Flatbed considerations...

Thoughts have been lingering on converting to flatbed. Something like this but with different upper bars. I like the 45 degree angle fenders. I also think I would put in a makeshift bed cover so I can put things underneath covered up and still have a decent amount of flat square footage on top. I would be building it myself so it will be as custom as possible. Thoughts?

 

I would also make it more or less bolt-on so I can convert back to regular bed.

 

haha better to crowd this one up than your build thread. \I have seen some on pirate4x4, where the actual flatbed portion has built in storage compartments. Some are water tight, and others were not, but that's always a good idea. The storage compartments go between the frame rail kinda deal, and can be kinda deep.

Also utilizing the factory rails on to the flat tech as a tie down solution is a awesome idea that I saw in Espek's build of his flat bed.

It would be cool if you could tie in the factory taillights with tubing. It would be easier with some flush mount trailer taillights, but would look pretty cool.

Im assuming your going to keep the roof rack as well...exo?

 

I like making the fender portion of the flatbed into storage compartments, preferably water tight, since I like to get muddy. I also like the idea of doing a hard tonneau top for the middle portion as well. That way I have a flat surface for large items without losing storage space between the fender parts.

Not sure what you meant by factory rails. I might know once I take my bed off and see what I have to work with. If also like to look at other flatness in person and see what they did.

I also think I'll go with flush mount trailer lights or just keep the light bar I have since it has parking, breaking, turn signal as well as white backup lights.

I might end up not using the current roof rack. I want bed bars that I can put a CVT tent on, so even if I kept the current roof rack I would have to add bars anyway that would then be removed when I put the bed back on. Plus trying to configure the flatbed to also work with my current roof rack would be a hassle. I'd rather start fresh. I have some cool looking ideas for bed/roof bars.

 

Is Espek in Pensacola?

 

heres especks build page--> http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/141443-especks-10-reg-cab-ome-4x4.html

he took the factory rails/tiedowns things, where you have to the cleats, and put them on the floor of the flatbed.

Starts on page 26, post 504.

Also a rear winch would be fackin awesome

 

Been giving this a lot of consideration myself. Planning on an RTT, gear, and supplies for weeklong family outings into the wilderness. Waiting on my PC parts (new motherboard), then drafting up some plans in autocad.

 

http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-vehicles/129-0612-1999-dodge-ram-2500-cummins/

could use some ideas from here

 

This is a Florida flatbed. Belongs to Spike's Tactical.

 

Maybe give yourself a rack that is integrated into the flatbed so you can have a RTT. having a few lockable water tight storage compartments could be good if you ever want to go out for extended camping, lock your any valuables (wallet or spare money, camera), but also have compartments for recovery gear. I use my truck for carrying things from hay to logs of firewood, and about anything else I may want, so having ratcheting tie downs easily accessible is nice as well. Maybe relocate the spare tire to being on top of the bed, and utilize that space for additional box space, but that won't be as useful if you want to swap between the factory bed and flat bed setup.

if you want to tie anything down, either weld points on, or drill and put eye bolts in. If using eye bolts, I suggest getting 4 nuts to lock them in place, 2 above and 2 below the bed so the second nut on each keeps the first one from backing out.

Similar to the factory tie down rails is a product I use a lot at work call unistrut. it is a piece of steel channel and you can get strut nuts for it to attach things to it. the unistrut itself is easily attached by either welding it on or using screws and fender washers. Electrical supply companies (Platt, Stoneway, Cresent, Graybar, North Coast to name a few) should have unistrut and strut nuts in stock all the time. You may also want square washer with some of this as well, which are designed to fit over the top of the unistrut but won't be bent in like a standard washer might if you like to tighten things down.

I like that built in CB antenna mounting point on the Spikes Tactical truck above, and you may want to consider adding that.

 

I like this one. Great lines.

 

good god that looks sick, just needs a cage like especks

 

This is quite possibly the ugliest "cage" I have ever seen. Not to mention a complete neglect for proper triangulation and tie-ins at common nodes.

 

That would fold up like a walmart lawn chair under a fat girl in a roll...

 

X2..

Please please please don't use square tubing for your flat bed.

I've been seriously contemplating one as well; more leaning towards the Austrailian style.. What comes as a factory option on the LANDCRUISER 70 Double Cabs. I'm not looking for rollover protection, more so an easier way to haul and store. I think something framed with steel, and decked with aluminum diamond plate would be pretty killer.

Rollover Protection "true cage" > Utility?

 

Could you elaborate on the "tie- in" at nodes part please

I can see that the actual 'cage' part doest really have pieces coming back to the flatbed/frame. Is that why it would crumple?

Is square tubing bad cause unlike round tubing it just butts up against each piece apposed to a notch that wraps around?

Not planning on building a cage, but do plan on building a backrack/chase styled rack and just trying to learn some more about structural integrity

 

Prolly good enough for how he uses it, not gonna save him in a rollover.

My concerns are the strength of the bed as a unit, and the lack of clearance of the rear tires under extreme articulation (or it appears that way).

I would have gone about it differently.

 

Very brief summation of cage 101.
http://www.nwhydroshots.virfx.net/links/rcd101.htm

 

Very cool. Just needs some kind of rack for me.

I definitely won't use square. Gonna get a tube bender and welder and some diamond deck.

No square tubing for me. I'll have to check out the Landcruiser thing. Sounds intriguing.