building a flatbed

[Midgets50]

Hi all,
Im looking into building a flatbed for my truck and have seen a few but i was wondering how high it should be mounted in comparison to the cab. This is not mine but i like the flatbed on it and was gonna try and have something similar on my longbed 3600

[mr48chev]

Just a little bit more then high enough for the bed to clear the rear tires with the springs bottomed out. Not that you will ever put enough load on it to bottom them out but you still want that insurance.

That's a good looking example to follow and the panel down the back with the lights and license recess serves as a rear bumper that is low enough to be legal anywhere.

[Trekster]

I built my flatbed by laying 1" maple along the frame and then 3" channel cross ways. This put the bottom of the 2x6 I used for the deck 4" above the frame.

Cross members

This load of concrete mix made the over load springs touch. This is the first time they have touched since I built the truck.

[coralhead]

Now that is a load. I'm sure it was easier loading than unloading.

[Midgets50]

@ Trekster
That looks amazing. What did you run for metal along the outside and how did you mount? and the problem im getting into is that my truck is going to be lifted and i want it to lined up with the cab properly

[mr48chev]

That is one serious looking truck bed Trekster. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to set pallets on a maple bed though. Those bags of cement mix look like they might go with a load of fence posts which means a lot more work.

[Trekster]

The forklift driver did not want to load the pallet on the truck. I laid a tarp down and directed him on where and how to load it. Not a scratch. Unloading was a lot more work. Yes, it was a fence and a lot of work but it turned out nice.

The edge of the flat bed is 4" flat bar that is welded to the 3" channel cross members. Everything is off of the top of the frame so if a truck is lifted from underneath (by the suspension) you should still be able to put it where you want to in relation to the cab. Mine is a little high because I did not want the tires to hit. As you can see, I use my truck as a truck.

[Midgets50]

with mine being lifted a little do you think that ill have to worry about being able to use my goose neck trailer?

[Trekster]

You could measure your gooseneck and see where the hitch ball needs to be. You could always build a trap door and put your hitch at the correct level if the bed is too high.

[Midgets50]

Yea im wanting to build a trap door and on the outside 2 boards i want a way to open them up so i can have some hidden storage on the truck. along with that im also gonna put underbed boxes so you cant see the frame really from the side