Once you go flat, you'll never go back

[gsganzer]

Flat bed truck that is!

I think I just bought my dream truck. It's a new 2016 3500 crew cab chassis, diesel 4x4 with 9.5 foot Knapheide flatbed. The dealership near me had some 2016 leftovers, with slight hail damage at a price I couldn't resist. On top of that, they had 0%/72 months. I didn't need to finance it, but with a deal like that, I'll gladly use their money and leave mine where it's making interest.

I really like it. It's a work truck configuration with vinyl seats and rubber floors, perfect for our north Texas mud. But it has just the right amount of convenience, power doors/windows, cruise, Apple phone link, wifi hot spot, back up camera, heated extending mirrors. It also has a PTO and upfitter switches, in case I want to add anything.

What I'm finding incredibly versatile is the flatbed. I had some folks telling me to go with a flatbed, because I'd never regret it. I think they're right, I don't think I'll ever go back to a conventional bed. I'll probably add 36" or 48" topmount box down each side. Then end them with a channel on each side so I can slide in a 2" x 12" "tailgate" of sorts. This allows you to make a secure "alcove" to keep things contained, but you can easily slide out the tailgate for hauling stuff. (hopefully that all makes sense).

here's a photo.

 

[WM75Guy]

Congrats on the sweet deal. Nice looking truck.

 

[EddieWalker]

Very nice. That's on my list of things that I really want to have!!!

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I've had my first flatbed for just over a year now and I really like it. Here are a few pics of how mine is set up, just to give you some ideas. These first 2 pics are from when it was new and I had not used it yet. Today, I have almost 34,000 miles on it.

This is a more recent picture.

 

[bdog]

Nice truck. I don't like the way flatbeds look but I always have one because they are so versatile. I tried to make the factory bed work for me on my 2017 F-450 but after about three months I gave in and bought a flatbed like I have had on my last four trucks.

 

[PhysAssist]

Flat bed truck that is!

I think I just bought my dream truck. It's a new 2016 3500 crew cab chassis, diesel 4x4 with 9.5 foot Knapheide flatbed....

I really like it...

What I'm finding incredibly versatile is the flatbed. I had some folks telling me to go with a flatbed, because I'd never regret it. I think they're right, I don't think I'll ever go back to a conventional bed....

Hi GSG,
Nice looking ride!

Aside from towing your trailer, how else has the flat bed been more useful than having a contained area to put things in?

and Congrats on being happy with your purchase!:thumbsup:

T

 

[bdog]

For me I have four tool boxes built into the bed and also have a montezuma tool box on top of the bed. I can reach all of these from the ground. I have bad knees and it so nice not having to climb up into the bed to get into a traditional tool box.

Also I often haul big heavy things around like pallets of things, round bales, implements, etc. Most of these can be hauled in a regular bed but you have to be careful not to damage the tail gate with the forklift. With a flatbed loading things on it is a piece of cake.

 

[PhysAssist]

For me I have four tool boxes built into the bed and also have a montezuma tool box on top of the bed. I can reach all of these from the ground. I have bad knees and it so nice not having to climb up into the bed to get into a traditional tool box.

Also I often haul big heavy things around like pallets of things, round bales, implements, etc. Most of these can be hauled in a regular bed but you have to be careful not to damage the tail gate with the forklift. With a flatbed loading things on it is a piece of cake.

Hi BD,

Thanks- those are all good things to think about.

I also have the knee problems, but I don't have the tail gate problem any more- mine rusted out a couple of years back.

Now my bed is also rusting/ed out, and I'm trying to decide between replacing the bottom of it, or just removing it all together in favor of a flat bed- in which case, the metal vs wood thought process needs to also take place...

That's why I asked in the first place.

Thanks for the useful input.

 

[4570Man]

I've never had a flatbed, but I have a gravel bed. It's extremely useful. I think a flatbed dump would be even better.

 

[gsganzer]

Hi GSG,
Nice looking ride!

Aside from towing your trailer, how else has the flat bed been more useful than having a contained area to put things in?

T

I've only had it a few days, so the list will probably grow. I had to pick up my welder from the repair shop the other day and the flatbed was nice to get it on and off. I also picked up a pallet of cement bags, same thing, just fork it on. It's also nice not having bed rails to have to reach over. The new trucks are getting so tall, the top of the bed rails are almost shoulder high. So if you want anything out of the bed, you pretty much have to climb up into the bed. Regarding your question of a flatbed over a conventional bed, the knapheid bed (and it looks like the newer CM beds) also has true stake pockets all the way around, separate from the bump rail. Kind of a nice feature if you wanted to make some drop in sides. I think if I do the above bed tool boxes and make a slide in tailgate, I'll have the best of both worlds and sort of have a hybrid between flat bed and a contained area. I probably like the CM beds better, but that's not what was available to me.


I like the photo's completelawn care posted of his Dodge. Those top of the bed boxes are probably the way I'll go and add channel at the end of them to accept a 2 x 12 (or taller). I'll probably put a Montezuma tool box on one side and a Westin above bed box on the other. I need to find somewhere to put my spare, right now it's bolted to the headache rack.

My truck has 2 30 gallon tanks, so I don't think putting the spare under the bed is an option.