What kind of bed is on your truck?

[4570Man]

A 3500 truck grossing less than 10 k would be useless. My 2wd regular cab base option 3500 weighs 7000. If it it was a 4x4 4 door your legal payload might be more with a half ton. Throwing that setback out the window I gross 15,000 on my ton truck. My Topkick will haul 7 tons staying under 26,000.

 

[gsganzer]

I don't think they make a 3500 with less than a 10K rating. Do they? My Chevrolet 3500 DRW has a 13,300 rating. I thing a 3500 SRW is still over 10K

 

[om21braz]

I don't think they make a 3500 with less than a 10K rating. Do they? My Chevrolet 3500 DRW has a 13,300 rating. I thing a 3500 SRW is still over 10K

You maybe be right on that. I know Ford makes a F-350 SRW with a 9900 lb. rating, not sure about GM.

 

[jjp8182]

Not sure about consumer vehicles that come with the standard pickup bed, but on the commercial/chassis-cab vehicles Ram advertises such on their website. It's actually interesting to see the differences in advertised (and probably placarded) capability between the consumer and the commercial/chassis cab version of the same model of truck.

I suspect the commercial/chassis cab truck weight ratings are intentionally being de-rated for life expectancy of fleet usage at (or near) max weight capacity for the vehicle's life. Granted I could be wrong and there's something about a standard pickup bed that makes a truck super powerful ...but I doubt it.

Either way I'm inclined to go with a flat/stake bed configuration with under-bed gooseneck hitch....at which point I can buy whatever type of trailer needed is to hauling whatever I need while also retaining use of a flatbed for loading stuff by the pallet load (which I can then unload with my tractor). Just seems like the most flexible option to me even though it means more tires to maintain (when compared to the larger hooklift truck route).

 

[gsganzer]

Not sure about consumer vehicles that come with the standard pickup bed, but on the commercial/chassis-cab vehicles Ram advertises such on their website. It's actually interesting to see the differences in advertised (and probably placarded) capability between the consumer and the commercial/chassis cab version of the same model of truck.

I suspect the commercial/chassis cab truck weight ratings are intentionally being de-rated for life expectancy of fleet usage at (or near) max weight capacity for the vehicle's life. Granted I could be wrong and there's something about a standard pickup bed that makes a truck super powerful ...but I doubt it.

Either way I'm inclined to go with a flat/stake bed configuration with under-bed gooseneck hitch....at which point I can buy whatever type of trailer needed is to hauling whatever I need while also retaining use of a flatbed for loading stuff by the pallet load (which I can then unload with my tractor). Just seems like the most flexible option to me even though it means more tires to maintain (when compared to the larger hooklift truck route).

I have a Chevy 3500 Crew chassis with a Knapheide flatbed. Apparently (at least on the Chevys) with a cab chassis, the engine programming is de-tuned. This is apparently done to minimize frame twist from torque, because they don't know what the eventual configuration will be of the truck as well as it increases longevity for fleet vehicles.

 

[RoyKing]

The Ford f350 SRW at 9900 is deal, then swap to a reading Utility body, pallets fit 49 wide. You can sell the old bed for 700 to $900. So my Reading low profile was $1600.00. The Ford will carry a load, one of 1000 liter tote jugs on the pallet full of water is 2100# sitting right the rear and the rear is still high and body is full of tools, and regular insurance will cover the vehicle and it will qualify as service vehicle for write-offs

 

[crashz]

I've grown up with and continue to own 1 ton dump trucks (currently a 2003 F450). They are work horses. And with a big heavy steel dump body, you can throw anything in the back without damaging the truck. My pick-up has towing duty only, and once I get the hitch plate and brake controller in the F450, it will handle all work.

All the bed options have their strengths and weakness (the stock pick-up beds are by far the best looking IMHO), so I would pick the one that you will need most often. Keep in mind the truck underneath as well. A heavy tool body on a CC 3/4 ton will not leave much capacity for a bumper pull trailer and your tractor. Those tool bodies get heavy when loaded down.

 

[4570Man]

I personally think a dually looks better with a flatbed or a dump bed. But there’s no comparison in the usefulness.

 

[crashz]

You make a good point. Depends on the truck. There was a photo of a late 70's GMC cab-n-chassis 4x4 dually with two tone blue paint, alcoa wheels and a modern aluminum flat bed. Absolutely beautiful and is the inspiration for the rehab of my truck in my avatar.

 

[ddbackhoe]

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

Thanks! David

Dodge 3500 4wd crew cab C&C with a dump and fifth wheel and tool boxes..because sometimes she needs to move hay, sometimes she needs to move mulch, sometimes she needs to move the LQ horse trailer, sometimes it just a little 2 horse ...Tony makes an awesome setup.
Dump Bed Special | T&G Sales

And sometimes she needs to clean the barn