pickup to flat bed

[Whitnel]

I have wanted to do this to my F250 as well. If I ever damage the bed a flat bed will go on it. I did $1,000 worth of damage to the bed when I first got the truck. I should have put that towards the flat bed, I have always regereted not doing it. I have seen some that look really good with the SRW. They are made to just be a little wider than the cab, not as wide as the DRW models are.

 

[hrcarver]

I have wanted to do this to my F250 as well. If I ever damage the bed a flat bed will go on it. I did $1,000 worth of damage to the bed when I first got the truck. I should have put that towards the flat bed, I have always regereted not doing it. I have seen some that look really good with the SRW. They are made to just be a little wider than the cab, not as wide as the DRW models are.

Yep, the make flatbeds for srw's that will not stick out a foot on each side. I think most srw flatbeds are 7' rather than 8'.

You will not be loading pallets side by side like you can a 8' or 8.5' wide bed, not that you could haul them on a srw anyway... and that's the only remotely possible downside I see.

 

[Army grunt]

My vote is for the flatbed, Just install removable wooden sides that fit into stake pockets. Thats great looking an really easy to build.For the bed look at the way the old pickups did it with wood an steal strips. an go with 5/4 x 6 pt decking.You can buy the side rack connectors from Tractor Supply.The under carrage can be built using pt 2x6s or what ever you need for cross ties.It will be a great project wiss I was closer I would help
Send pics.
Army Grunt

 

[Case485Guy]

Yep, the make flatbeds for srw's that will not stick out a foot on each side. I think most srw flatbeds are 7' rather than 8'.

You will not be loading pallets side by side like you can a 8' or 8.5' wide bed, not that you could haul them on a srw anyway... and that's the only remotely possible downside I see.

^^^^^^
SRW"s are 7' wide, at the bed places around here sometimes they are not in stock and you have to order in. They look good on a SRW truck.

 

[slowzuki]

Why not? When I haul hay on a SRW its 9" over each side at least (36-40" x3 bales). As long as the cross fork notches don't fall on the bed edge.

Beaver Valley Supply Company - Winkel Flatbeds and Balebeds - The F350 srw pic is the style I'd like.

You will not be loading pallets side by side like you can a 8' or 8.5' wide bed, not that you could haul them on a srw anyway... and that's the only remotely possible downside I see.

 

[tlbuser]

Flat is the way to go. A couple of underbody boxes, steps, frame mounted trailer hitch. Mine has in bed tiedowns and a full rub rail on the stake pockets. I had flexiliner placed on my bed. So far, for the little stuff like a shovel or rake, they stay where you leave them. Roud stuff like a portable air tank, you may have to stop and pick up

 

[lostcause]

Also check with your insurance man. A flat bed will change things with some companies.

I have had both and went back to a Pickup Box. The cons were just too much for me and if I need to haul that kind of stuff I just use my trailers.

Chris

i ran into the same thing a few years ago when i bought a 1-ton dump. neither of the companies i insure with would let me add it to my personal auto policy even though i use it only for personal property maintenance. i had to get a separate commercial vehicle policy for the truck. in the end, the commercial policy was almost no different i price - it seems like mostly an exercise in paperwork for the companies.

when i found out about all of this i asked some specific questions to both, and it pretty much boiled down to whether it had a non-standard body, such as a dump or flatbed. i drive by tons of older trucks every day with homemade bodies and i always wonder if any of them had the commercial policy discussion with their insurer.i guess nobody will ever know until there's an accident and the insurance company digs its heels in.

 

[Topkicker]

My last truck was a flatbed. It was easier to hook to my 5th wheel, offered cab protection, and had more usable space. Just make some sideboards for the small stuff.

 

[flusher]

My last truck was a flatbed. It was easier to hook to my 5th wheel, offered cab protection, and had more usable space. Just make some sideboards for the small stuff.

Nice looking truck:thumbsup:

 

[sandman2234]

Wife doesn't like the looks of a dually flatbed, got one out back as proof, sitting in the weeds...
A couple of posters mentioned making sure you have a bed with the rub rail so you will have more places to tie to. As a long time customer of the D.O.T, I learned early on that a flatbed driver who used the rub rail to tie the straps to, was an open target to be stopped and politely invited to give them an autograph. The rub rail is for just that, rubbing. It keeps forklifts from bumping into the sides and damaging the side or breaking the lights. On typical aluminum trailers, the rub rail will not support nearly as much weight as even a light duty strap will hold, so the rub rail becomes the weak link. On steel it is a little better, but even with steel, a strap or chain at the center between two stake pockets, it takes very little to twist the flatbar which then breaks the welds which allows the load to go flying off of the bed. The rub rail should be there to protect the lights and the straps that hold the load, but should never be used as an anchor point. The tie down strap should be routed behind the rub rail, but never outside or around the rail. The pockets (stake pockets) can be used as tie downs but never the rub rails.
David from jax