Custom Design: Platform Style Pickup Bed

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We use our '94 2500 to tow our 35' HitchHiker Premier WideBody 5th Wheel all over the country, (see signature) and it works GREAT!

But over the years, I have noticed some really neat looking custom designed platform style beds on pickup trucks as we travel across the country, and haven't been able to get to examine some of the better designs up close.

Have any of you Rammers built or purchased one of these beds, or know of a manufacturer that might sell production drawings of their designs? I have access to a pretty well equipped metal working shop, and would consider building my own bed, but I would rather build on someone elses experience rather than try to design my own.

Any experienced owners out there willing to share their thoughts on the subject?? Many thanks in advance!!

Rob. .

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'94 2500SLT, LB, 3. 54, Automatic, TransGo Shift Kit, DunRite Convertor, TST HD Clutch Pak, TST #5 Fuel Plate, TST AFC Spring Kit, 16 sq. cm turbine housing, PacBrake, AutoLoc, EGT Gage, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover & transmission Pan, DeeZee Chrome Full Length Running Boards, Northwest Custom Rear Flaps, Vent Shades,. Pull 35' HitchHiker Premier WideBody 5th Whl (13,850+ lbs). 123,805 miles as of 3-20-2K. Full Time RV'ers, Portsmouth, Ohio is "home".

 

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I bought a car trailer from a place called trailer word. They are in Bowling green kentucky. My trailer is a flatbed aluminum diamond deck. They were building a flatbed pickup bed when I was there. That was about five years ago. If they are still in business they could only have gotten better. I looked up a link to thier website - sorry the bed is shown on a Phoard http://www.trailerworld.com/truckbeds/index.htm
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P. Campbell 1998. 5 ISB 2500 auto green/driftwood

[This message has been edited by Peter Campbell (edited 04-07-2000). ]

 

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RRRob,

One of the moderators, CMD, on the iRV2.com site is building a flat bed towing body on his Ford F650 tow truck. You might check him out.

Bill

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Y2K 3500QC, 6 Speed, 4. 10, SLT+, Camper & Tow Pkg. , (New)Factory Towing Mirrors, Westin Chrome Nerf Bars, Mopar Flaps, Reese 20K Hitch, EGT & Boost Gauges, RPM 45 Gallon Aux. Fuel Tank, Highway Products 5th Wheel Toolbox, ECM Controlled PacBrake, Painless Wiring Kit, 8,000+ lbs. of Driving Pleasure since 12-16-99!

 

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Hey Bob - call your buddies at Beaudry and ask them who makes the towing beds for the Ferds that they sell. Last time I was there they had several sitting on the lot, but I didn't look to see who the builder was. They looked real nice, and I don't see why they wouldn't build/have one for a RAM

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Rick G - Phoeniz, AZ
99 2500 QC LB 4X4 5-speed
3. 54 LSD
E-brake, ISSPRO Boost & EGT gauges (mounted pre-turbo)
285/75 16 BFG AT KO on AR Atlas
Hadley Air Horns (no more wimpy horns)
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2000 Hitchhiker II 33ft 5er triple slide

 

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Rob, you may want to check out this home built flat-bed article: www.ford-diesel.com/contents/getitems.php3?DIY%20Flatbed

 

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I will be getting a new custom aluminum bed installed on my 2001 as soon as it gets here. Les Schwab Equipment in Prineville, OR is doing the design, building and installation. Be prepared to lighten your wallet by 5-10 big bills for a nice setup. For those of you in the NW Les Schwab equipment is the division of Les Schwab Tires that builds all of the service bodies for the company, over 300 stores now (or is it over 400?). They build some real nice custom applications too. Another builder in Oregon is Higway Products and they build a body just for 5th wheel applications. You can see one at this link
http://www.highwayproducts.com/

Shelby

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Ordered 2001 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH, DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with an Agate Interior.

E-Brake goes on @ delivery time, Bed comes off and will be replaced by a custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Ordered on 03-28-00

 

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Rob,
I have a aluminum flatbed on my truck. The manufacturer is Featherlite trailers. They have a brochure that describes two different styles and sizes. The bed is made of aluminum diamond plate and comes with a trap door for a gooseneck trailer. I also got the tool box option which places two large tool boxes in the space in front of the rear tires. The total cost inclucing the tool boxes is a little over $3,200.
I bought the aluminum bed because I have a 2500 truck and didn't want to compromise my weight carrying capacity with a heavy steel bed. The bed with the tool boxes is lighter than the stock bed and tailgate. I use rubber mats 1/2 inch thick on top of the aluminum to keep sharp things from gouging the aluminum and also to keep things from sliding around.
The bed looks good and works real well. I made some modifications to it since I think I will keep it and use it on my next truck if this Cummins ever wears out.

