the 53 f250 that i bought has a huge utility bed on the back of it. it was used as a plumbing truck for years so the bed is missing. i was thinking about building a wood/metal bed and use the factory fatty fenders. has anyone done this and has tips or pics to help with my new adventure? the truck should be towed to my house in a week and off to the garage i go.

 

There's a member, woodyf1, here that did pretty much what you're planning. Here's the link to his galleries:

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: woodyf1

I'm sure he'll be showing up soon to help you with any questions.

 

If you're looking to build a metal and wood bed (wood floor, not all wood like woody's beautiful piece) I'm in the precess of doing that now. Since you have an F-250 you'll have to remember to adjust some measurements to the long bed standards (It's taller and wider too if you're going for accuracy, looks better in my opinion). The F-100 has a wheel base of 110" and the F250 at 118".

Andrew has done a beautiful job making his own bed; Ford Truck Enthusiasts User Gallery

(look under bed and the roll pan)

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ailgating.html


Another member, Gil's:

1955 Ford F100 4x2 - 55 bed

I have a couple diagrams showing some measurements, and I have what I've come up with my bed too (but I'm doing custom). You have a lot of options on what you can do, just remember your wheel base, you could make a 7' foot bed and have it work with the wheel base if you didn't want the factory length of 8 feet, but a 6' bed will put your rear fenders touching the end of the bed by the tailgate, and it won't look good, just needs a little extra, like10-12" or so to counter that on a 118" wheel base. (You'll want to balance it out, if you have the extra 8" in the front of the bed, there should be at least 8" on the other side of the fenders, other wise it will look bob-tailed. That makes for a 7' 4" bed)


If you'd like those diagrams I can post them, and maybe someone will chime in with the extra measurements that you need when making something over just seeing specs. I could give you what I have, but I need to stress I'm going custom, and building a big truck, so I have to adjust a few things, but I think I have some I've gotten from other members nice enough to measure some things for me...

 

And I see you're in Colorado (I'm in north Wyoming, but plan on moving back to Co. Springs this summer), where abouts? A lot of members around and there are definetly a few down in Colorado, maybe one of them already has a bed for you or knows where to find one. (The long beds are a PITA to find, I tired for a while but since I'm going custom I have other options).

Btw, for the long bed you could use up to 1973 I believe... or with the long bed you might be able to go up to 1975, or 1979 if you're willing to have a flat top. (the 73+ Short bed side steps are wider and taller like a long bed pre-73, but only 6.5 feet, but they made a couple different lenghts if I remember right, not just the 8' long bed)

 

I'm in the Colorado Springs area, near motorcity. i was looking at the metal homemade beds and they look good, almost impossible to tell its homebuilt. i might have to improve my metal working skills before attempting something like that. I could use all the help i can get on this truck, its my first Classic rebuild. i have a 87 audi 4000 in the garage right now i'm finishing up.

 

If you want to build a flat bed like the original I have tried my best to draw the 9 foot Ford script bed I have on my F-4. You could use what I have drawn and adjust it to the lenght you want.

1948-52 ford scrip flatbed

 

Nice.

Beds are pretty simple to do, the only welding you'll have to do is the top curve, they curl it on the originals, it's easier to just weld on a pipe if you don't have the machinery to do it (who does? lol). The rest of it is just measurements and bends. A machine shop could do it all for you if you wanted. All you need is a large break, even where I'm at the local high school has one big enough and allows people to use it.

 

I'm really diggin the metal bed.. i think thats the route I'm going to go. i have been meaning to buy a welder anyways no i have a reason lol. so what about rim options on the f250 mostly all i have seen are stocks with hub caps. My vision of the truck will be mostly orignal with just a few updated rod changes. keeping the flathead and i want to keep the 8 bolt lugs. A good aftermarket wheel would looks sweet but i'm kinda not sure if the 8lug is the same as whats on modern 8 lugs today?

 

Same bolt pattern was used up to the late 90's

 

Ditto...mine are late model Ford, powdercoated black..let me know if you want dimensions off my flatbed...I'd be happy to help

 

hello. my advice to you is research what you want to do.then decide on the materials and tools required to do the job.then of course have fun
my way is to draw what i envision and then forge ahead have a good look at the commercial units availble as they are generally well designed adapt what you like to your design and you should come up with something really unique