2011 Flatbed Build

Hunt Valley? LOL

 

Nope

Haha no, that's too far North for me. And they don't let me leave here

It's the only rated bumper available in a Hi-clearance.

 

None of the aftermarket bumper builders claim a tow rating on their bumpers. But I can't imagine including a receiver tube and not including chain keepers.

From the looks of it some plate will be the best bet. If not plate then weld on some u-bolts to the under side of the bumper facing inward.

 

Awwww... that's too bad... at least Midlo is nice

 

U-Bolts or loops are going to be the best bet since the entire bottom side is plated. ATO is more than just a receiver tube, it has a square tube that runs the width of the bumper and ties into the bumper mounts similar to a stock hitch.

 

I don't have any chain keepers on my bumper and I use it to tow. Im probably going to make chain extensions so I can attatch them to the shackle points in a cross fashion. Last time I towed I had to just hook the chains on straight, not to safe if the connection fails.

My hc has this as well, and is pretty stout. Its a relentless fab bumper though.

 

Made some progress today. After several setbacks due to too much heat from welding I was able to lay out the lower bed rail on the passenger side. I also cleaned up the bumper and painted it.

 

Errmerrgerd...pipe!

 

Glad to a see a real project versus bolt ons and paint.

Nice progress and skill level. Wish I had time to tackle a large project again.

You will probably change it or add to it, but I would distribute the stress put on the frame rails were the tube steel sleeve rests that the bed bolt goes through.

 

Yup, trying to keep the square tube square to the cab isn't easy. So far so good.

Thanks. Yes, there will be plenty more steel added to the sleeves. I won't rely just on the sleeve for my bearing point.

 

Have you calculated how much more the flat bed will weigh versus a regular truck bed? If it weighs too much more, are you going to get a stronger rear suspension?

 

Lesson for the day. Do not try and build something square and level to the truck on the truck. Build it square and level off the truck and then put it on. Life would have been so much easier if I had figured that out Friday. Not much progress over the weekend due to that. Oh well.

 

Subbed!!

 

I have to work out of plum and level due to situations at work. Best item is a digital level that you sent it's baseline zero to whatever you are working off of. Makes the work easy.

Not sure which parts you were working on but maybe the thought could help you. The husky $40 digital level is easy to procure and works great.

 

I'm laying out the lower rails for the bed. Trying to get both rails to be square to the cab and each other is proving difficult.

I have a nice 4' bubble level, but the digital level may be a good addition to my arsenal. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Subd

 

Digital levels make making things equally crooked much simpler. In the end that's what we're really trying to accomplish.