Mounting flat bed
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Co
Mounting flat bed
I finnaly got a new bed for my truck (took a while to find one I can afford, only criteria was price and this came up first) however it appears instead of drilling holes to re-use the factory bolts the designer of this bed instead just welded brackets to the frame/bed in the same general locations then cut them off flush with the bottom of the bed when he sold it (not the guy I got it from, hes selling it cause it wont fit the Ford hi-boy he has). So my question to you guys is would it be better to drill the appropriate holes in the flat bed and nut/bolt it on or grind off whats left of the old brackets (not looking forward to it...) and just weld new brackets in? Also going to have to add the appropriate spacers between the frame and bed to keep it level (figuring these are like every other truck Ive worked on where the frame under the bed isnt perfectly level) so what would you guys recommend for those? (seems most the ones around work just use wood but...)
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 13
Please please please... do NOT weld on your frame. Its wrong and dumb in a number of ways. You can use some angle iron or something and weld to the bed, and bolt through that to a hole in the frame, or like you say, drill the bed frame and bolt through the top of pickup frame as was stock. We just usually use some 2/4's under the bed. You can get bolt kits also, for installing flatbeds, tanks, anything that can be bolted to a frame really. Usually theyre SS bolts, and the front to middle are spring loaded so that the frame can flex, possibly over kill, but depends how rigid the flatbed is.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Co
Alright now another dumb question, whats the easiest way to lift/move the beds? Me and a couple co-workers slid the flatbed off the trailer but the 3 of us definatly cant lift it (used a tow truck to put on trailer).
Any links to the install kits my google magic is failing me? Want it to allow some frame flex as once in a blue moon (once or twice a year..) I do still take this truck off road.
Any links to the install kits my google magic is failing me? Want it to allow some frame flex as once in a blue moon (once or twice a year..) I do still take this truck off road.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
You can weld to your frame if you know how to weld. I have built several rock crawlers and welded 4 link brackets and b eat on it with 40 inch tires and its fine.
My buddy with a 2010 f250 just hacked his rear short bed frame and lengthed it so he could use a long bed service body and know issues at all.
I welded my flat bed and it carries 2000lbs on it and dragging a 20 ft trailer with a rock buggy on it and zero signs of stress.
My buddy with a 2010 f250 just hacked his rear short bed frame and lengthed it so he could use a long bed service body and know issues at all.
I welded my flat bed and it carries 2000lbs on it and dragging a 20 ft trailer with a rock buggy on it and zero signs of stress.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Peterborough, Ontario
Please please please... do NOT weld on your frame. Its wrong and dumb in a number of ways. You can use some angle iron or something and weld to the bed, and bolt through that to a hole in the frame, or like you say, drill the bed frame and bolt through the top of pickup frame as was stock. We just usually use some 2/4's under the bed. You can get bolt kits also, for installing flatbeds, tanks, anything that can be bolted to a frame really. Usually theyre SS bolts, and the front to middle are spring loaded so that the frame can flex, possibly over kill, but depends how rigid the flatbed is.
SS is known to stress crack fairly easily in a lot of applications, so not sure they would be my first choice for anything that is 'suspended' from a frame myself....
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 13
I could be dead wrong i guess, as ive never actually researched all of this. But if ive been told once, ive been told a hundred times... dont weld on a frame.
Besides that, if you ever want to take it off... think of the nightmare.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Co
Newer frames are heat treated, older ones i forget what its called have a high carbon and welding either A: ruins the heat treat, or B: pushes the carbon away. Both make it likely to crack there. All of that above is what this kick *** old guy told me who seemed to know what the hell he was talkin about, i mean he was an original hottrodder.. (some of the pics.. but anyway). But i have seen first hand, two frames that have broke at a weld, first on a Peterbilt and second on a 66 ford. I suggested SS because when we bought the water tank for our 10 wheeler the guy said to make sure and buy the kit to install it, or at the very least to use SS bolts. So i figured if theyre good enough to hold down 4k gallons of water, they should hold a flatbed on.
I could be dead wrong i guess, as ive never actually researched all of this. But if ive been told once, ive been told a hundred times... dont weld on a frame.
Besides that, if you ever want to take it off... think of the nightmare.
I could be dead wrong i guess, as ive never actually researched all of this. But if ive been told once, ive been told a hundred times... dont weld on a frame.
Besides that, if you ever want to take it off... think of the nightmare.
I dont have to guess the nightmare to undue a welded on flatbed, based on whats left of the previous mounting setup thats how this one was mounted (have 6 brackets welded to the flatbed that were cut off flush with the bed with a torch) so now I get the pleasure of grinding off the welds to remount it
Far as mounting the bed goes thinking Ill hard mount the rear 2 corners (weld + bolt to bed, bolt to truck) and have a floating mount in front 2 corners and even with gooseneck hitch on each side simillar to what we have on the fronts of the busses clicky
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
From: Kville, ohio
I know at least on school busses its actully illegal to weld on the frame (or drill even) and for that reasson alone Id never weld onto the frame (and slightly hesitant to drill but know its can be done safley).
