flatbed deck height

[RGT]

I am looking at putting a flatbed on my truck, I am looking at either a Knapheide Westerner, or a Parkhurst Rancher, when I was measuring up the Rancher today I realized the finished deck height was going to be over 46" which strikes me as a little high, the loading dock at work is 37. 5" which is what my stock bed height is now..... my front end is a little low which makes rear slightly higher, so the 1" skyjackers I'm thinking about might help by an inch or so. I could notch the bedframe at the rear truck frame high spots before putting it on to reduce the deck by an inch or two, but to achieve any significant height reduction I might have to pull out the lift blocks on the rear end and cut them down, or maybe remove altogether..... I sure don't want to end up with truck that looks like a dog with it's tail between it's legs... what have any of you done, or ended up with for finished deck heights?

 

[MikeO]

Flatbed

I have a 12 foot Knaphiede flatbed with 3 foot high racks. The three foot high racks are about six inches shorter than back of the cab. I welded up a removeable ladder rack for the top of the front rack.



I took the body off of the cab and chassis two years ago and it is sitting in my side yard taking up space. It needs a new wood bed (1. 5" thick so you could use 2"x6"s or 2"x8"s). This would also allow you to play with the area above the rear wheels (i. e. , remove the cross members) to allow additional tire clearance and lower the body that much more. It also needs to be sandblasted and painted.



If you have a short wheelbase truck, you could very easily cut and remove four feet of the body and have a rack body that fits your truck very well. The adapters are already on the "frame" of the body to adapt it to the narrow Dodge frame. By Playing with that Z shaped piece you could easily lower the body as much as you want.



I'll let it go for $600 in the condition it's in and deliver it to you in NH if you are interested.



Let me know,

Mike O.

 

[Steve Graham]

I've got a 8' Knaphide bed on my W250 and it mesures 46" high at the axle. But I ask for the higher installation height to make room for the 35" tires. I'm using a 2" Skyjacker lift on the front and custom National springs on the rear. I'd always thought that the 4" channel that is between the bed and frame is an option that I asked for. 46" high on a stock truck seems a little high.

You can see it on my "reader rigs" page.



Steve

 

[RGT]

Mike thanks, but I wanted a steel deck, also if I am going to that much effort I may build from scratch, I think the cost new for the 8'3"L x 78. 25"W knapheide is around $ 500. 00 , the Parkhusrt Rancher, which has built in headboard, gooseneck and conventional hitch runs $ 1050. 00



Steve is that the 78. 25" wide bed on your (sharp looking) truck? The 46" height was with the Rancher, which may have larger steel under it than the Knapheide... ... I'll have to stop back and check... Did you mae up that hitch/bumper? I have some nice heavy 4" square stock I've been looking for a use for...

 

[Steve Graham]

Yes my bed mesures 78. 25 wide. I also moved the rear side lights in, cut and re-welded the panels in about 8 inches. Had to move the fuel filler into the side. The original placement hung down and made refuelling almost impossable. Yes made the rear bumper/hitch out of 4" square tube. The height makes for a long dropped hitch for most trailers.

Steve

 

[RGT]

Steve did you cut the long sill to get the fuel fill pipe out to the side?, was the problem fueling that the fill pipe was too low?

 

[Steve Graham]

Yes I cut the new location for the filler and relocated the pipe and tubeing. It's almost perfect but will still not take the max flow from most nozzles. The pipe was too low and also the safety valve contributed to the problem. I have left the safety valve in. If I were to relocate it again I'd make it at close to the filler hole in the tank and as straight as possable



Steve

 

[jlast]

I have a Temco flat on my 1ton, it mearsures about 41-42" at the wheels on a stock truck running 215/85r16 tires, with saggy front springs. My bed looks to be about the same as steve's in height as far as top of the bed almost even with the top of the front fenderwells.



I hate the fuel deal, mine wont take max fill at any truck station, but when I go to a car style filler I turn the whole thing upside down and it will go max fill, not sure why but it works? Mine has about the same location on my bed as steve's and is really slow slope to the tank, but will get moved closer to over the wheels when I put my underbody boxes on.



My bed could be moved down about 3-4" with cutting the c channel and moving it over the outside of the frame rail as of right now it rides on top the frame. Then cutting a new path for fuel filling.



My motto currently is by cheap and make it work, LOL i bought my bed used for $150 and I have surely got my use out of it for the amount of money i have in it, and will last alot longer. Best money spent!



Jlast

 

[jlast]

I also left the saftey valve in my fuel tubing, dont think I would again.



I love the color steve and really like the painted front Oo.

What seats you have in the truck?



jlast

 

[Steve Graham]

Originally posted by jlast



What seats you have in the truck?



jlast

The seats were made by Flo-Fit, unfortunately their out of business.

Steve

 

[Steve Graham]

Originally posted by RGT

I am looking at putting a flatbed on my truck, ... .

RGT,

One thing I forget to mention is that from the factory a cab chassis has special mounts for a flatbed that angle the bed to align with the cab, yours won't have them. This makes your truck look like it has a bent frame! I corrected this by giving my truck a cab tilt. I added a 3/4" lift puck at the back and a lesser one at the middle cab mount (don't recall the exact size) . It wasen't enough to interfear with the radiator, fan or steering column.



good luck,

Steve