Looking at my old box, the floor is dented to holy hell and back and is getting pretty rusty, nothing terrible-easy fix.
Been thinking about building a wooden flatbed with a steel frame.
Truck is a 91 f350 on an 06 F350 CCLB frame on 37s.

First Q-should I design it similar to the style side box, where it has a few cross members which are bolted to the frame, and the members are welded to the outer frame as well? Flatbed dimanesion would be 8'x6'

Also, I like when the flatbed is a little higher up, so the bottom of the flatbed is more or less same height as the top of the front wheel arch. Can I stack wood on the frame to ge tthe deck of the bed to sit higher?

What material shoud my perimeter frame and cross members be made out of?

finally..pros and cons of a flatbed?
-i know i cant throw loose scrap in a flatbed-unless i make some sturdy-removable sides. Or make them fold down?
I want to put one of those 1000 lb cranes behind the cab over the frame rail if i make a flatbed to load axles, oil drums, etc onto the deck.

Sorry for the rant, just hashing ideas out.
Thanks for any insight.

 

this looks sweet:



this doesnt:

the bed sits way too low and makes the truck look like it has a saggy bum.

 

A little lip around the sides is nice so things don't just slide off.
It doesn't have to be high to make loading and unloading a problem.

I don't know what you do or will use it for, but incorporating some ratchet straps and a rail to hook them would be a must for me.

 

I will definitly be doing a rail an dhooks, however they would be on the same plane as the loading deck. Id rather not have a lip as it wouldnt do much good to keep stuff on it that wasnt secured and would make unloading drywall and other things a pain. Removabale ot fold down sides would be a must.

 

You must not like your back. The LOWER the bed, the easier the loading.

Here is one I made
Tongue and grove pressure treated wood
6" channel main rails
5" channel sides
3" channel cross members
2x4 tube for headache rack and stake pockets
2x 1/4" rub rail

 

Brad that bed is a great height, i like it.

PS can you show a pic of how the rear sway bar mounts to the frame please?

 

Just a FYI. That bed was 6" higher than it should of been due to the 6" tall hoist under it. if it was just a flat bed, it would of been lower

Only pic I got. Please excuse the rust

 

Old thread I know but Brad that is a nice flatbed! Do you have the plans for it?

 

wow i forgot i made this thread!
I did end up making a flatbed, and i love it! Only thing It is bad for is hauling soil/gravel etc. Have yet to do so, if I were to do it Id put a tarm down and make some sides for it, or rent a dump trailer.
Next plan is to add the HF crane over the rear receiver hitch. have 270 degrees of mobility with it, electric remote winch. For picking up fellen wood for burning. (number 2 in the sketch)
3" C channels along the frame,
sitting on 3x3 square tubing. 1/8" plates tieing it to the frame with a total of 10 5/8" bolts. Ideally I want to make the springer system, where the bed is hinged at the back but the front has springs which allows the frame to flex away from the bed. So far works fine how I have it, even offroading. Decking is true 2"x6" white oak.

 

No plans, but I do have a couple pics
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/user/diesel_brad/media/99%20F550/DSC01349.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n29/diesel_brad/99%20F550/DSC01349.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC01349.jpg"/></a>

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What i started with
<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/user/diesel_brad/media/99%20F550/20110819160816.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n29/diesel_brad/99%20F550/20110819160816.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20110819160816.jpg"/></a>