Flatbed build

fordman · Post by **fordman** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:18 am

make sure to add stake pocket for sides in case you ever want to put sides on the bed to haul something. atleast they will be thee even if you never use them.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:15 pm

Yes it's going to have 3 stake pockets each side and I'll be making more than one set of sides so i can run short or tall sides. Rear will hinge down or something.

robroy · Post by **robroy** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:12 pm

Good day Ryan!

Knowing you, I'll probably be able to sit back and watch your flatbed materialize in a matter of weeks (maybe days)!

I think it will look absolutely superb and agree completely with the merits of going in this direction, instead of restoring the factory box. The first time you have something set on there with a forklift and experience the convenience of them being able to approach from any angle, you'll be glad you went this route, I think. I used to haul pallets of blacktop pavement sacks "the cold stuff," in #50, and it was always really awkward to watch the forklift guy try to slide it in between the wheel wells, inevitably colliding with one or both of them.

Factory boxes have a special aesthetic style, but there doesn't seem to be too great a shortage of them around in good condition--you could always switch back some day if you wanted to.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, and may use your plans as a model for #50's flatbed!!!

Robroy

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:20 pm

Thanks Robroy!
I can't say for sure just yet but there is a good chance that on Sunday (tomorrow) the highboys bed is coming off and i'm going to start mounting the mustang gas tank. Then I can start building the frame as soon as i get my materials, then just a matter of cutting and setting the 2x6's on. Then I'll need to build the rear panel that will have the taillights, reverse lights, and then I need to build a nice trailer hitch. Then headache rack.... then tool boxes, gas tanks, stake pockets, sides , all the bling bling...

Yep I am going to keep my stock box, it will be sitting the side yard.
I completely stripped and POR-15'd the underside of that bed, and spent LOTS of time doing patch panels and welding in the seams on that bed. So i can't let it go, i'm going to keep it and eventually (many years from now, after college im sure) I'll have a bit of time and money to restore the rest of the original bed and then i can run which ever bed i want whenever i want

jzjames · Post by **jzjames** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:44 pm

That sounds like a nice project, and well thought out.
How are your camera skills cause it would be great to see how you build the flatbed.

Caseys71 · Post by **Caseys71** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:42 pm

Pretty solid looking plan! Can't wait to see how it turns out

. Only one comment I have is on the 2x6s for the bed, you may have/probably have (if you have then just ignore this

) already planned on shimming in between them to space them out as you fasten them down (just like they're spaced out on decks) if not then be sure to leave some space between them to allow air to flow through them so they don't rot out really quick and to allow for the wood to expand/contract.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:28 am

jzjames...
Thanks, and I will be taking lots of pictures. The point of this thread is to be a full build thread with specs and pictures to make it easier for someone else interested in doing a flatbed.

Casey, I was going to shim the boards to let water through but then i happened to stumble across an interesting thread on another forum, where several members agreed that you should not put any space in between the boards, because the boards will shrink after a couple months. One guy had spaced his boards and then the boards shrunk and then he had massive gaps that looked ugly and let dirt/rocks he was hauling, through.

Post by **70_F100** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:19 pm

1971ford wrote:Casey, I was going to shim the boards to let water through but then i happened to stumble across an interesting thread on another forum, where several members agreed that you should not put any space in between the boards, because the boards will shrink after a couple months. One guy had spaced his boards and then the boards shrunk and then he had massive gaps that looked ugly and let dirt/rocks he was hauling, through.

Yep, those treated boards have a lot of chemicals in them, and they are wet when you buy them.

Once exposed to the sun, they dry out.

They will shrink about 1/8" on each side, for a total of 1/4" overall.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 12:47 am

Yeah so i will just but them up against each other.

Pulled the bed off today. By myself

Installing mustang gas tank tomorrow, then i wait for materials.

Caseys71 · Post by **Caseys71** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:52 am

70_F100 wrote:
1971ford wrote:Casey, I was going to shim the boards to let water through but then i happened to stumble across an interesting thread on another forum, where several members agreed that you should not put any space in between the boards, because the boards will shrink after a couple months. One guy had spaced his boards and then the boards shrunk and then he had massive gaps that looked ugly and let dirt/rocks he was hauling, through.
Yep, those treated boards have a lot of chemicals in them, and they are wet when you buy them.

Once exposed to the sun, they dry out.

They will shrink about 1/8" on each side, for a total of 1/4" overall.

, For some reason I had read/written 2x6s and in my head was picturing deck boards. The deck-boards that my dad uses whenever we build a deck for someone are usually salt-treated (unless we use cedar) thus are never wet when you get them. When you get pressure treated 2x6s they will most likely be wet like both of you guys noted so ignore my post

. Unless you buy them from a lumber yard or a supply house that is, as they usually let there lumber dry out pretty well unlike Lowes/Home Depot as it's easier to work with that way.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:04 am

Bed off (pulled it off by myself, with no hoists/jacks, i'm proud

)

Mustang tank in (trying not to post too many pictures, as this is suppose to be about a flatbed)

Now I wait for my 2x4 to come in.

mybros71 · Post by **mybros71** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 4:29 am

Du you have access to a press brake and shear? If you do, you can make it lighter, stronger and a damn sight cleaner. Let me know because I have a set of plans which will make it super simple to fab up.

mybros71 · Post by **mybros71** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 4:36 am

I didn't see you already ordered your material. I'm sure it'll be super sweet out of the rec tubing.

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 4:37 am

I work a at a welding shop (but my "boss" is more of a buddy than a boss) that has every fabrication tool i could possibly need. I have access to a shop that has nothing but shears and breaks in it

Are you talking about using steel instead of wood? Not sure what else would be sheared. I'd use 1/8" diamond plate for the bed but can't afford it and wood should be pretty nice if i do it right.

Let me know what you're thinking..

1971ford · Post by **1971ford** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 4:38 am

mybros71 wrote:I didn't see you already ordered your material. I'm sure it'll be super sweet out of the rec tubing.

ahh.

Still interested in what you had in mind

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