2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission To Flatbed or Not to Flatbed?

[EBottema]

Hey guys-



Well, I was thinking tonight on the way home.

I purchased my truck and the pickup bed was good and trashed on the inside and needed to be really replaced. Tailgate is beat up goo too. I can find a good used set for approx $1000 and have to go pick it up wherever it may be!

But, our beds are so weak and flimsy that I have dented mine up even worse with a few light loads. The front of the bed it worse after it looks like it is ready to go right thru into the cab :{ Anyways, even it i get a good used one, it prob is going to do the same things with a little hauling. I got to also figure in having to strip and repaint the bed that i get. I figure that will run me about $1000 dollars for a good job. So now I'm in the hole over $2000.



Then I was thinking, well, why don't I do something that will never need paint, be much stronger and lighter than the factory bed, and look way cool and still be totally functional. I was thinking flatbed but not just any flatbed.

First, Buy a regular old aluminum flatbed (appox $1500) and then weld 2x3" bars on each corner and in the middle then weld dual wall aluminum plates on each side. The sides would the the stock height of a regular factory bed. Make a custom dual wall aluminum tailgate with the hardware on the stock tailgate. I could even linex the inside making it super duper heavy duty



Now to the next dilema is I go camping in the truck for a few weekends a year. I pretty much lose the camper shell option after I custom make a flatbed with sides. However, then a big picture of a military troop carrier came into my mind. Like one of those old 2 1/2 ton trucks with the canvas tops. When I do my daily driving just run the regular flatbed with sides and when I need to go camping i could custom make some U-shaped bars that fit into the stake pockets. Cover it is a custom made canvas top. It would look great and be very easy to put on/remove and be lightweight/ easy to store... If you still cant get a visial picture of what I am thinking- check my readers rigs- I drew up some quick pics on microsoft paint... just think of the rearend looking like a back end of a original hummer pickup... . anyone like my idea?



Erik

 

[RHARVEY]

I would love to do the flatbed conversion on my 2500! But when I do... I will need to go with a new rear axle. I want a 1 ton rear end. . only for looks! Flat bed,dually is one fine looking machine. .

Oh yes... if it has a flat bed. . I would have to do 5 or even 6" miter cut stacks. .



My vote would be for the flatbed!



Rick

 

[Todd G]

How about getting a utility bed? I'd love all the storage. The bed is smaller but you could still put a topper on it.

 

[EBottema]

A utility bed would be great but I don't have a real use for all that storage.

I'm lifting the truck 4. 5 inches and putting on 35's- I'm 20- still kind of concerned with the "cool" factor. I still think my flatbed design on my readers rig would look cool and still be functional...

 

[Black-Smoker]

It looks good but I would make it out of steel. I think aluminum is way to soft and frail to be used on a flat bed. Also the added weight of the steel bed will make the truck ride nicer. I made mine out of steel and I love it it has held up great. I have had 16,000 pound of tile on it and it was fine. I wouldent think of doing that with an aluminum bed.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Welcome to the flatbed side



I thoroughly have enjoyed the utility of the flatbeds I've had. I have a lodgepole A-frame hoist set up that I use to change configurations in minutes. For my camping needs, winter-time shelter, and for the dogs I have a topper mounted on a plywood box called "the shack" (see gallery). I also have a cattle panel dog pen I can mount in minutes, two heights of wood side rails depending on the job, and a heavy older 8' overhead camper for when my wife is along.



Plus I don't have to worry about banging the bed when I'm loading firewood for two homes. My preference is for steel flatbeds also. In my investigations an aluminum one ran well over $2K while a solid steel one ran me $950. X-lining the bed and back ran $250. If I'm hauling a narly load I can always put a piece of scrap plywood down too.



GO FOR IT.

 

[ndurbin]

I've seen ads for aluminum flatbeds for around $1500 but thats about as plain as you can get them. No storage boxes at all and nothing but the bare min. of lights. Analuminum bed might safe alil on MPG versus a steel flatbed. As for riding nicer, that hasn't been the case with my truck, but I've never had a reg. bed on to compair it to. I'd rather see the sides made out of wood (like a stake bed truck), that looks pretty cool to me.



