DFW BS Thread : ********NEW MEET!! CHECK POST #1*******

Speaking of, what’s the latest on your fleet? What did ins end up doing?

 

Got a third extension on the rental because they took forever and the shop is slow. It’s nice to see Helga stretching her legs

 

Happy Father's Day DFW crew

 

And to you as well sir.

 

I agree, they really seemed to nail it. I think it is the best looking of all the full size pickups available today.

 

Starting a bed rack project, any suggestions to bending 1/4 in thick steel flat bar with minimal tools. I got muscle but idk about that much muscle.

 

1/4” is pretty thick, are you sure you need that?

 

Increase OD and decrease wall thickness? Figure out what thickness you can bend and go from there. Most stuff is ultra overkill and you could save a lot of weight going down in wall thickness and up in diameter.

 

In my head im picturing something along along the lines of billiebars and the KBvoodo bars to handle the RTT. However, I'm also wanting to be able to mount and use a 270 awning on the rear drivers side. So it has to be able to either collapse or swing down below the roof line when driving. So those brackets have to be able to handle that weight and leverage of the awning at full height. Seeing as the only other areas I could attach that to when fully deployed is a portion of my roof rack and a brace that could attach to the cross bar.

 

Here is my kindergartener's attempt at a schematic of my idea.

 

Why not 1/8” channel for the rack and welding 1/4” angle tabs for the awning? Install the awning when you’re ready to camp and store inside the bed rack when traveling?

 

1/4” is super heavy. Which will make your truck really top heavy. 11ga(1/8”) would be more than enough to do what you’re wanting to do.

 

The 1/4" would only be for the 4 brackets I plan to mount everything onto. Family has a 12ft 11ga 3x2 they are donating to my project that I plan on cutting in half for the 2 6ft cross bars.

 

I think you'll have a hell of a time trying to bend 1/4" plate. I made some Z brackets to mount a bed rack on my truck and they were 1/8" and super stout. You'll probably have a much easier time trying to bend 1/8" and it will still be way more than you need. If I'm interpreting your drawings correctly, you'll have a similar setup as what I did for those brackets.

 

https://www.kellyhayes.com/20f1224pl-2-square-x-24ft-length-telespar-telescoping-square-tubing-perforated-plain-finish.html?msclkid=2f92e06daf2519c190ff80bc99cee0f2

An idea.

 

That was exactly what I was thinking for the awning. However I don't have any personal experience with this material so I'm unsure if it could handle the awning and the possible twisting forces caused by the wind when the awning is fully deployed.

 

Arguably, you’d want it slightly weaker than the awning.

If you do get an unexpected gust of wind, that tube would be easier/cheaper to replace than your $1200 batwing awning.

 

Brought my truck in to DFW Frame and Alignment for a quote; my frame is bent at the leaf spring hanger.

Based on what they said, I’m not sure anyone even looked at my truck.

They can’t tell the difference between welded on versus bolted on parts?

Or maybe they saw the hammer hangers and just didn’t want to look any closer. Either way, avoid them.

 

time to box that c channel back there

 

Still enjoying my vacation!