I pulled this flatbed off my F6 over the weekend


and have a 12' Ford Script stakbed thats going to go on it. I wanted to keep the hydraulic dump since it's there and works.
I was hoping I could just take the 2X7 beams off of the Script bed and set the script bed on top of the existing dump bed rails but those C channel rails are only 5" tall so bed would sit too low, plus they are about 34 &1/4" wide and I need about 33& 3/8" wide for the script bed angle brackets to fit over the outside of the rails.
So I removed all of the C Channel etc. (just left the hinge pin and brackets.

So I Think I have settled on using 2X6 3/16" tubing and making the new dumpbed frame the required 33&3/8" wide so the script bed can just fit on top of the rails.

1st question, will the 3/16" 2x6 tubing be strong enough? I dont know if i'll even dump anything with it?? so I guess probably should be ok

I figure since they dont make 2X7" metal tubing I would use the 2X6 and maybe add some spacer blocks about 3/8" +- along the top frame rail (so dump bed rails aren't hitting and resting on the frame rivits ) so the bed should be within about 5/8" from sitting at stock or original height.

I will be adding some reinforcing plates on sides of 2x6 rails where the hoist attaches as well as where the hinge plates attach.
Any thoughs, Ideas, suggestions etc.

oh just though of something, I could add 1" +- spacer blocks on the top of dump rails and set bed on those to make up the lost inch in height??

the metal rails will go all the way to the end of bed and have a bevel cut on bottom corner just like the original wood 2X7"s. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post up my results and progress.

this picture shows the wood 2x7's that are the 33&3/8" apart and the angle brackets that angle on the outside of the 2x7.




Here is a picture of the rear of the 12' script bed, the wood 2x7's are angle (bevel cut ) on the bottom I plan on making the metal tubing look the same only not wood!
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...eedrearend.jpg




Cheers

Josh

 

Looks interesting - and heavy!