Flatbed Information Thread

My timeline is dependent upon the manufacturing company. I’m just a dude that likes speed parts. I don’t have the facilities to house a laser cutting machine as well as a hydraulic brake press, or can employ several welders. Oh, how I wish I could...

I think, realistically speaking, I hope to have the prototype in a few weeks. Which, of course, gives me even more time to tweek this or that in the designs.

So far, I have the frame, skin, wheelwells, several different boxes/liquid storage, headache rack, tailrack, bedsides and a few other bits and bobs designed and ready for prototype. But, prototyping can take time.

 

Those two options were the only two that i found when looking for an aluminum flatbed, other than having one custom built. The price i found for just the plain UTE bed without the headache rack, installation or under body boxes was $2,500. The four wheel camper dealer, who also sells Norweld flatbed said that the Norwelds are stronger than the UTE and considering I’m going all over that’s what sold me

 

Mule Expedition Outfitters will be the importing, selling, and distributing MITS Alloy trays and canopies. I'm pretty stoked about this product line! The standard features the trays will have vs the Norweld line will be much nicer, and will come in black powder coat. Take a look, and if you have any questions feel free to send a DM.

https://mitsalloy.com.au/

 

Been looking for some good looking 1st gen examples. Yours caught my eye. Got any detail pics of your fuel port solution?

 

I've been working on a design for an aluminum bed and canopy as well. Much like @Anderson many hours in SolidWorks. I have most of the material on hand for the tray and canopy. Need to start getting into the assembly. Prototyping can be hell at times. Lol

 

So disclaimer I bought the truck with this flatbed for $400. 99% sure the bed was built for a Toyota pickup since the original gas fill door was removed and plated and a new one was cut in the driver side. The headache rack is also a bit short. I'd grab better pictures up top but I have a camper shell resting on it from my 04.

 

Just thought I would share some progress on my flatbed build, added a custom bumper, and camper to the flatbed. Really digging it!

 

Nice!!

 

That bumper looks good. Most of the ute trays I’ve seen leave a lot to be desired in the bumper area.

 

That looks great!

 

This reminds me that I forgot about this thread...

a small update: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tr00pr-missed-every-target.667154/page-4#post-24413263

and more images are on my IG
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGq2dORHOgN/?igshid=9axumsr9yvpc

 

Looks good!

https://campovrlnd.com/

 

Yup! I’m one of them. I’m already heavy and over budget

 

If you build 2 I'll play...

Maybe you can spend less that way haha

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-na-produced-trays-for-midsize-trucks.698619/

Check out the link. We will be posting more information as it becomes available. We are moving full steam ahead!

 

Why cant one of the many US based flatbed manufacturers produce a model mirroring the Norweld tray?
I'm ignorant to the market, but I assume it would bring them an entire new customer base.



This is all I want, but sub 10k installed.

 

Market unfortunately. Those norweld trays wouldn’t be much use to someone using it for work. Just like the more commercial options aren’t much use to us offroad.

plus 10k for a norweld compared to say a cheaper option like uteltd is offering is hard to justify for most.

@Ralf is offering something pretty darn close to the norweld.

 

We're combining work/utility and off-road capability in one unit. As @tacoma16 mentioned, the Norweld's are not exactly a work style tray, and the industrial/commercial ones have zero off-road features. We're taking all the best features from both sides of the coin, and combining them into one unit!

Getting SUB 10K is the hard part. It's not cheap to produce these things, especially when wanting all the bells and whistles. If you have a Tacoma, depending on box length and options, you could be sub 10K. A full size truck and optioned like this one shown here, no way could we do it for sub 10K unfortunately.

Our company, Summit Expedition Trucks, the goal was to provide as many features as possible on a modular level. The base tray/flatbed starts at $6,000 USD, and fully optioned out (short bed chassis, DCSB) will be in the realm of $10,800 USD.

The base option, along with any of our products can be installed at home. The base comes with fenders to fit 33" tires, includes the fuel filler relocation kit, trailer connector relocation, back-up camera relocation, bed plug relocation, back-up sensor relocation, and includes all wiring and hardware to mount to the truck. You can be installed for sub 10K if you don't mind doing the work yourself. We've designed them to ship to your door, and with the help of a friend (mainly to lift off your factory bed), with-in a few hours that the system can be installed on your truck. All of our products are aluminum to maintain a light weight footprint, with our hinges, locks and tie downs being stainless steel.

When I say modular, literally everything but the interior tie downs can be added at a later date. Even the drawer can be added later, which is something that isn't offered anywhere else as a later add-on option. Besides the deck itself, you can add all of the following options;

- headboard - tire carrier or non-tire carrier variants
- fenders, with sizes to accommodate up to 40" tires
- side boards and tail gate
- underbody tool boxes
- 4ft sliding rear drawer, or optional length static storage cubby (great for ATV ramps)
- under body mounted water tank 14 gallon

We're also working on removable Canopies down the road, but for now our focus is trays/flatbeds.

Follow along on the thread as I'm going to be posting more updates there soon!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-na-produced-trays-for-midsize-trucks.698619/

 

What qualities is the Norweld missing for using it for work?
Staying within the realm of quarter-ton and half-ton trucks doing work, that is.

 

In my opinion the boxes in front and below the tires could be bigger and square so you have better use to store stuff like tools or materials. As of right now they are designed for approach angle and clearance. Also, most contractor beds have the ability for “stake” sides. I don’t believe norweld offers doors that are much larger to carry things like dirt or other bulkier materials.

I’m by no means an expert, but from my short experience working with service trucks and landscaping vehicles.