utility box
 

hey I know of a utility box that's on a 95 long bed ferd and they're getting rid of the truck cause the poor thing is about to die...500,000 miles, 4 engines and who knows how many times other things have been fixed!

Well since I can get the utility bed for free I was wondering if it would fit on my truck. We run a business doing field service on Ag Aircraft. We really need to set up a second truck with tools and I think my truck would handle a lightly loaded bed box really well. Eventually my dad and I would like to get another 1 ton service truck but not until next year at the earliest, and something like an '03-06 3500.

If anyone has any experience with utility boxes on the 2nd gens I would REALLY appreciate some feedback on this!!!

Thanks
jon

IF the utility box comes from a Cab and Chassis truck, the distance from the rear axle centerline and the rear of the cab is about 3 inches longer than a standard frame distance on a long box model.

The distance change would require some fab work on the brackets for the mounting and possibly some fender cutting just to make it look centered. Other than that it should be a go.

My bro-in-law just switched his service body from his 99 dodge Cab and Chassis to his 02 dually long box and that was the main problem was the change in distance from cab to axle.

Good luck..

J-eh

If the measurements dont work out, throw the ferd cab away and bend the framerails into a hitch and pull it as a trailer.

I'm pretty sure it's a long bed and not a cab/chassis. Don't know why I didn't think of the trailer idea, it would be kinda redneck but I use my truck as my daily driver too and it would be a big liability to have my tools sitting out wherever I went, granted they lock but if someone wants my tools bad enough they can get those boxes open pretty easily!! And it would be dirty cheap to turn that into a trailer so we could wait until next year to get another full utility truck. PITA to pull a trailer around everywhere but ya can't have everything you want, especially when you're an airplane mechanic![laugh]

One question about the trailer thing, would there be anything wrong with pulling the pinion gear out and making a plug/cover to hold the oil in? It would take a little bit of drag off. Or would it be better to just find a trailer axle with electric brakes? I would think a trailer axle would be relatively easy to find.

Well thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it. It's nice to have some input while brainstorming!

trailer axle would be lighter but you would probably have to carry a separate spare for it.

my .02 [laugh]

mel

well we looked into it and decided it would not be worth our time to do it.
thanks for the feedback

I know where there is a utility bed, taken off of a Ram 3500, sitting on the side of the highway with a for sale sign on it.

The guy is a PRCA steer roper. I drive by his house every day on my way home from work. I know its a long way from cali, but I thought I would say something. You never know when people might be coming this way, or that.

actually, I'm looking into driving out to florida and back to pick up my brother's boat for him(there were complications with his move, he's now stationed on west coast and is in iraq with the Air Force) but if I had 5 days to take the 10 across tx [laugh] sweeny doesn't look too far out of the way....
how much is it and could you send me some pics of it?

jon