Hey guys i just singed up today and have yet to post any pics of my truck but i will to make it quick I have a 77 f250 400m 4 speed Np435 with a 6 inch skyjacker and 36X14.50X16.50 tsl radials the bed is in really good shape externaly but both rear corners underneath are in need of some repair, i am thinking about building/buying a flat bed of some sort but havent come up with much yet. Does anybody have any ideas/suggestions and if i do so im probably going

 

Welcome to FTE, please no selling in the forums, questions are great and the answers are even better, but no selling.

 

i built a flatbed for my short wheel base. All i bought was 2 sheets of checker plate or diamond plate, and some tubing.it wasnt that hard at all. But i had access to a 20 ton break to make my sides and the front of it out of one sheet. But it was time consuming, and i hope you got a few extra hands.

 

Check out KubotaOrange76. He built a flatbed for his truck and it looks nice IMHO. There are several others here and in the offroad and 4x4 forum who have flatbeds also.

What is the intended use of this truck?

 

Thanks for the replys guys Its primarily used on the street more than it is in the woods although after a few beers it tends to steer that way hahah im leanin more towards the diamondf plate idea and ya i know there are gonna be some man hours involved

 

Sounds a bit like what we might wind up doing with ours. We just got it in the garage this afternoon, and pealed back the bed liner to see what shape the bed itself is in. Needless to say? "What Bed?" would sound about right. Total rust loss. Sides are in fair shape.

Here's what I'm planning, and it might transfer to your project? Using channel steel and some welding work, build a frame where the bed would be. Ensure it's lined up correctly for all the hardware and such. Using diamond plate, weld sections under the channel steel frame to make the correct size 'box'. Once the base is done? Weld steel support members for the sides, and front section. Hopefully firm up the truck bed, and re-enforce the sides at the same time. (right now you can grab the sides at the rear and they are pretty floppy.)

Just an idea. Heck, if it works? I'll take some photos of the progress when we get this far. (we are doing mechanical work first--and then the body work second..gonna peal off the truck bed during the body work round to scrub the rust off the frame and rust proof it.)

S-

 

You are preaching to the choir man!




Good luck to both of the "newbs" on their flat beds. I will give you both props. You are starting off asking straight forward researched and informed quesions. Its like a breath of fresh air. Hopefully you will stick around for a while.

 

Ours is a ways off. Need to get this ol' girl cleaned up engine wise and get some much over-due maintenance done. (yard truck for a couple of years....this idiot ran it without an air filter for that time)

S-

 

Always wanted a truck box similar to the Australian lorries - low sides that hinged down, hinged tailgate, all removable to make a flatbed.....kind of like this:

Or perhaps a cross between a duce-n-a half and a Home depot style box. all in diamondplate aluminum, of course.

 

Wow thanks everybody for all the suggestions after doing a little more research i figure its gonna be a little more work than i thought so im gonna put it off for a while plus i found a better way to spend my money i have a good feeling this will excite alot of people hahah. I was at the junkyard the other day buying 2 axles (i broke number 8 this weekend wheelin) when i came across a 77 f250 or so the emblem said so i decided to take a quick glance at the truck, while walking around i decided to look under the front end, assuming id see a dana 44 because its a f250 right? WRONG to my suprise i saw a dana 60 atleast i think it is, it has 4 bolts on the top and bottom of each side and it also has a sway bar) hmmm somebody must have swapped one in or changed the emblems, i also happened to notice the dana 44 sitting in the bed so im assuming they swapped axles ive been wanting to convert my 44 over to a 60 but i havent been able to find one for less than $650 so i figured id ask the guy how much...........$400 yep thats right $400 so which investment do you guys think is better a bed or a hell of a deal on a dana 60 front end

 

Is it an open knuckle or closed knuckle?

either way good deal!

 

hmmm im not sure what the difference is how can i tell?

 

I am going the same thing your going thru, I bought a cab and chassis ( F-550 )and I needed a bed, I looked at lots of flatbed styles and I just don't like the looks of a flatbed. I searched all over and I found a regular pickup bed and put it on and the cab ended up 3" lower and no way of lowering the bed, now I'm getting a 3" body lift together to get the body lines to match up.
here are some pictures of what I have? ( lot's of work )





and it's off by this much Grrr



The flatbed is the easiest way and cheapest
like others have told me
Good luck
Jim

 

NICE PROJECT (s) - Ask around for the best $$ on alum or steel.... Check out a local scrap metal salvage yard. U might find the materials needed @ $?/per pound instead of $$$ per square foot.