Flat Beds!! I want Pictures!! questions inside as well!!

[GWBourne]

im looking at making my short box SRW a DRW and was interested in some flat beds. i carry a trailer front opening tool box in the bed of my truck and will be keeping it along with adding some side boxes if i go that way.



did you make yours or buy it?



does it weigh more or less than the stock bed?



did MPG go up, down or stay the same?



do you like it?



doyou have the stake bed side panels as well?



thank you,

Grant

 

[JRD]

You may want to shoot a PM to the member by the name of "EB" heres a link to his rig. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=6660&albumid=1195

 

[GWBourne]

thats a nice bed, but looks far to heavy. im thinking im going to have to go with aluminum deck and sides. something i dont want to do, but will if i have to...

thanks for the link.



Grant

 

[redfuelrules]

aluminum

If you're gonna go aluminum look into Eby and Pro-Tech. both are vry hi quality & the pro tech is the best looking flatbed I've seen bar none. You'll want to have it shortened to about 7 ft though and I don't think the protechs come with built in gooseneck hitches.



I did what you're considering to my 01 QC SB, mostly for trailering purposes. Came out great, but I'd seriously look at trading up to a stock dually first.



Goodluck. Ben

 

[bmoeller]

My alum. flatbed weighs less than a stocl dually box. Not sure how much, though. 2 guys can carry it.



A steel flatbed is VERY heavy, in comparison.

 

[Saccowboy]

hey check out your local featherlite dealer they make trailers but they carry some really nice aluminum short box flat beds that look pretty cool too. almost put one on my truck! i cant remember what the prices were. hope that helps



Will

 

[GWBourne]

If you're gonna go aluminum look into Eby and Pro-Tech. both are vry hi quality & the pro tech is the best looking flatbed I've seen bar none. You'll want to have it shortened to about 7 ft though and I don't think the protechs come with built in gooseneck hitches.



I did what you're considering to my 01 QC SB, mostly for trailering purposes. Came out great, but I'd seriously look at trading up to a stock dually first.



Goodluck. Ben

i have a short box already, and will be changing it out to a dually first. just trying to get it so im not running without a bed for to long is all.

thanks for the info gents.

Grant

 

[GWBourne]

oh, and i need the same wheel base i have, with the ability to cary 3 people up front and computer gear in the back seat. so i have to have a short bed Dually. wish they made one stock.....

Grant

 

[bmoeller]

i have to have a short bed Dually. wish they made one stock.....

Grant

Ford does.

 

[hammersley]

Pro Tech is indeed the very best!!!!!!!

OK - unless you've seen one - trust me there is none like it on the market!



http://www.protech.net/



They are Extruded aluminum tongue and grove members that are huck riveted - not welded together! As a result you don't suffer the huge loss in strength of welding.

 

[BRobertson]

I really like my UTE bed.

Bob

 

[Diesel Nut]

My flatbed. . . . . Little heavy, but doesn't bother me any. Kinda helped out in the ride department, and if there has been a difference in milage, its been minimal.

 

[redfuelrules]

hey Diesel Nut nice rig. mines a black 01 cab and half with a steel hillsboro body. I agree about helping with the ride.

 

[ZWag]

Hey Diesel Nut what brand of flatbed is that? I am thiking about getting one also and I like the way that one looks. Great looking truck.

 

[EBottema]

I was looking at a UTE bed but they are kind of funny looking to me. They don't seem that strong either.

I would like aluminum since there is no painting, rust and all those nasty things we hate. Saves on weight. I've getting decent at TIG aluminum welding. I'm great with a MIG for steel, hopefully i'll be getting a spool gun soon and MIG aluminum is not too hard.

I should in the future, near future, be constructing my own 8ft flatbed with 16" tall sides. Stake pockets were the removeable canvas camping top will go. Hey if it comes out sweet maybe i'll build to sell another...

 

[GWBourne]

EB,

you are not to far from me..... wanna build two?



thanks again for all the pics and opinons. please keep them comming.

Grant

 

[EBottema]

Let me get mine done first, ill see the total material costs and time spent, then maybe we can talk



When i do it i will be posting on TDR about the whole project

 

[GWBourne]

Cool, works for me.

Grant

 

[redfuelrules]

how are you planning on going from SRW to DRW?

 

[Diesel Nut]

Thanks for the compliments! I really like the bed too. I wanted a hauling bed, butcouldn't afford the 6K+ they wanted, and now that I have the flat bed I love it! Made by JMI manufacturing, and I bought it at Frontier Trailer Sales in Klamath Falls, OR. Cost me $1600 installed, then they helped me find a local wrecking yard to sell my bed to, which sold for $300 (bed was trashed, but had good fenders). Only one downside . . . . . . Now everyone calls me when they have to move! :-laf