. Mounting, mudflaps, lights, and fuel hookup was $200. . I will say the bed is welded to 1 by 3 square tubing which is then bolted to the regular bed mounts. The middle regular bed mount is also bolted to a piece of angle welded to the flatbed main runners. I like this because it uses all the regular bed mounts and avoids any issues concerning the frame TSB.



The J&Is are nice beds for around $950 but I liked the headache rack on the Temco better and all the J&I dealers wanted $400 plus parts to install.



If you got the bucks the Cadets and Rugbys are powder coated and look nice. However, they are 1500 uninstalled and the dealers wanted $400 plus parts installed.



So therefore, I got the bed plus two Circle D boxes ($400 installed) for less than the other options. Besides I plan on munging it up humping firewood anyway.





Enjoy your time over at Cooked City. We have real had some good snow this year. Not much has happened in January but cold at night -12F and warm & sunny in the day 20F. We are suppose to get snow this weekend. This morning when I went to work 0530 I saw the northen lights. Thought to my self "thats suppose to mean it is going to turn cold in a couple of days. But since its -12F anyway who knows?" When I got to work and checked the weather the hazardous forecast is looking for very cold following the snow this weekend. So bundle up for the sledding! But then again you are from Gt. Falls so you aint a pilgrim.

 

[geusterman]

Traildog--was in GF over holidays with the BigFoot on back at 0 deg and Great Falls wind. Camper did good. Cummins in the 02 snorted a little and the power steering pump wanted to stay in bed but all in all just fine and crispy. Tell me, in using the factory bed mounts were you able to keep the Temco at factory bed height? That is a big deal on a 4x4 half way to the sky anyway. I intend to be even a hair lower if I can. Also, how is your fuel running in? I was thinking of moving the inlet to the cab guard so it starts higher. Necessary? geusterman

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Good questions!



It raised the bed by one inch (the thickness of the tubular stock. The reasons for the tubular stock was to be able to mate the 38" main rails on the flatbed to the 42" frame rails on the truck and use the existing bed mounts. .



Although they had 42" Circle Ds in stock I preferred the Temco's features. If available a better way would have been to use a 42" bed and weld angle iron "ears" on the flatbed rails which would bolt directly to the Dodge bed mounts.



However, his normal way of mounting a 42" flatbed on a 42" frame was to use strap and existing holes with pipe sleeves as a spacer to meet the TSB cautions. Either of the latter two ways would keep the bed at stock height.



I was impressed by his work and attention to detail. He was the first dealer I talked to who was aware of the Gen3 TSB cautions and already had solutions. The other dealers were... huh, say what?... when I mentioned the TSB.



Fuel:

Egads!. We discussed where to mount the fill pipe and settled on behind the 32" boxes. This meant lengthing the fill hose. Unfortunately, when I filled the tank the angle of the nozzle didn't shut off when full. I was suspicious so was watching to see what would happen. I will have to modify the fuel pipe angle or hose setup in order to get and automatic shutoff ASAP.



Another suggestion: I am working on X-lining the deck. Hopefully, this will keep my dogs on the flatbed when I go around a corner. Of course, I will be putting a 2x8 rail. One of the work truck here has the whole exterior of the flatbed done and the operator really likes it. I've been given a quote of $300 to get this done.

 

[geusterman]

Thanks Traildog. I plan to "bedliner" mine as well. I want siderails the height of the old bed to hide stuff when I carry a camper. I will work more fuel in there somewhere as well. geusterman

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

We are sort of thinking along the same lines. When I put the camper on I will box in the side spaces for storage and dog boxes. The 2x8 side rails are for non-camper times.



I had the bed line-Xed yesterday for $280 (had a $20 dollar coupon). I got bids from Idaho Falls and Billings for $300 (Billings said $5/ft2 but they would match IdF). Bozeman wanted $450 plus I had to get the bed sandblasted somewhere because they didn't like sanding the diamond plate) Yeh, well thanks for the bid. This stuff is absolutely great, if it holds up as advertized. Too bad it is so expensive. The mark up that is. There were several personal rigs at the line-X shop that were completely done. So the material costs can't be much.



PS: It is a long way around from Cooked City during the winter but if you are in the neighborhood there is great sledding here. You could bunk at my place. I do go to bed at 0900 and up at 0500. I don't drink or smoke. And you would have to promise not to tell any of the TDR folks I live like an animal (since my wife is in BZ)

 

[geusterman]

Thanks for the invite, TD. We would like to do a Wyoming run on of these days. Bound to happen.



Had a wild thought last night that the cab guard and auxiliary tank (s) could be built to the frame and the bed be separate and a dumper. I can see the dollars flying now but it would be so handy. I have a dumpbed "liner" with its own pump and cylinder I set in the regular bed and plug in the back to a line I run from the batteries with WARN ends. But it is "inconvenient" to put in and out when I need to do something. What a whiner I am!



I would have to make sure the bed is tight to frame for camper carrying. The tool boxes could even stay "down" with the fuel tank. What fun... .

geusterman



PS Don't have time for drinking and smoking either! As for 5AM... .