Flatbed truck plans

[RHughes]

This post is slightly off topic, but I thought the group would have some good input.
Friday I dinged the tailgate of my "good" truck one too many times /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif and came to the conclusion that I need a second truck, a 1 ton dually, to pull trailers and use around the farm. I found a pretty good F350 diesel but it needs a bed.
Does anyone have, or know where I can find, some plans for a flatbed truck body? I'd like to get some idea of the difficulty and make a "buy or build" decision.

Thanks for the input!

 

[RonR]

I'd find a place that sells them, and check it out really closely. Seeing how it is built should give you an idea of how you would build one.

Then it's just a matter of estimating time and material, assuming you have the tools/skill level required.

Not a hard task, but would take some time.

Ron

 

[Panache]

Try Whitworth's in Deatsville. He had a decent selection and pretty good prices.

 

[bobodu]

I have made them out of pressure treated lumber for years.4x4 and 2x6's and the have always outlasted the truck. About the only hard and fast rule is.....make sure it will clear the tires under load!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[RHughes]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Try Whitworth's in Deatsville. He had a decent selection and pretty good prices. )</font>

Didn't think of that! I've bought several implements and various parts from him; always been pleased. I may head over there this weekend and see what he has on the lot.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Off the rack one size fits all nine foot flatbeds usually start around seven to eight hundred dollars carry out.

I prefer building my own. The biggest reason is the factory quickies layer build. There's two rails that fit on your truck rails. Then the cross pieces are welded on top of those.

So right off the top your bed starts off being eight inches higher than a factory pickup bed.

I've built quite a few beds and as far as I'm concerned it's the only way to go. Doing it yourself you can do the things they won't or can't because of the cost of labor.

On the west coast the bed makers used to use oak decking. I once bought a factory bed unassembled eight by twelve foot. I then welded it up but did all the little things that made it work so much better.

Here's some tricks.

Height. I measure the distance from the top of the differential to the bottom of the truck frame. Add one quarter inch unless you plan on big loads and bigger tires.

I've found rectangular tubing better for the running rails that sit upon the truck frame. That makes it easier to weld cross peices between them. This lowers the bed the distance of the width of the cross pieces. Always use U bolts and a hardwood spacer between the truck bed and the truck frame when you can.

Tail and marking lights are a snap if you use the pop in style. They don't break as easy if accidentally bumped.

If you want to use the oblong boat style sealed pop in the cut out is really simple. Two and a half inch holes with a four and a quarter inch centerline. I usually use a hole saw to make my marks outlining the two and half inch circles. I then scribe a straightline between the two holes. A second with the plasma and it's nothing but a thing. Perfect fit every time.
Without the plasma I'd drill the two holes and then saw cut the piece out between them. A little slower but still a perfect fit.

You can buy stake pockets at a trailer supply if you don't want to make your own and want removable side boards. While there you can find all kinds of tie down attachments. You can't have two many tie downs.

If you decide to use stake pockets with a rub rail be sure and leave more than an inch an a half spacing between the rub rail and the edge of the bed. Two and a half is best. Two inch is minimum.

Build it yourself. Don't let them have all the fun.

 

[RHughes]

Thanks for the advice! I'm leaning toward the "home built" solution. I think I can build a bet with a better, custom fit that going with a factory built fit-all solution.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

You might want to call some salvage yards and body companies around your area and see what used inventory they might have. If nothing else you could use one as a starting platform and customize it from there to fit your needs.

 

[em14]

RHughes,
Is that scrap yard "Sables" still in business in Montgomery? They always had more great stuff than I could afford! Air Craft fittings, Industrial stuff and Steel ... you name it (and some I couldn't name) it was more than likely there!
Leo

 

[RHughes]

Yes, Sabel Steel is still here. They have a cleanup service that probably draws in some really good "stuff".
There's another one too, MIMCO (Montgomery Iron and Metal). They have mountains of used stuff. I think they deal mostly with bulk scrap rather than trying to sort out salvageable material. A company I used to work for sold our scrap brass and copper to them.