Flat bed for my 1Gen

I am considering building or buying and modifying a flat bed for my 2001 Extracab. My goals are:

1. to have a long drawer under the center,
2. storage cabinets or drawers or swing outs underneath, in front of, and behind the rear wheel, on both sides. The extra cab has some room in front the rear wheel so hope to use that for the house battery, air tank, compressor, recovery gear.
3. have a headache rack (I hope that's what they are called) and option for one additional loop like that in the back.
4. removable side walls that drop in and out quickly with pins. Curious if motorcycle ramps or similar can be adapted and also used as Maxtraxx-like traction ramps; double duty would eliminate need to carry dedicated traction boards.
5. I want it light - aluminum if preferable. Not ruling out wood flooring, but favor alu floor. Want to stay away from steel.
6. Want the option of tie-downs and adding a gullwing canopy later, but retain the flexibility of a bed to carry various loads. So a modular reconfigurable design.

In summary, I need practical storage + flexible utility + light weight.

In searching the net, I came across Overland Under Budget's home made flatbed which is very much what I want. He has a full cab so little room between the cab and the rear wheel.

Another one I like very much is the Summit Expedition Rack. I am drooling over their gallery and might just buy one (requested price quote).

Finally another option I saw is the Double Diamond kit. Frankly they seem less attractive as there is no center drawer, and appears made of steel. For a half ton truck it seems absurd to load a 500-700 lb flat bed. The Summit bed is 260lbs.

Buying versus building: I am almost certain I can build one (can TIG weld, mill, plasma cut etc) but am almost certain it is not cost effective and not time effective (full time job, family). But still weighing my options.

Anything else I am missing or any other suggestions?

 

1) Doable, but you have to work around the crossmembers, since they sort of hump up in the middle.
2) Also doable, but you'll need to design and fab them. All of the premade boxes I have found are waaaay too big.
3) Easy enough. I put one on mine and it has been super useful - tie downs for stuff, support for long material, place to stick some magnetic lights, etc. It doesn't have to be complicated.
4) I've played with this a little bit. I have wood sides that drop into stake pockets. Next version will be steel, and work as an adapter for my ARE DCU
5) Glad you're thinking about weight. I did a steel frame and aluminum flooring (recycled bleachers). The factory bed is 200lbs, and the bumper/hitch combo was 100ish. My bed and bumper replaced all that, and I gained 15 pounds - but I also gained a well for a full size toolbox, so I'm calling it good. I've seen some builds around here who had weight as an afterthought and the results were not ideal.
6) I did rub rails with cross bars inside for hooking stuff in. No regrets, and its wide enough that i'll be able to put my cap on eventually.


Build vs buy - its going to be hard to beat the value of a prebuilt one. This is a time consuming task if you DIY it all and want it to come out well.

 

Very thoughtful reply, thank you. Do you have a build thread or any photos of your bed?

I am now waiting for a quote from Summit Expedition Trucks. If expensive will get their most basic setup and start from there.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/99-flatbed-hunting-rig-build.764789/

it’s achievable. You’ll need to make it yourself. Mine weighs 50 pounds more than stock+bumper, all steel, and I made a drawer as well. My advice is to be very aware of how you’re going to handle your gas filler tube situation, it is easy to make it an after thought, but it will wreck your plans if you do. Also, your drawer length is significantly limited by the hard brake lines. The guy who did the build you reference has his flatbed significantly lifted off the frame. I could not lift mine like that and have it useable.

 

I used to deal with companies that built truck bodies another the complete service truck.

If you can accept the quote and build time From Summit Expedition Rack and compromise on the design you rather have.

Building one off is always more expensive even more so with the cost of materials today.

We all pretty much build our welding truck bodies to just what we want.


Though having just what you want can be priceless! No need to tig everything run wire and be done.

Best of luck

 

What you’re describing sounds like Overland Under Budget’s flat bed build.

He added side gates that also function as moto ramps.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvaNgVbTgYtyHq4QAUaZLshJY44t010g9&feature=shares

 

No build thread, but I've got pictures.

 

Thanks they are very helpful and the build looks well-thought out.

 

Yeah, you will notice in my original post I specifically named him and linked to the same video.

By the way, hello fellow radio ham!

Good to hear a steel replacement is weight-wise net even (more or less) with the OEM bed. I plan to make it out of Aluminium tube (1x2x1/8" or similar) so at least that seems like a win.

But agree Overland Under Budget's build, although a direct inspiration for me, is lifted higher than I intend. I want to retain the bed as every day transport so will keep it lower. His solution with fuel storage under the drawer will thus not work.

 

Eek! Guilty as charged!

 

Yes his was a huge inspiration to mine too, until I actually started measuring and designing the build out— there wasn’t much I could apply directly because of his lift choice, and that also affects the proportions of the side skirts and headache rack and taillight boxes.

It looks like you’re in Phoenix, so if you ever want to have a look at one in the flesh you’re welcome to come check mine out.
I stick welded mine all the way through, its not perfect, but I don’t have anything I am upset about on it. it’s not that difficult of a project if you have the right tools.

 

I want to reiterate the gas filler tube thing. This was the biggest pain in the butt, and I’m still not entirely happy with it. Ended up sacrificing the oem one and adding a rubber extension. Took some trial and error to get it to seal and to fill correctly. Still acts up on some pumps, but overall doesn’t give real issues

 

Same. there are some pumps that won’t flow due to the angle of my filler tube being too level. It was just luck that mine worked; could have easily ruined my project.

 

I want to do something very similar, I for sure want to build mine though, and out of steel. Has anyone built one out of steel and just got stronger leaf springs?

I want air bags too so I wouldn't have to worry as much about how much weight I load on it, but don't know which ones are good and how hard they are to install.

 

Leafs and air bags don’t solve the whole problem with extra weight. Still have power, fuel mileage, extra strain on everything, and most of all braking to be concerned with.

 

Exactly. I love these little trucks but at 1100lb rating you don’t have a lot of headroom.

 

Thanks, I will still probably make it out of steel, but knowing this I'll be more careful about weight.

 

UteLTD will likely be your most affordable aluminum tray. Very simple setup but can be built up and I know a few very happy customers. My last quote from them was good, but they were backordered on a few things, like the center trundle drawers. http://www.uteltd.com/pg-bed/15-gallery.html
MITS Alloy, NorWeld (dealers in the states) and others like Summit (Canada) are all much, much nicer but prep yourself for the quotes, its isn't a casual investment. (One reason you don't see a lot of them on 1st gens IMO is cost of tray versus the whole truck)
Now that I have a DD, seriously considering slapping the UteLtd on the truck and having a canvas canopy made.

 

What leafs should I get when I do build it?