Flatbed Advise

[moparguy]

Picked up our 2015 2500 Crewcab 4x4 (6.4 Hemi) last week, and yep it's not gonna play well with the wife's horse trailer. We'd looked at several and knew it'd be a tossup on how we handled the too tall issue. After much thought and dis-cussing we've decided a flatbed is the best solution. For one thing she's all of 5'3 and with the flatbed she can reach the bed easily, no need to tow with the trailer nose sky-high and no crunched bed sides. Considered raising the trailer but then loading some horses becomes an issue.

With all the above said, tomorrow I'll be pulling the factory bed/bumper for resale to hopefully offset some of the cost and a CM model SS plain Jane flatbed will be installed this Wednesday.

Anyone have any advise on the flatbed installation or my pulling the factory bed/bumper/receiver hitch (by myself, SWMBO will be in the shop). My plan is to hook my engine pulling porta-crane to 4 ropes going to the 4 tie downs in the bed, remove bolts, spare tire and wench, fuel fill port, wires....lift and drive out from under the bed.

The farm/ranch trailer dealer that's doing the installation does this everyday and has a nice shop and appears to be topnotch, at my request they're not going to weld the bed on but will use a bolt on ($100) kit.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

RR

 

[Tuesdak]

Good call not to weld it on. Looking at an older truck where the welded on bed cracked the frame. It's a $1000.00 repair or swap out the frame.

 

[jkalchik]

<scratches head> On my '99, bed, bumper & hitch receiver are all separate. I've lifted the bed (with cap) a couple of times with a shop hoist (drop the spare tire & tailgate,) to get into the fuel tank module. It's easier than dropping the tank.

 

[moparguy]

Well, two hours with the wife's help and the bed is off along with the bumper. Couple of interesting notes, no ground strap to disconnect...and there are vents in the back of the cab with filter medium and shutters. The wife closed the truck door at one point and the littler shutters opened up.....interesting.

 

[moparguy]

Gotta love it when a plan....almost comes together. Had a date with the trailer store/bed dealer for Wednesday morning. We drive the 100 miles to the dealer, leave the truck at 8:00 am, wife hops in the V8 Miata and we head out to enjoy the twisty two lane roads in NW Arkansas and find some good small town food. Our plan was to work in a little quality time and pick the truck up Wednesday afternoon and head home. What was I thinking.....we got a call while we're about to order lunch (at the Wiederkehr Winery Restaurant in Altus Ar.) at 11:30, they discover the bed we were buying would "only" work if an extra 3" spacer was used to clear the factory 5th wheel/goose neck prep package frame cross member. This makes the bed set 10" above the frame and have a total height at the rear of 48". What???? My instructions were hold up, stop. A couple hours later I'm back at the shop picking up the truck while they search for a bed that will fit.

Come to find out I was getting an old inventory bed that isn't designed for the 2015 trucks...it'll be a couple weeks before a new bed can be delivered, to add insult to injury I specifically told em not to cut off any wiring plugs, just splice into the harness since I may want to install the stock bed if we sell the truck. Well, they were mostly all gone, the tech finally found a handful that may or may not be all. Been haying today and haven't had time to check.

The only upside is I can buy the bed they couldn't make work, notch to clear the interference and install myself. Think that's the plan, save a $1,000 and have it like I want. Look like I have next weeks project.

 

[moparguy]

Well, to put the period on the sentence....it's done. Only a day and a half of part timing it and a bit over a 100 inches of weld and we have mounted flat bed. Pulled the trailer last weekend and it's definitely gonna be worth the aggravation. Big bonus, the truck rides much better empty, not to mention the 7'x7' bed that's so much more user friendly than the factory unit.

 

[Sleeper1]

Nice looking truck. I like the look of the flat bed. Question, Are you interested in selling the rear bumper?

 

[Sleeper1]

Sorry, reread your first post, "I'll be pulling the factory bed/bumper for resale to hopefully offset some of the cost." Do you still have it? Thanks

 

[moparguy]

Sleeper1, thanks for the comments and interest. We do still the bed/tailgate/bumper. I'm not inclined to sell just one component but will likely post the package in the classifieds. Don't want to wind up having to care for just the bed if the bumper and tailgate sold. If you're interested in everything shoot me a pm.

Thanks, RR

 

[RVTRKN]

I had that happen on my B&W flat bed, I can't understand why the installer cut the factory plugs off both tail light harnesses. I did express my opinion about that to B&W at the plant, why, when he could of spliced after the plugs.

 

[Killgore]

Well, at least your Wednesday wasn't a complete bust. I've gone out of my way to eat at the Weinkeller, and they've got some pretty decent wine too.

- Ed