Attention: TDR Forum Junkies A couple of members have e-mailed me lately with questions about my bed. Here's some ideas I used on mine in case anyone else want to use them. I had a 96 Dodge gasser and 5th wh RV and I was tired of banging up the box with the trailer and didn't like the gas mileage so I ordered a 97 diesel and started building the box right after placing the order. I got all the measurements(frame length,width etc. )from a truck identical to what I ordered and built the bed on sawhorses in my garage. When the truck came in, the bed was done. I cut about 5. 5" off of the back end of the frame,just leaving enough behind the rear spring mounts to bolt the bed on. I wanted to keep the reciever hitch so by moving it 5" forward,I was able to reuse some of the bolt holes that lined up again and the spare tire still fits. After the shortening of the frame, I could build a shorter box. Besides the shorter box,I also tapered the back corners forward 6". Got that idea from looking at wrecker beds. I have a 2wd and I built the sides 51" high(same as stock box)but starting from above the axle,I tapered the sides down an extra 4" to give more clearence for the 5th wh. . The framework for the bed is 11ga. square pipe. The mains are 2x3,the crossmembers and headache rack are 1. 5x2 and the sides(above the deck)are 1x2 and below the deck(to support the skirt)are 1x1. The deck is 1/8" steel diamond plate. Everywhere else is 1/8" mirrored aluminum diamond plate. The tail lights are cut into the back skirt and the license plate,plate lights,trailer recepticle and Airlift schrader valves are in a recessed stainless steel box,also in the back skirt. A friend that I used to work with in a fab shop helped me with the shearing and press breaking. That's the only part I couldn't do in my garage. All the steel got a coat of paint - brush and roller on the deck and lacquer spray cans on the headache rack for a nicer finish. No expensive body shop work - that was one of my goals. The alum. is rivoted on with hundreds of 3/16 SS pop rivots. One of these day's,I'll take a picture and post it. With all the shortening and tapering on the back end,I don't hit the corners anymore and I can get into the front storage of the trailer easily. If anyone wants the fine details,just e-mail me. 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!
[This message has been edited by C Schomer (edited 04-21-2000). ]
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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!
[This message has been edited by C Schomer (edited 04-21-2000). ]