Nathan

 

[EBottema]

TrailDog- Nice setup.

I was leaning towards aluminum because it won't require painting, wont rust, and is light. I don't haul too much other than an engine or two. Are the aluminum beds really that weak? Ya, after the front tool boxes, I'm looking at about 2000-2500 for an alum. unit. No one seems to like my canvas troop carrier idea :-( lol



How heavy is the steel bed compared to the aluminum or stock bed? Any rough estimates?



Thanks

Erik

 

[NVR FNSH]

One of the recent issues of 4wd & SUV had an Baja Trip article with an early 80's Toyotat that had a flatbed with boxes mounted on top of the bed and a Snugtop type shell. It looked pretty good and appeared to be very functional. Do a search on Can-Bak for the canvas top - current issue of 4wd & SUV has a build-up article on a Toyota that has one of those.



Black Smoker - 16K of tile in addition to the truck curb weight? What's the axle rating on your truck?



Brian

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

There is a chevy 3/4 ton flatbed around Lander that has white tool boxes runnning the length of the bed on top. He has a topper which fits on top of the boxes when needed. Looks nice. He has the door style which drops to the bed and opens sideways. Sort of similar to utility box in function, but cheaper and more configurable.



However, I need the full bed more often than the top mounted side boxes.

 

[EBottema]

Called Sierra Nevada Flatbeds after I saw their site and the flatbeds are wonderful but start at $3500 :{

Do anyone have any places they recommend that make flatbeds on the west coast? I'm looking for middle of the like aluminum, trying to keep cost under 2000 bucks.



Erik

 

[MUDDY]

ouch,,,,mine cost me 800 bucks

 

[EBottema]

where did you get an aluminum flatbed for 800!!!?

 

[CFast]

I think aluminum would be a bad idea for these trucks. It's too light and the suspension is too stiff. Hell I put 300 lbs of tractor weights in the bed of my truck to help with the freeway ride

 

[MUDDY]

where did you get an aluminum flatbed for 800!!!?

as ya can see from the pic it is steel but i had it custom made and is lighter than a lot of em. [14ga deck] also 8' long instead of 8 1/2' to leav more room in cornrs for 5er and trlrs



if ya insist on alum ther is place here has alum, for 1900, i can getcha ph no.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Aluminum for $1900 would be a very good price. Is it Riverside Boot and Saddle by any chance? We have 3 company trucks and my truck with steel flatbeds from them.

 

[SGibson]

flatbeds are nice, I have 3 of them, one fixed, one dumping, and one being converted to dumping. To me it's the best thing you can do to one as it's handy as anything, and boosts resale considerably.

 

[MUDDY]

Aluminum for $1900 would be a very good price. Is it Riverside Boot and Saddle by any chance? We have 3 company trucks and my truck with steel flatbeds from them.

c&b quality trailer sales, caldwell idaho

 

[Tomscreek]

I put a Logan steel flatbed on my 01 and I love it. Was a tough decision because the factory bed was in perfect condition and I wasn't sure I'd like how it looks. Turned out great. The dealer recommended NOT to go with aluminum unless I hauled heavy items all the time. Said it was too light and some people were having trouble with tire wear and traction. Dealer did an awesome job of installing. I built 2 x 10 stake sides and end, custom painted to the truck color. I have 2 gooseneck trailers and it works so good for that.

I have a long box truck and the flatbed is 8' wide and 9' long. I think flatbeds on shortboxes look funny.

 

[jimk]

I like flat bed on a truck, first it gets rid of dents and rust on the truck or a easy fix. I wont a truck that works for its keep. I am looking at a 98 4x4 one ton flat bed. Install electric wench or a pto wench and a set of gin poles. Goose neck or fifth wheel and good bumper hitch.

As for aluminum that is your call, I could do it but you would need some equiment to weld it and some skills. I use to rebuild aluminum trailers when they got damaged back when. That was a long time ago. Aluminum would be a lot lighter and save some fuel.

As for the camper I would just set it in a Tandem axle trailer. That and the other gear your wont like the generator, water, ect

I have seen flat bed on a 2500 but they look a little different. I like the extra wheels on the back because when you pull I just feel safer if some thing goes wrong.

Good luck Jim K