I'd like to know how to build a flat bed, not sure were to start or whats a good structure, but i'm a sucker for wood beds. on it right now i have a good cross section and some ply wood for the bed layout, works - kind of all right, i'd like some idea's to make it more legit. I plan to use it for a lot of work.

 

I built one quite a few years ago. I put 4x4s across the frame and then 2x10 planks on the top. I hauled all kinds of stuff on it and it held up really well.

 

crash course: get some 3 inch channel for the full length of the bed, use thinner channel or even some angle as stringers (go from the frame out width wise) at this point it will look similar to a pound sign #(only straighter). build a perimeter out of angle, with the corner of the angle to the bottom and outside. to the outside of this you can weld stake pockets and crash strips.

I would recommend either 2x4's or 2x6's for strength, just remember to stagger them for more strength

 

this was my old gmc. i liked this deck.

 

This is a flat bed I ran on for a deal. It's going on my 94.



Here it's just sitting on a parts truck to keep it off the ground. I'll have to shorten it a bit since I ended up with a SWB F150.



Put a wanted ad on Craigslist. I did and had this one offered to me within a week, for $250. Cannot build one for that!

 

And here's the one on the 85 f250 I had

 

Forgot the pic

 

Be sure to have the centers of what would be the "joists or runners" close enough to support the weight properly. I had a flatbed with a steel deck that wasnt built well enough and it caused the deck to get waves in it from the weight distribution. I know you said you wanted a wood deck , but , I think it would be equally important to have the weight distributed right. Also make a nice gusset system for the headache rack. The headache rack is important when hauling extra long stock of whatever type and it needs to be stout. One of the features of the flatbed I have now has lights(stop,turn,tail) in the headache rack. I am going to add some bright lights for reverse lights soon.

 

I have two flatbeds one on a 1984 Ford F250 parts truck that is going on our 1989 F350 crew cab. We purchased it for $400 the whole truck. I go with pure metal ones because thier isn't any rottting or such. I am going to put a headache rack on it that other one is coming off.


And this one we traded an original bed for it. Technically we paid $250 because we bought the bed then traded for a flatbed. This one is going on our 1989 Ford F250. I had merely posted a Craigslist wanted ad and this came up.
Trav

 

That top one is a nice bed !

 

Of mine steve are you saying that?
Trav

 

yeah, the one on the '84 I guess. Looks like it can be a nice bed. Can't see enough of the other one to tell much about it.

 

Here is a better shot of it also it is off the flatbed trailer now. By the way I am going to put spary in bedliner on both of them the one on the 84 is off now and it is going on our 1989 F350 crew cab check out my build thread in my sig. Also the the other one is going on our 1989 Ford F250 4x4.
Trav

 

That's a nice one too. Looks like it has a gooseneck access hole. I may put a gooseneck hitch on mine. I have one just laying around, may as well install it.

 

both have gooseneck hitch holes. I am going to only use the one that is going on the 1989 F350. The other one is going on a 1989 F250 it is going to have a whole bunch of tools like welder generator, torches, boxes for small tools, etc.
Trav