Don 
Building a flatbed
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Junior User
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Building a flatbed
Any tips/advise? I am doing this in about 2 weeks. Plan to extend frame 4' and be cab width so flatbed will be 7' x 12'. Treated 4x4's perpendicular to frame, 2x6 tongue and groove 12' long primed and painted, treated 2x12 sides. Galvanized bolts/screws used. Do I need to isolate from frame with a rubber bushing or something to allow flex? It won't carry heavy loads often, and when it does it will not be placed on extended frame area. 12' length will allow me to carry 3 quads, 12' drywall sheets, and I know I'll wish it were even bigger. Not too worried about trailer towing. Vehicle is 1976 F250 4x4, regular cab, 390, 4 speed.
Ken
Ken
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Vancouver, Canada
Did you ever find any plans for your flat bed or did you just design it as you built it? I'd like to build a smaller version of your flat bed but would like to follow someone else's lead - no point in reinventing the wheel.... The only potential problem that I have seen on other homemade flat beds is how to deal with the fuel filler hose(s).
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Vancouver, Canada
Thanks for the pix 1979 Ford, your flatbed looks very strong and I really like your 'hoist' attached on the left side. To determine the height of the bed over the wheels I guess you just measured the height of stock wheel wells over the tires, correct? One more point - could you add a picture of the fuel tank filler area on the left side - I haven't thought through how to do mine yet..... Thanks again!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Not as far west as I want
Thanks I will also grab a tape and measure to measure the space between the wheel and the bed., and will get a picture of the filler hose. I think the height was more of a guess. With stock the bed would have been really high, and I have had no problems with the tires rubbing. The hoist comes is very handy. The one thing I am going to change is the tail lights. I have managed to bust both lenses. I think I will hide it in the space where the bumper bottom of the bed.
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From: alaska
Originally Posted by luckster
Any tips/advise? I am doing this in about 2 weeks. Plan to extend frame 4' and be cab width so flatbed will be 7' x 12'. Treated 4x4's perpendicular to frame, 2x6 tongue and groove 12' long primed and painted, treated 2x12 sides. Galvanized bolts/screws used. Do I need to isolate from frame with a rubber bushing or something to allow flex? It won't carry heavy loads often, and when it does it will not be placed on extended frame area. 12' length will allow me to carry 3 quads, 12' drywall sheets, and I know I'll wish it were even bigger. Not too worried about trailer towing. Vehicle is 1976 F250 4x4, regular cab, 390, 4 speed.
Ken
Ken
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Cargo Master
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From: Not as far west as I want
I added some more pictures of the fuel filler hose and a couple of the ol' warhorse in my gallery.
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Well, I have scaled down the flatbed size. I bought a 6.5' x 12' trailer that solves the issues I was thinking the larger flatbed would. I now have the frame primed and drying for paint. The cross pieces are 6' 3" long, 4x6 at the cab on end, 4x6 at bumper on flat, 4x4 intermediates with one closest to cab spaced up 1.5" so they are all in flat plane. I will cap ends with 2x6 and the 2x6 flat for decking. Headache rack is 4x4's and treated plywood. Overall size is 6' 6" x 8' 1 1/2". I have the gas tank behind seat. Bumper stayed on, trailer hitch no modification, still easy to park, etc. The trailer really is a good deal. I'll try to put picture up when finished!
Ken
Ken
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