metal Flatbed design
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Freshman User
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metal Flatbed design
I'm looking to put a flatbed on my 82 f-150 but with the curved up frame rails it looks like it could be kind of tricky to design. Here's what I would like to have:
-headache rack at the front
-stakeholes in the sides for removable sides
-removeable headache rack at the back
How do you guys go about designing yours? Do you first run some channel iron across the frame rails (perpendicular) at each of the flat spots and shim them all to the same height then go from there?
any cad drawings or pictures would be nice.
thanks
-headache rack at the front
-stakeholes in the sides for removable sides
-removeable headache rack at the back
How do you guys go about designing yours? Do you first run some channel iron across the frame rails (perpendicular) at each of the flat spots and shim them all to the same height then go from there?
any cad drawings or pictures would be nice.
thanks
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
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metal Flatbed design
I recommend you first "box" the frame, which is building a rectangle of c-channel and mounting it above your factory frame. It gives you a solid, level platform on which to mount whatever bed you choose without having to adjust for high or low spots. It will give you clearance and you can drill or weld to it as needed without harming the factory frame. Also, if you even decide to change beds again it makes it easy.
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metal Flatbed design
ok I see I must have read that wrong. so do you bolt the c channel box right to the frame with a few shims to get the lower spots, or do you run some lengths of channel across the frame rails at each of the flat spots (on the rails) and then mount the c channel box on top of those?
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From: Virginia
metal Flatbed design
You can buy the beds already made for about $700-$800 in my area. If you are going to put a heavy frame on the factory frame like the other poster said, you might as well hinge it in the back and make a dump bed while your at it.
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metal Flatbed design
Another point. There is a standard measurement that welders use to box the frame. I don't know the specs, but if done correctly you can even take a bed off a Chevy and it will fit your truck, I did that just this year and got a complete bed for a hundred dollars off of a Chevy truck in the junk yard. Bolted right up without any problem. The idea of hinging the rear for a dump is a good one. I regret not doing mine right at the beginning, but it is a project I will do shortly. I'm going to make a side-dump because I have a wheel-lift on the rear already.
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