Here are a couple shots of the bodywork progress. I have completed the doors, fenders, and back of the cab. Currently working on the hood. The last thing will be the roof. Glad I don't have to do the bed and tailgate. I have the rear window removed to clean out the window seal channel. Its all gummed up from 27 years of yuck getting in there. No rust though.

 

Those dents are hail!

 

Good one Gary.

 

At least someone got it.

 

I'm from the south, I understood the accent. lol

 

I think the flat bed might look a little better if the rear curved arches were more squared off to match the front openings. Other than that, your model looks really nice. Keep up the good work.

 

Like your design of the bed ! I would go square tube for the side rails , and drop the height a wee bit . Hope you finish the build and post the pics !

 

You know I was just thinking about how I was going to make those arcs. Then I thought, hmmm maybe I should square them off. I think you're on to something. I will get it modeled when I return to work and see what it looks like.

 

I am 6' 5" tall and my wife is 6' flat footed. I need all the height I can get lol.

Wood is cheaper than steel, and i like the look of a tall side rail versus seeing everything under the bed. Thank you very much for sharing your opinion. Most of the flat beds I see are like what you describe. If you view the first page of this thread I posted a link to another FTE members flatbed build. His build has inspired this one because I really like how his turned out. I hope to improve upon it.

 

I just did all of this planning before I bought my 90 extra cab. I was going to build a flatbed for the 83.

I was looking at the rectangular steel fenders from tractor supply. They were kinda close to the shape.

If you look at the front openings of your truck, they have a curve at the sides, but go flat across the top.

 

I wanted to get my flatbed floor as low as possible to the factory floor. The fireplaces I load on the truck by myself just go on the truck at stock height. This is a picture from the net, but what I was basing my direction on. Of course mine would be a working bed, not show.

 

Kyle, that's pretty cool. I'm not sure putting a flat bed, like the one pictured, on a farm truck would be of any use. I understand making the deck low for easier loading. However, you have to tackle the issue of suspension travel. That's why I like the design I am basing mine off of. Thank you for the suggestions. That gas tank looks pretty darn cool. That would be nice to have a shiny keg on each side setup for gasoline.

 

I realize it is not for all purposes. On a farm, I could see the wheel tubs getting in the way. For me, it would not be an issue. i would have put tractor supply tool boxes underneath. I just bought a new 38 gallon rear tank for the truck when I found my 90 model.

It is unreal how much more a flatbed or trailer with the same inside dimensions of a regular truck bed can hold. The curvature of the pans from the bed sidewall to the bed floor really make it more difficult to stand or stack things.

My 4x8 trailer carries way more than my bed can.

 

The acquisition of a trailer makes a cute Flareside seem like a good idea. You have some hauling capability at all times, but have the trailer when you need it.

 

That's what I've been thinking here lately. Like I told you earlier Gary, I would really like a flareside, 300 six, 4 x 4, with a manual tranny. Put a late model EFI MAF 300 six setup in it and put a turbo on it. Restore it and you would have a really nice daily driver that could pull a good load.