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96 2500 4X4 5sp 4:10 215hp SLT Horton fan,TST plate,AFC spring kit, advanced timing,4"exhaust,GearVendors,BFG 285/75/16 on Mickey Thompson Challenger wheels, K&N, Detroit Locker,50#Boost and Pyro guages, Aluminim flatbed, gooseneck and bp hitches,Helwig air bags with compressor, Helwig sway bar, Rancho 2" front lift w/9000 shocks all around, Preluber w/aircraft hoses,Hytec rear cover,PacBrake,McCleod dual disc clutch,numerous other accessories. Pull 11,000lb aluminum gooseneck horse trlr. and 14,000lb equipment trlr.

 

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Thanks guys!! I knew that a lot of you would have the info that I needed. . This is what makes this BB so valuable. . We can depend on fellow Rammers to share their valuable experiences with us less informed. . GREAT!! Thanks again to all!!

Rob. .

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'94 2500SLT, LB, 3. 54, Automatic, TransGo Shift Kit, DunRite Convertor, TST HD Clutch Pak, TST #5 Fuel Plate, TST AFC Spring Kit, 16 sq. cm turbine housing, PacBrake, AutoLoc, EGT Gage, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover & transmission Pan, DeeZee Chrome Full Length Running Boards, Northwest Custom Rear Flaps, Vent Shades,. Pull 35' HitchHiker Premier WideBody 5th Whl (13,850+ lbs). 129,457 miles as of 4-06-2K. Full Time RV'ers, Portsmouth, Ohio is "home".

 

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Ramrunnerbob,
Check out Alum-line at Cresco,Ia. . 1-800-446-1407 or 319-547-3247. They have a full line of aluminum beds. I got some ideas from their brochure to build mine. If you have access to a fab shop you'll want to build your own after you price the custom beds. That's what I did. Mine isn't really fancy but it still gets a lot of looks. I have $850 in materials and I got $700 for my P/U box and bumper. My long bed truck had about 5. 5" of frame behind the rear springs mounts that I cut off. Then I moved the reciever hitch forward 5" - that still allowed room for the spare tire. After this, I built the bed 5" shorter than normal so I can get into the front storage doors of the 5th wh. trailer easier. I built a frame for a flatbed first but I tapered the back corners forward 6". Then I framed the front wall with an integral headache rack. Then framed the sides the same height as the stock box, about 2" below the rear window. I tapered the sides down 4" starting from above the axle to the back corners of the bed. I reinforced the area above the axle for a 5th wh. and g-neck ball. I also framed the sides and back below the bed to support the sheet metal sides down to about the bottom of the cab. The deck is 1/8" steel diamond plate welded underneath to the frame and painted grey and the sides, back and front are polished aluminum diamond plate held on with hundreds of 3/16" stainless steel pop rivets. In retrospect, I should have used stainless for the deck so it wouldn't need paint. I cut holes in the back for the lights and license plate. The license plate, plate lights, trailer electric recepticle and valve stems for the air overloads are in a recessed stainless steel box out of harms way. With the sides tapered down, there's plenty of clearence (12") so the corners don't hit the trailer.
The only part that I couldn't do in my garage is the shearing and pressbreaking. A friend that I used to work with in a fab shop helped with that. I've walked out of stores several times and found guys waiting to find out where I bought that box. One guy got pissed off when I told him I built it myself - he thought I was pulling his leg! The next time I may use all stainless steel. The polished aluminum has to be kept clean or road salt and grime screw it up.
I can help you with more ideas if you decide to build your own bed. Craig

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97 3/4Ton, 2WD, 5SP, Banks, TST, AF942M Air filter, Gutted Cat, 4"From Turbo, Shortened Frame, Custom Bed, HEY FORDBOY POWERSTROKE THIS!

 

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Kieffer-built is the name of the company that put our flatbed together, it's really nice and was custom built for us so they could change a couple things that we wanted changed. They are out of Ames, IA but I couldn't find a web page when I was looking. I will post if I find a site. Hope this might help to have another name to check out.