thumbs

What size flatbed can I put on a 4500? I would like a reasonably short one say 8'. This would be on a reg cab 60" c/a. Also what is the app cost of the flatbed.

thanks

Valhalla Farms

I looking into the same thing myself and what I've found for a 60'' ca/a is that 9' is the short one. Check out Hillsboro Industrys in kansas, they make some nice flat beds in both steel and aluminum.

thumbs

Thanks. I am wondering if you can put a fifthwheel hitch on a flatbed also?

Take a look at Reading beds also. I think its Reading truck bodies.

RickG

I'm sure you could use the B & W companion hitch .

widebody

I like the CM body. It is steel and heavy, but it smooths out the stiff ride.

thumbs

Now thats the pict I've been lookin for thanks.

That isn't a single wheel is it??? I thought the c/c was only dual wheels.
What length is the flatbed?

thanks

zukota

I will second the hillsboro beds - best deal I could find on a steel body for my old 3/4 ton. Your not that far from me, give Kevin at little stream auto a call -he has been very helpful 717-355-0829.


Hillsboro also makes a western hauler style now, it's called the GII.

http://www.hillsboroindustries.com/P...TruckBeds.aspx

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Max

Thanks for the info. I called Hillsboro and talked to a couple of people including the engineer. Very helpful and took their time to help figure out what I needed and if it would work. Very nice people and know their stuff.

widebody

My CM bed is 9' 4".
Check out Bradford Built beds, they are nice as well.
I like the side skirts because it gives the truck a little bit more of a finished look.

thumbs

I'll check em out thanks.

Ok is anyone out there using the 4500 with a flat bed and a fifthwheel hitch?

zukota

That's a fairly unique situation.. I know in the research I did on flatbeds, they tend to raise the 5th wheel around ~6" to 8" from where it would have been in a regular truck box. - I expect this is why you won't find to many.

This isn't (as much of) a problem for goosenecks because they are installed below the flatbed deck surface.

thumbs

Yeah this maybe a wild goose chase for sure. I would like the 4500 because of the gvw and gcvw would be perfect for me. Almost anything else will be overloaded or very close. It may turn out that I will just have to go with a reg cab pu 3500 dually and say that's as close as I can get. Or just keep the ole girl I have.

Does anyone have a cost on the Warner conversion? Also is that a 9 or 10' box? Just wondering how they handle the extra length of the 4500 frame.

michaelj

I have seen flatbeds with a 5th wheel hitch, welders and such that do a lot of traveling. Seems like they had a specially build base that allowed the hitch itself to sit at the proper height. I am interested in doing the same thing. The C/C and Aisin tranny is a pullin unit.

thumbs

I am told there is such a thing as a low profile fifthwheel hitch that, of course, helps lower the height of the hitch on a flatbed. Now the thing that I don't understand is if the fifthwheel is lower to the deck of the flatbed then how much clearance do you have to allow for the truck to camper angle differences while entering and leaveing the highway or uneven surfaces? This coupled with the 9' deck length on the 4500 give me pause for thought. I am told there will be enough if the fb is tapered or angled at the courners but I'm till not sure about the camper hittin the deck on uneven surfaces. Anyone know anything about this?

zukota

You might have better luck on an RV forum... have you tried http://rv.net/forum/ and the like ?