Anyone have a flatbed

[dward]

I have an 03 dually and carry a slide-in camper. I'm thinking of installing a flatbed to utilize the wasted space between the camper and the outside of the truck bed.

I understand that the top of a flatbed is about 6" higher than a regular bed which would raise the camper as well as increase the space between the cabover and the top of the truck cab.

If anyone has a flatbed, could you measure the distance between the top of the bed where the camper will sit and the top of the cab.

Also what is the difference in cost and weight of aluminum vs steel. Any other advice such as brands, styles, options, etc would be appreciated.

Thanks for the info.

 

[SRadke]

You'll pay at least twice as much for aluminum to save 20-30% on weight. If you're slide in is very heavy it would be worth considering to keep within your weight ratings. You average steel flatbed will add about 500 lbs.



-Scott

 

[dward]

Thanks for the reply, my camper is about 3500 lbs loaded and ready to camp, so weight is not a major concern. I,m assuming a dually bed would weigh about 700 or 800 lbs, so around 1300 for a flat bed sound right?

 

[SRadke]

Average 8' x 8' flatbed, 800-1000 lbs, depending on materials and hitches, etc. Subtract from that about 350-450 lbs for the pickup box and tailgate you've taken off. It'll surprise you how light a pickup box is. 1300... . ? Money? Sounds close for today. Two years ago a simple one could be had for around 1g but steel price is way up.



-Scott

 

[bmoeller]

Wouldn't recommend it, but 2 people can carry a dually pickup box. I've done it. My alum. flatbed is quite a bit lighter. I bought mine used at a consigment sale, so can't say on the price.



There is a company that makes a dually box with compartments in the side, like a utility box does. I think that would be a better option for you.



$1300 should get you pretty close to a decent stell bed, but won't touch an aluminum one (new). Probably no less than $2500-3k.

 

[rashwor]

Price ideas. My dad bought a steel flat bed for my '99 Ram 3500 from CM Trailers. Bought it through a dealer for $2300 installed in November / December last year. Nice bed. Has a drop down box on each side right behind the cab and a dropped gooseneck hitch in the bed. 3" removable side rails.



When you really get to looking, it is amazing some of the features, etc you can get.

 

[dward]

Thanks for the input. The 1300 I was referring to was the weight of a steel bed. I got a price from a guy out of Fresno while I was at the ag expo last month. He had a nice steel bed for $1800. It had the 2 lower storage boxes, a gooseneck ball recessed into the floor painted and installed. With the 2 underbed boxes and the additional options for the bed would provide alot of storage. I could install an 8' box about 18" wide and 24" tall on each side under the part of the camper that overhangs the truck rails. I could also leave 1 side open to carry extra water/waste water tanks, firewood, etc.

WIth this setup, if I ever went to a lighter camper, I could go to a srw setup which would be better offroad and in the sand.

After looking at my truck, it appears the bottom of the bed is around 4" above the top of the tire, so the flatbed may not raise it that much.

 

[geusterman]

dward... about a year ahead of you here. Still a work in progress. I opted for aluminum and many dollars later I would have gone steel for the empty ride. Ranchers go steel for empty ride. Aluminum too light... rough riding. Any case I can always add weight if I wanted to hassle with it. Three tool boxes, one saddle tank. Formed my side boards last week and hope to weld on the hinges (removeable) and side boards next week. Will open with latch to access stuff stored under camper. Bed 5" above frame. Three inch cross and 2 inch rail. Most store-bought beds too high. Fuel filler in headboard so fills fast. Camper 4K. SRW and bed 97X82. Headache rack to cab height cuz long stuff goes up at angle. Building running boards off bottom of tool/tank that run up to flashing and alum pipe for fender flares up to custom c channel alum bumper/deer guard on front. Mad Max. Having fun. Great for camper but put something tween camper and side boards. It WILL slide on hard turn. Watch tie downs with DRW. Maybe go right to bed inside side boards. I am just outside with SRW. Silver truck. Alum is pretty. George (and no... I don't know how to take a picture and put it here)

 

[dward]

Guesterman,

Are you running the stock tires and what camper do you have? Is your bed custom made and is that why it is lower than a standard bed?

What did yours cost for the aluminum?

I would like to go with a srw set up which would be easy with a flatbed, vs the cost of finding a srw bed, getting it painted and linexed and the install.

 

[Diesel Nut]

Ihave an 03 dually with 35'' tall tires and a JMI steel flatbed, cost me about 1500 installed in Klamath Falls, OR. Love it. Solid. There is a few wrecking companies up there that will buy your bed off you. Sold mine wrecked for 300!!

 

[FDavid]

Ihave an 03 dually with 35'' tall tires and a JMI steel flatbed,

Hey man get some pics. i have been curious to see a 3g flatbed with big tires .

Dave

 

[SRadke]

Geusterman, can you not take pics or just not get them posted here? If you can get some digital pics and email 'em to me I'll put them up here for you. I'd like to see this setup



-Scott

 

[geusterman]

boys... work in progress. Next week the side walls/doors. I can take pics but my XP won't take the pics now for some reason. Downloaded the Camedia and can't figure how to email out of that program. Sheesh. Dward... did not keep track of aluminum/labor. Did not care. Lots of money though. I run between the 31" E stock tires and 33" Rickson/Michelins. Can handle 35" am thinking... if I get the KORE 18"/Toyo setup. Stock wheels and tires are fine. BigFoot camper 9. 5 and loaded about 4K. Use KORE suspension. Washboards are glass... almost. Used to take the truck apart. I have dreamed about a flatbed for years and finally doing it. I love loading pallets from the side. I love the room around the camper. I love the tool boxes for my truck crap. (the first manufacturer that figures out how to use that dead space is gonna have a winner... . or someone making boxes for the dead space should do real well... or is that wheel well?). George

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I was wondering when George would pipe up. I have a steel Tempco flatbed that I paid $950 installed. Added two underbed boxes fo $400, and x-lined the bed for $250. Accessories: two different height side rails (2x6 and 2x12), a topper box that is level with the top of the cab that I use for most camping and keeping stuff in during the winter, 8' slide in camper for when the wife is along, cattle panel pen for the dogs during the summer time (takes about 6 minutes to install. Have a lodgepole A-frame hoist system for quick changing the topper box. One of these days a Kore suspension. IMHO far more utilitarian than a regular box.

 

[geusterman]

Yeah and he has pictures too! Hi TD! Forgot to talk about the gooseneck hitch in the bed (B/W) but have not built the bed-over gooseneck dump trailer yet (with removeable sides) and the aluminum bodied camper that would go on it for big events or the ..... I better quit. George