I've been looking at rot developing over the rear wheels for at least 4 years now, and it's grown well beyond the fender flares so I decided to take the bed off (originally to clean out tank) and never go back!


Also went ahead and stripped all rust with a grinder/wirewheel/phosphorus etching solution, and paint it all new again.

How to take bed off buy yourself in back yard


Primer


Gettin the basic frame mocked up


Mounts done, lights/plate done, headache rack basic


Primed up


Painted with deck on


Need mudflaps!



Still need to add some lights, stake pockets for some sides, and something to cover up the back end up some more. And finish back rack, make some under body boxes... It all ended up being more money then I expected, about $600 as is, probably another $150+ to make it like I want. I also was going to do a diamond plate deck, but I do like being able to pound a nail in wherever I want to chalk something. I also bought the main rails (2x4x3/16) on a whim and didn't measure first, so you end up looking down the barrel so the speak. I wanted to 45 the corners, but the bed just covers the tires now (at 6'4") so I couldn't loose any length. Otherwise a lot of fun, never done a welding project like this but I enjoyed it.

 

Looks good......You put in alot of work into it...

 

any way you could post up some specs? interested in doing this to a couple trucks this summer.

if you could also post up potential metal costs, and where you sourced the steel from it would be greatly appreciated!

 

I like what I'm seeing!

 

Well I got the steel from a local supply, Turner steel in Bridgewater (MA). I paid full retail price, if you know someone with an account somewhere it would be substantially less expensive. I also had them cut it to length, and they did a perfect job (all peices within 1/16" or less) perfectly square cuts etc. It was an extra $25 per order, I got 2 orders. I guess all together the steel was around $5-600, some stuff I got for free.

I can get specific measurements but from memory the outter framework was 2"x4" tubing, 3/16" wall, cross member anlge iron was 2"x2", 1/4" thickness. Ended up making the stake pockets out of 1/4" x 4" flat stock, cut for pockets and then run all down the sides/rear as well (see pic). I raised the bed off the frame with 4" C-channel, using the OE mounts. You can see their layout in the pictures above.

The headache rack is welded out of 2" sq. tubing, 1/8" wall I think. I bolted a center section in so I can get to the rear window without removing the bed (best idea I've ever had! ). Decking is 2x10 p.t. lumber, bolted 2x on every crossmember 16" on center. Seems to be way overkill, BUT I've had some heavy crap dropped in there with no problems at all. I also have sides a little over a foot tall that drop in on each side and one for the rear to give a pickup bed. Next is to make some extensions to make it taller, or just different sides.

 

thanks man, i appreciate it! i priced out steel, with what i figure was close to yours. i was dead on with the size of the angle, and i was an inch of on the c-channel. went with 5" instead of 4".

i got a price of 397 and some change, and that was with full sticks of steel for me to cut myself.

i have a shortbed, so my bed will be 7' instead of 8' so ill have a slight overhang, but it will have more room than stock.

i have stake pockets here from when i was building a trailer, so ill weld those on.

at 6'4" does the flatbed cover the tires well? i was contemplating going wider if it doesnt.

 

My overall width is 6' - 8 1/2" and it covers 265/75-16 single rears perfect. The deck itself is 6'4" and barely covers the tread of the tires, at 6'8" it flares out from the cab just a little bit and covers the whole tire nicely. Works great for single rear IMO.

 

Thats what I figured from the pics. I was thinking 6'8" total width. I have a few ideas for the stake pockets after they're welded on.

Thanks for the info. If I have more questions ill either post them here or pm you.