Just a thought - I have a receiver mounted under the front bumper of my F-350. It's indispensable for moving and parking trailers, and there are winch mounting plates to fit them as well, but with your skills you could probably fab a better one anyway.

I believe those transportation caps are DOT approved, but I like to keep my regulators out of the elements anyway because I don't use them every day.

 

We had a '59 F-350 at my first job. Owner had custom built the bed as a service body as he was a diesel mechanic/certified welder. At the front of each side was a tall locker - weather gear on one side, tanks and torches on the other. Across the front of the bed was a horizontal two-stage compressor. In the center of the bed was a four cylinder Hobart welder/genset, longitudinally mounted. At midships on both sides were weather proof Snap-On tool chests (about ten drawer size.) Ahead and behind the wheels were under-storage compartments. The rear corners carried a chain vise on one side and a large Wilton on the other. From the tailboard were pull-out, slotted extensions (think channel iron laid flat with angle iron welded to each side making a slot to attach clamps, etc.) that slid out rearward to support whatever work may need support and below were various tow options. If it were around today I suppose it would have one or two telescopic LED worklights.

Geez, just thinking... that truck was only eleven years old when I started...