Flat bed build 2014 turning a 2014 DCSB into a usable truck

After a while it just breaks off like the top layer of shale.

 

I'll add a second opinion to this: add short fold down bed sides to the flat bed. As easy to and use as a flat bed, but with the added ability to fold up the sides when you want to haul (but yes, lots of tie downs too!).

For context, a friend of mine built a flat bed for his Chevy with fold down bed sides and it works great.

 

Yeah I wanted to do fold down bedsides, but the mechanics of it were beyond what I had time for. It’s a really cool setup though.

 

You're gross and I look forward to your posts.

 

Thank you yep that's the plan!

 

Made some more progress today I ended up making the deck and gonna weld it in place today. Any recommendations on the material to use for the decking?

 

Ooh sub'd!

In the interest of weight Id say some sort of corrugated aluminum, similar the all the stuff youd see in Australia.

 

I used salvaged extruded aluminum bleachers.

 

Thanks I was looking at Aluminum but due to the material shortage it is crazy expensive I have a bunch of that Trex decking material at my house but it is pretty heavy I might just do cedar planks and throw a bed mat over them when hauling gnarly crap.

 

That would be perfect! ill check the scrap yard next time im there!

 

I called the local bleacher company, they had a warehouse full of it.

 

Thats a genius idea

 

This looks like a fun build. If you incorporate some sort of stake pockets for side rails on the flat bed, those could also be used for the removable camper attachment points as well. You might have to consider using square tube aluminum for the camper frame to help lighten the load. Ever tig welded? I have not, but I just bought a used miller synchrowave 180.
If this is your first major welding project, you should have your welds inspected by an experienced welder, just for safeties sake.

 

OP, i assume you know about this thread
but in case you missed it

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/flatbed-information-thread.558179/page-12

 

So I finally mounted the bed going to add decking material tomorrow. Any idea how much I can get for my factory bed, tailgate, and rear bumper? If anyone local to the PNW needs a bed send them my way lol

 

There's an OR/WA craigslist thread on TW where I'm sure somebody'd take it off your hands.

 

Awesome thread! Looks like a fun & interesting project. Looking forward to the finished product!

 

thanks ill check it out

 

As much as someone is willing to pay, I replaced my bed with a full one, had cut professionally cut fenders for 37s/high clearance cut for bumper, stiffeners and aluminum tail gate cover
I paid $600
You might be able to get more since more people are more likely to buy a stock one than a cut up one