Flatbed ?s

[Danni84]

Im wanting to put a flatbed on my '84 but I am concerned about the weight. A buddy and I have been drawing plans and it seems like a lot of steel to put on such a small truck. There arent many out there to reference and non of the pics in the forum show up. Just looking for some ideas on a simple flatbed.Here is kinda what Im after:

 

[Captain Ledd]

The actualy bed of your truck is only going to appreciate 1,500 lbs TOPS, really 1,000 lbs will put a noticeable strain on things. Use thinner steel, like 1/8" square tubing will be plenty. and really just 4 supports, 1 at each end, 2 in the middle on either side of the wheel). Some GOOD 2x4's or 2x6's (oak, or other harder wood) will take up the rest. It'll be plenty strong.

Just look at the metal strips running across the bottom of your bed now. They're not a whole lot thicker.

 

[straycat]

Use the search function. We have had a several members who have some really nice flatbed trucks the built!!! We have a fab section as well.

 

[Will]

You probably want it to be around 300#--about what a Ranger bed weighs I would guess. You want some weight so it doesn't ride rough. Oak is about 180# if you use that. Yellow Pine (the structural stuff at Menards) would take about 40# off the weight and be about as strong. You don't need to worry about surface wear, which is the benefit of Oak, because you aren't going to be loading a D6 onto your Ranger. I'd actually use steel, probably 1/8" diamond plate, which would fall somewhere between oak and Y.P. The bed would do a better job of clearing the tires, and I like a steel bed better. The spacing isn't a problem because the edges are welded. I do agree that 1/8" tubing is more than adequate. Really, the thing that overloads most pickups is gravel or dirt. That threat is pretty much gone with a flatbed.