I dont have to guess the nightmare to undue a welded on flatbed, based on whats left of the previous mounting setup thats how this one was mounted (have 6 brackets welded to the flatbed that were cut off flush with the bed with a torch) so now I get the pleasure of grinding off the welds to remount it
Far as mounting the bed goes thinking Ill hard mount the rear 2 corners (weld + bolt to bed, bolt to truck) and have a floating mount in front 2 corners and even with gooseneck hitch on each side simillar to what we have on the fronts of the busses clicky
I dont have to guess the nightmare to undue a welded on flatbed, based on whats left of the previous mounting setup thats how this one was mounted (have 6 brackets welded to the flatbed that were cut off flush with the bed with a torch) so now I get the pleasure of grinding off the welds to remount it
Far as mounting the bed goes thinking Ill hard mount the rear 2 corners (weld + bolt to bed, bolt to truck) and have a floating mount in front 2 corners and even with gooseneck hitch on each side simillar to what we have on the fronts of the busses clicky
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 0
From: Peterborough, Ontario
Huh. Funny how almost every single dump truck ever built has the hinges welded to the rear of the frame now isn't it??
I wouldn't want average garage Joe with a 120V mig to weld on a frame, but done right it's do-able, and quite safe. Often semi's, straight trucks, and gravel trucks are shortened and lengthened, by cutting and welding a frame together.
My own frame is welded without issue, that's been 7-8 years and 1000's of loads later. Not saying it's for everyone either though, and yes, removal can be an issue. A guy good on a torch, or a plasma cutter, and a grinder though can make it a pretty easy process.
Oh....and on most trucks, drilling on the sides of a frame is allowable except sometimes in certain areas of the frame. Drilling on the top or bottom flanges is a complete no-no.
I wouldn't want average garage Joe with a 120V mig to weld on a frame, but done right it's do-able, and quite safe. Often semi's, straight trucks, and gravel trucks are shortened and lengthened, by cutting and welding a frame together.
My own frame is welded without issue, that's been 7-8 years and 1000's of loads later. Not saying it's for everyone either though, and yes, removal can be an issue. A guy good on a torch, or a plasma cutter, and a grinder though can make it a pretty easy process.
Oh....and on most trucks, drilling on the sides of a frame is allowable except sometimes in certain areas of the frame. Drilling on the top or bottom flanges is a complete no-no.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
I'm curious then, why do many hitches require you to drill holes in the bottom flange?
I know from an engineering standpoint that holes on the flange weaken the frame much more than holes on the sides. I think a lot of this is hearsay and certain circumstances. Yes a great many vehicles are cut up and welded in all sorts of configurations, and done so safely. A number of heavy duty trucks have heat treated or other specially built frames that the manufacturer has specified not to weld or drill on. In some cases, any welding or drilling could destroy the integrity of those frames. In other cases, where things are carefully engineered for the stresses involved, those frames might be able to be modified.
Quite frankly, the road salt thats sprayed all over in the winter has done more havoc to my frame than drilling a hole or two here or there will do. Unless you go drilling big holes that significantly weaken that section of the frame, you'll be fine. Welding done properly should be ok on our frames.
The problems come from people that aren't formerly trained to understand the exact affect of a hole or weld and just do what they want in the backyard.
I know from an engineering standpoint that holes on the flange weaken the frame much more than holes on the sides. I think a lot of this is hearsay and certain circumstances. Yes a great many vehicles are cut up and welded in all sorts of configurations, and done so safely. A number of heavy duty trucks have heat treated or other specially built frames that the manufacturer has specified not to weld or drill on. In some cases, any welding or drilling could destroy the integrity of those frames. In other cases, where things are carefully engineered for the stresses involved, those frames might be able to be modified.
Quite frankly, the road salt thats sprayed all over in the winter has done more havoc to my frame than drilling a hole or two here or there will do. Unless you go drilling big holes that significantly weaken that section of the frame, you'll be fine. Welding done properly should be ok on our frames.
The problems come from people that aren't formerly trained to understand the exact affect of a hole or weld and just do what they want in the backyard.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,096
Likes: 1,498
From: western SD
Huh. Funny how almost every single dump truck ever built has the hinges welded to the rear of the frame now isn't it??
I wouldn't want average garage Joe with a 120V mig to weld on a frame, but done right it's do-able, and quite safe. Often semi's, straight trucks, and gravel trucks are shortened and lengthened, by cutting and welding a frame together.
My own frame is welded without issue, that's been 7-8 years and 1000's of loads later. Not saying it's for everyone either though, and yes, removal can be an issue. A guy good on a torch, or a plasma cutter, and a grinder though can make it a pretty easy process.
Oh....and on most trucks, drilling on the sides of a frame is allowable except sometimes in certain areas of the frame. Drilling on the top or bottom flanges is a complete no-no.
I wouldn't want average garage Joe with a 120V mig to weld on a frame, but done right it's do-able, and quite safe. Often semi's, straight trucks, and gravel trucks are shortened and lengthened, by cutting and welding a frame together.
My own frame is welded without issue, that's been 7-8 years and 1000's of loads later. Not saying it's for everyone either though, and yes, removal can be an issue. A guy good on a torch, or a plasma cutter, and a grinder though can make it a pretty easy process.
Oh....and on most trucks, drilling on the sides of a frame is allowable except sometimes in certain areas of the frame. Drilling on the top or bottom flanges is a complete no-no.
Frames are modified every day, granted it is done by shops that specialize in frame work, and not by someone in their back yard, but it is done.