Flatbed my Truck?

[Chipper4X4]

Hey board!
Wow I'm glad I found this site. Very informative. I just picked up a tough piece, and need some advice. It's a 1971 c10 4x4. The cab has the usual corner and rocker rust, both fenders are crunched, and the bed is barely hanging on. It's been reinforced alot but it's gotta go away, before it falls off. The truck runs and drives fantastic and the frame is straight, so I figuered it was worth the 900 I paid for it. I will eventually restore it, but lack of funds, will cause a slow project.
Anyway I thought about making a flatbed for it, until I have the money for a decent box. I have a big pile of treated 2x6's and I can get a hold of some angle iron for little to nothing. I can't imagine it would take a whole lot of engineering to build this thing.
My questions are, has anyone done this before with the material I have? What problems have you had? Should I even consider this as an option? Construction pictures would be great! I will be driving this truck daily until I can get the money saved for the resto.

Thanks for your help.

[Yukon Jack]

Member Dubie is making a flatbed so you ought to contact him. I can send you some detailed pics of my steel flatbed, but I didn't make it.

I say go for it. If the bed is shot, at least you will have a functional bed.

[griesel72]

My high school ag students build flatbeds every year. Just take time to make sure that you build on a level surface and get everything square. I can send you some plans if you want

Good luck
David

[Chipper4X4]

griesel72 that would be great! Do you have them in electronic format? If you do, yes please send them.

[dubie]

All I have is my frame built so far. I used 3" C channel for it. All the corners are coped out and then stick welded. I have the rear bumper cut out of checker plate as well as some stake pockets. I will be sheeting the deck in with a treated spruce and separated by 1 1/2" flatbar. I'll see what pics I can dig up

[dubie]

here are a couple pics of 67-72's with flatbeds on them

[dubie]

another

[dubie]

ok 1 more. I have a collection of flatty pics

[dubie]

oh, I have plenty of pics of the building of the frame at home if you would like to see them too.

[Chipper4X4]

Thanks for all the posts, you guys are on top of it.
Would it be a bad idea to use lumber to build most all of the bed, right on the frame and go around the outside with some angle iron to protect the edges. Keep the pictures coming I'm getting lots of ideas.

[dubie]

ok, but you asked for them

[dubie]

some different beds

[dubie]

a Ferd

[dubie]

Willy's

[dubie]

dual axle Chevy

[dubie]

a BEAUTIFUL Ford with a wooden flatbed

[dubie]

older 1 ton

[dubie]

dual purpose flatbed

[dubie]

last one for now

[Chipper4X4]

Wow dubie, you have outdone yourself. Man those are some sweet flatbeds. That dual axle chevy looks pretty cool.
Thanks, the cool thing about a flatbed is that the possibilities are endless. I may not go back to a box bed after all.

[griesel72]

Chipper

I looked, but don't have electronic plans. I will try to scan some or mail?

Let me know

David

[Chipper4X4]

I don't want to put you out, but if you were planning to scan them anyway, I would prefer that. If not, no problem, I will send you a self addressed envelope, so you can mail them to me.

[griesel72]

I think i can stand the 37 cents

It would be easier for me to just mail them to you. You will probably want to adjust them for your truck, since it is a universal flat bed.

David

[Chipper4X4]

ok that sounds great, much appreciated, I will pm you my address

[dubie]

not a problem bud. I have more pics if you need them for reference.