attention Dubie and Yukon Jack

[Jason71k10]

...or anybody else for that matter.
Need some info on your flatbeds, like material costs, pro's con's etc.

My bedsides are basically shot, so I'm thinking about putting a flatbed on since I haven't had much luck finding a bed at a decent price. Thanks guys.

Oh yeah, and pics would help too. later

Jason

[dubie]

Mine was hand crafted by my father in law out of 3 1/4" C channel. Material cost for the entire flatbed, bumper, front rack , side pockets and wood was about $500. I will take some pics of the frame tonight and post them, as well as the mounts etc...

[Yukon Jack]

I have a bunch of pics here - http://www.myoldtruck.com/photopost/...y.php?cat=3029

I took some measurments for dubie a while back, here they are:

The C channel that runs the length of the frame are 3 1/2 x 1 1/2 and are approximately 3/16 thick.

The cross bar sitting closest to the cab is 3 x 2 square tubing that is 1/4" thick. It sits on the original bed support.

The cross bar sitting at the rear of the bed is 2 x 2 square tubing that is about 1/4 thick. It sits on the frame.

In the middle of the bed the flatbed is secured to the frame by a piece of steel that I didn't think to measure but is about 6 x 9 and probably 1/4 thick.

I had a company build my bed so I don't have a clue what the materials would cost.

Be happy to get you any specific pics or measurements you might need.

[Slams_58]

A few pics for ya. You'll have to forgive the frame is a bit dirty from driving it with no flatbed on it and in the rain. I included a pic of the corner where you can see we coped the end out so we could weld it flush together. I couldn't have done this project without the help of Mark (Yukon Jack) he was excellent in sending me pics and measurements on a regular basis.



DAMNIT , I just realised i am sign in under Shawnas name. AH well, I'm to damn lazy to type this all over again

[Jason71k10]

Thanks for the help guys. Yukon, your link has some really nice pics. I'm at my parents house for the weekend(were I keep the truck) so i'm gonna take the bed off and make some measurements. Also, since most of the steel is 3/16", I should be able to do it with a wire feed welder, am I right? I have access to an arc welder if need be though too.

Jason

[dubie]

I welded all of mine with an AC stick welder but you could weld it up with a wire feed without any problems.

[krazy_texan]

i am not sure about prices in your area but most places around here ask between 800 and 1300 to build one and install it, my flatbed is kinda shotty and so i am looking at getting another one or a long step bed

[Jason71k10]

I haven't priced steel yet, but if it's too much, I likely won't do it because the flatbed it supposed to be an alternative to spending $1200 on a new box!
A friend of mine is a welder/machinist, so he can hopefully get the steel a little cheaper for me, plus i'll probably use used steel. Also, i'll be putting on a wood plank deck like dubie's, so that'll save some $ and weight.
well i'm off to pull my bed off. Wish me luck

Jason

[Jason71k10]

a few hours and a bunch of rusted bolts later.......

[Jason71k10]

hey guys, just wanted to know what your overall dimensions are for the deck?? I'm still throwing around a few different design ideas, but I want to get a price so I gotta figure out how much steel i'm going to need first. btw dubie, since you built your's, how much $ did it run you, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks

Jason

[TP from Cntl PA]

I got $75 in mine($60 for the used bed).............It was once on a guys 1 ton Ferd and he replaced it with a dump box off a t-tag. He put it in the scrap iron pile at his dads yard and I spied it. I'd have gotten it right after he took it off the truck but I never thought he get around to it

Anyhow, his old man hit the side of it with their track-hoe so it has a pickle in the front corner but I made it work.............I got a headache rack on it that is pretty heavy. After I get it painted I think it will look good.

I know I'll never put another stock box on an older truck............All they do is rust and are a PITA if you actually use the truck. About the only thing I wish I did different was to put a wagon hoist under mine so it would have dumped But then it wouldn't work to well with a gooseneck hitch(Don't have it on there yet.

Maybe some year I'll have pictures

Might want to look into finding a used one is my advice.

[Slams_58]

all in all it was about $400 for all the material. The dimensions of my deck is 6' - 6" wide X 8' - 0" long

Here is a poor MSN paint drawing of how it's put together. It has 4 , 8 foot pieces, 2 , 6 foot 6 inch pieces and then 6 smaller pieces in between

EDIT: DAMNIT, I posted under Shawnas name again. I'm really upping her post count

[jcueckert13]

dubie your confusing the hell out of most of us.

[Jason71k10]

thanks for the help guys. I have a rough guess now, within a few feet anyway. I'll give a shout when I have more question....which i'm sure I will :p

Jason

[Canadian694x4]

Hey Jason, have you looked into getting a couple bedsides from a Canadian supplier like Bill's Truck Shop? Is your bed floor salvagable? Keep us posted and the progress pics coming!

Brian

[krazy_texan]

dubie your ideas are almost exactly like what mine are and have been for a long time, just you did it before me. i to want to put the stacks up on it with the butterflies on top, and on the wood flatbed part i am going to have a hidden goosneck ball and toolbox mounted up against the cab and on the back i am going to put a recessed liscense plate area where a trailer ball will be mounted and i am going to do 3 led taillights on each side like and old impala with the red clear red and blue dots on them, but so you know i am not stealing your ideas, it is just that great minds think alike

[dubie]

no problem man, just in case you haven't seen it yet, here is a pic of the stacks