69 C-30 Flatbed Build

[Richard2112]

Many broken drill bits later...

[Richard2112]

It'll never be finished until the cab finally get paint. Hopefully in this lifetime

[HO455]

Great job. Now you just need to mount a lead filled beer keg on the back to help smooth out the ride.

[Richard2112]

Originally Posted by HO455

Great job. Now you just need to mount a lead filled beer keg on the back to help smooth out the ride.

Ha! Thanks. I considered the beer keg. Thought an oak whiskey barrel might be more fitting.

[sick472]

I love it! Will you make one for my 85 K20 (for free)? lol I just removed the bed on my 85 to rework the dual tanks and kept dreaming about building a custom bed for it...I'm digging your style!

[Richard2112]

Originally Posted by sick472

I love it! Will you make one for my 85 K20 (for free)? lol I just removed the bed on my 85 to rework the dual tanks and kept dreaming about building a custom bed for it...I'm digging your style!

wow! Thank you for that. I didn't post pics for years because I know it's not the polished, show quality look so often displayed. I went after the medieval draw bridge look instead. Oddly, people tell me it's cool wherever I go. I know why i like it, just never thought anyone else would. Thanks. Comment much appreciated.

[Richard2112]

I thought I would mention some special features, one is that I will never have to drop my tank to access anything...

[Richard2112]

A couple more nice features is, unlike most flatbeds, I can remove the entire bed (in one piece) and drive off. All my signal lights remain, my rear bumper, remains, my mudflaps, remain. There is nothing attached to this bed, either above or below, which would have to go back on after removing it.

[Richard2112]

This panel over my tank is easily removable by taking out 4 bolts, which is a whole lot easier than dropping a tank.

[LockDoc]

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Wow! That bed looks like it is bullet proof! I bet the truck looks great rolling down the street. Is it 133" wheel base or is it a little shorter? It's hard to tell from the pictures.

LockDoc

[Richard2112]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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Wow! That bed looks like it is bullet proof! I bet the truck looks great rolling down the street. Is it 133" wheel base or is it a little shorter? It's hard to tell from the pictures.

LockDoc

Thank you. That bed is bullet proof. That entire frame has been reinforced but especially at the rear. Once I mounted the tank, I thought about a possible rear collision. The bumper is made of 3/8 and 1/2 inch steel and weighs about 150 lbs. There is 1/4 inch square tube across the back between the frame rails. There are steel angle braces across the top of the square tube at the rear. If someone collides with the back of that truck, they might push the truck forward some but nothing will happen to it. Their vehicle, on the other hand might not fare well.

The same type of steel construction is forward of the tank. just in front of the tank is a 1/4 inch C-channel bolted rail to rail and it also has steel angle bracing bolted to it. When I put my nv4500 in, I added another cross member (from a G-30 box truck). it just happened that the cross member fit perfectly under the case of the Nv4500 with just enough room for a rubber pad to squeeze beneath it. My trans doesn't hang off my block. It's weight is supported by the crossover.

These trucks have rather flexible frames. Mine doesn't. Not any more.

I think the wheel base is 133, but now you have me wondering. I'll measure it tomorrow. I didn't shorten it and it doesn't appear to have been shortened. It does look wider than long, doesn't it.

[Richard2112]

This is my rear bumper before I installed lights

[Richard2112]

This is a better view of the bumper after I installed lights.. it's heavy duty

[Richard2112]

This was the bed that came with the truck when I got it.

[Richard2112]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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Wow! That bed looks like it is bullet proof! I bet the truck looks great rolling down the street. Is it 133" wheel base or is it a little shorter? It's hard to tell from the pictures.

LockDoc

Yeah, I just measured the wheel base and though it does look shorter in the pics, it's 133