What kind of bed is on your truck?

[DMax82]

Well I really need about three trucks, but will have to settle for one...LOL. My main requirement is the ability to tow my tractor (Kioti DK40SE) which I estimate to weigh around 6600 pounds. (4200 tractor, 1200 loader, 1200 filled tires). I think that pulling it on a 14k gooseneck could be nice, but am also open to a 10k bumper pull. I am considering everything from a 3/4 ton to F550. Below are the four types of beds that seem most prevalent, ranked in the order of my interest.

1) Dump. The holy grail! Makes unloading a snap. I would haul gravel, wood chips, manure, and pretty much anything else I wanted to. Ideal would be a flatbed with removable wooden sides so that I could easily load/unload pallets. Main downside would seem to be loss of a gooseneck hitch.

2) Fixed flatbed. Can easily haul logs and other building materials, and anything else that the dump could. Gooseneck friendly.

3) Utility bed. Mobile tool box! All of my tools and lots of little supplies would always be close at hand. Cons include limited material hauling capacity, no gooseneck, and no ability to load pallets with my tractor.

4) Pickup bed. I guess the main pro is that they are common, especially 3/4 or 1 ton SRW. Can tow a gooseneck. Otherwise not easily loaded and no secure storage.

I am hoping to pick one up at a Ritchie Brothers auction in the fall. Lots of interesting options and prices seem great. I understand the risks of auctions, but am okay with it.

So I would love to hear about what kind of bed you have on your truck, and why you chose it.

Thanks! David

 

[atsah]

My vote is a 1 ton or 450 with a dump if I had a choice..

 

[nikerret]

I have a ‘14 F-350 chassis cab with a 10’ flatbed. Love it. I bought a 16’ dump trailer to pull behind it. Also a great purchase. I didn’t want a gooseneck due to losing the truck space.

 

[oosik]

What about truck #1 and a removable 5th wheel hitch. This would allow use as a dump truck and still pull a large flat bed 5th wheel trailer. I KNOW that Reese makes a very heavy duty, removable 5th wheel hitch. They can be removed just like the quick release hitch on your FEL. The one I saw was on a F-450 dump and was rated to pull 20K.

 

[4570Man]

I have a 1 ton with a dump bed. And I’ll never own another regular bed truck. It’s the difference between owning a tractor and having a tractor with a loader. A flat bed wouldn’t be too bad. Mine is a 3500 DRW truck but a 450 class truck would be a lot better. I haven’t found a 1.5 ton dump that I like so I have a 6500 dump too.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I justy bought a 19 F250 and a 16' Dump trailer. All bumper pull.
This combo handles everything I need.
The Dump trailer hauls my Kubota 4060 with ease.
The dump trailer haule all my lumber, scrap, rock. dirt. etc I just did 40 trips to the dump, so the trailer paid for itself as here they charge $250.00 ti deliver and pickup a rolloff for the dump.

I just added a goosenech hich so I can now haul either gooseneck, Fifthwheel, of bumper pull.

I had a F450 flatbed and for eevryday use it was too tall to load and unload items. Great if all you do is load and unload with a forklidt but I never do.
The F250 6.7 pulls as strong as the F450 6.0 did probably better for sure a lot smoother as it's my daily driver also and the F450 stak body just wasn't a daily driver.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The way the p/u beds tend to rust out, before anything else, I would avoid one if possible. I have an 08 Duramax low miles, in great shape, except the darn rear wheel wells. What to do? Any body shop says they would just be stealing my money to try and fix it. Doubt I can find a take-off that old.

 

[nikerret]

What about truck #1 and a removable 5th wheel hitch. This would allow use as a dump truck and still pull a large flat bed 5th wheel trailer. I KNOW that Reese makes a very heavy duty, removable 5th wheel hitch. They can be removed just like the quick release hitch on your FEL. The one I saw was on a F-450 dump and was rated to pull 20K.

I wouldn’t want to mess up the floor of the dump bed. It’s bad enough having stuff get stuck on the D-rings on the sides of my dump trailer.

 

[flyerdan]

We did a 5th wheel on a one ton dump bed at work. Cut a square panel that would hinge forward over the frame mounted ball. It was framed underneath so it would sit flush and the hinge was to the front so material would slide right over it.

 

[Redlands Okie]

There is a HUGE selection of low profile truck beds with tool storage, top load or side load, that still allow you to comfortably haul a goose neck. Below is just one of many and lots of varieties.


HOSWELL truck beds - Google Search