building a new bed for an 83 step side
 

on my step side bed on this truck I want to increase the amount i can carry, make it tougher and give it all the tire clearance possible. It has a 14bff rear and a true 3/4 ton D44 in front. So towing and hauling and wheeling it wont kill it. I don't know the gears for sure but was told they are 4.10s.

I would like you thoughts on how it looks with the sides at the angle in the pics. If it gets built like that I am going to use aluminum diamond plate on the outside of it. Probably use 14ga diamond plate for the actual bed surface. and spray it with bed liner.


the whole thing is only tacked together at this point

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

My advise would be to go to a truck stop and take a really good look at the back end of a flat bed trailer. If I was going to build one then thats how I would build it. I would also build a headache rack on the front of the box as well.
I have driven big trucks over the years and those decks are about perfect only though on a little truck I wouldnt use permanate binders for strapping down loads. I would use the portable type of ratchet straps. I would also build my deck as low as possible.
Also I wouldnt go over board as far as making the deck heavier than it needs to be.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

If I build my next 4x4 project it will have a small flatbed on it. I like the way you have done yours, except I believe you should mount the bed a bit higher or bring outside of the bed in a bit. The "boatside" will be good but I am not sure it will give you enough clearance if you flex it out.

While you are at this point you might look at putting a blazer tank in the rear. If you raise the flat bed up you could mount the tank up higher and out of harms way.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

Is it going to be flat in the middle and angle up on the sides for tire clearance ?

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

I don't think I should have said "flat bed" because its not going to be flat all the way across. I think it looks kind of like a dump bed and I like it. It would have sides about 12" high at approximately that angle shown and it will have some sort of "tail gate"


There is going to be a headache rack for sure!! We like to hunt jack rabbits and the headache rack is a perfect to hold on to and to rest the rifle on while aiming. Plus it can hold lights and antennas. I may even bolt it to the frame for a bit of rollover protection.

I jacked up the axle to flex it and it had plenty of room to spare all the way up, at least with out much weight, both tires lifted off the ground and it would probably have gone a couple more inches with weight back there.

If i need more clearance I have some 2inch body lift pucks but first Im going to get some polyurethane mounts under it. That might give it an inch or so.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

hey now!! don't call it little!!!!

:haha:

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

Haha Well the gross weight of my 32 wheel Super B was 140,000lbs.
What I meant was a wooden deck isnt as slippery as a steel deck, especially in the winter. You can nail blocks into a wooden deck to support certain loads. I like the rails and stake pockets on a big truck deck.
I also like the design of the back bumper on big truck flat decks. Its light weight, functional, makes a good step and doesnt collect mud.
The way this guy is building his deck it wont work good for pallets (fork lift)or oversize loads. It also looks like he is building it way heavier than it needs to be. Example even when empty he will be hauling a load.
Anyway I guess it depends on what he is going to use it for. For me I haul hay, pallets of cubes, bundles of stakes and fence panels.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

i got a little more done to it

need to make brackets and armor for the tailights

i have the sheet metal for the deck and need to buy the rest of the steel for the side rails and headache rack.


my son made the welds in the pics hes getting really consistent now and does a good job

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

If I were you and I was going to be getting diamond plate for the sides anyways I would get enough to cover the bottom. Because the diamonds actually add strength to the. Where as the flat sheet medal is very flimsy just my 2 cents. The head ache rack is definitely a good Idea. One saved the life of a friend of my brother.
I think the kick ups on the side is very good way to do that because other wise there is no easy way to keep things in the bed.
My dad and I were talking about the problems with a flatbed the other day. With keeping everything from not flying off and such.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

its nearing the finish now needs a tailgate and headache rack and some sprayed on bed liner. Primer goes on tomorrow, then I can at least drive it and get it registered.

thats my boy in the pics

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

... I noticed the corners need to be trimmed up too, and once it gets flipped over for primer ill finish up the welds there in the front of the bed too.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

looks good, i think your boy can lay down better beads than i can.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

Great Fabwork!Looks good!

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

I had a talk with the guy who is going to do the safety and emmisions on this truck, and the first thing he said is that it will need fenders over the tires! DOHH!! I overlooked that part.

I went around to a couple of trailer supply shops and steel yards looking for fenders. I didnt find anything that I liked much, so I took the fenders off the stepside bed and started hacking away, its turning out nicely. The rear is going to be lower than the front by bit. I also am thinking about welding the original lip of the fender back on after it is trimmed up to fit the tire.


Let me know what yall think about it, good or bad let me know. My old lady likes it but she isnt quite the pick up truck junkie like us.

obviously it is not finished and needs more trimming and a real rear bumper set up. gotta love the plasma cutter!!

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

Im not much of a flatbed guy but man i like that setup

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

Doesnt look too bad with the fenders, with a bit of fab (which you abviously have) you could make them removable. Mount a rod at the front and rear of the fender (underneath) with a hole drilled in it and mount tubing/pipe/conduit that has an ID just big enough to fit over the rod with a matching hole. Put a pin to hold them in. Could do the same thing for the lower part of the fender to secure it even more.

If the tires dont flex enough to hit the fenders than you could just permanently mount the fenders.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

The fenders make it look like a truck again.....:)

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

Very nice work!!

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

They are removable, I almost welded them on but that would set me up for a huge PIA when they get smashed up and need to be replaced.

When I cut it up I kept the last 1 inch of the fender that was bolted to the original bed so I could use it to mount them back on the new bed and then some thin angle iron for the rest. It bolts mainly into the top bed rail and then there will be 4 or 6 bolts through the bedside, I'm going to use small enough bolt that I can get a socket on em through the expanded metal on the bed.

Ill take a photo of how its mounted when I get more done there are only 4 bolts total holding it up there right now.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

I just bought a black diamond plate flatbed for my 86 Swb at the local junkyard for $300 will post pics when GET FINSHED WITH IT.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

Any progress on this? Thinking about putting a flatbed on my '85 since the bed is all messed up and it will be my workhorse.

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

WOW That's very interesting!

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

i forgot about starting this thread. Since i broke my arm in june my projects obviously got put on hold. The fenders are 90% done, minus a real paint job and the bed is fully coated with bedliner so at least it wont rust this winter. I plan on putting a headache rack and a tail gate on it. Also im going to make the bedsides taller by about a foot or so. Its on the truck, ill have to get pics of it on there soon.


oh yeah I also just moved into this house and garage in may... a bunch of stuff this summer except working on the rigs

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

more

Re: building a flatbed on an 83 SWB
 

that looks pretty sweet lookin! nice work!