Flatbed or regular bed???????

mckeddie said:

This has always been my problem with flatbeds. My friends can't get them on their trucks fast enough. I like to be able to throw **** in the bad and not worry about it. Plus I haul a lot of yard crap, and like the sides to just pile **** up in it.

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This is my first go around with a flatbed so it's just different. So far I've hauled the Jeep on a longer trip, and the tractor around locally a few times so just trying to get used to it. My hope is once the learning curve is over, I'd imagine my opinion will be that a flatbed is handier than a shirt pocket.

It's a lot easier to haul the largest plastic kiddie pool that walmart sells (ya know, the $39 one with the bulit in slide!) on a big ol flat bed than to try to fold it up into a regular bed, or strap it to the roof of your Ford Escort :****:

Chase truck!

Flatbeds belong on dually trucks only. Looks out of place on SRW trucks.

the_white_shadow said:

Flatbeds belong on dually trucks only. Looks out of place on SRW trucks.

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I agree...unless you have 33''+ tires on it.

Something to consider.... if cost is a big factor, i see used fllatbeds on CL for @ $500.... cheaper than building one

TBItoy said:

It's a lot easier to haul the largest plastic kiddie pool that walmart sells (ya know, the $39 one with the bulit in slide!) on a big ol flat bed than to try to fold it up into a regular bed, or strap it to the roof of your Ford Escort :****:

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That's a good point, that I'll refrain from mentioning to my nieces, mom, or mother in law...

I am headed to the metal store today to get started so I will post some pics after I get started.

nealcj8 said:

I am headed to the metal store today to get started so I will post some pics after I get started.

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So wat kinda bed you gonna build? Im a fan of the skirted beds to hide all that ugly **** under the truck?

I am just going with no skirts right now . Later on I may come back and skirt it and put on some of the little fenders.

I'm on my 3rd flat bed and wouldn't go back. I built the one on the '08 white f450. The '06 f550 is a 16 ft knapheide dump, and the black 2000 f450 looks to be homemade. The sides are removable on my bed. But I do appreciate how much easier the wood sides are to remove and just toss on the ground versus my painted steel sides. Added the refuse sides to the knapheide bed later.

Haven't seen a srw truck with flat bed I'm a fan of yet.

I spent $2600 building my bed from metal to paint and wiring, my 100 hours of labor was free. It was less than half what knapheide quoted me with no rails or boxes or headache rack.

Here's the build thread on the bed and truck.

https://www.nc4x4.com/index.php?threads/149101/


And one more shot towing my buggy...




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Yeah I'd say flatbed all the way. I'll be watching your build as I have a project truck that needs a bed also. I'm leaning towards building a nice aluminum bed though. Just so I don't have to worry about scratching it up and getting rusty

Re: Re: Flatbed or regular bed???????

mcutler said:

Haven't seen a srw truck with flat bed I'm a fan of yet.

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X2.

Ive wanted to put a flat bed on mine for a while, but haven't wanted to spend the money to go drw at the same time.

mcutler said:

Here's the build thread on the bed and truck.

https://www.nc4x4.com/index.php?threads/149101/


And one more shot towing my buggy...

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Thanks I was really hoping you would chime in. I saw a couple of pics on a thread on Pirate.

matt, as a guys who appears ot have ran a 7.3, 6.0, and 6.4......any thoughts?

Re: Re: Flatbed or regular bed???????

pennsylvaniaboy said:

matt, as a guys who appears ot have ran a 7.3, 6.0, and 6.4......any thoughts?

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7.3 is most durable, least power of course. 6.0 was deleted, but still in the shop some for blowing injector o-rings frequently. 6.4 is the best power and 5r110 best transmission... but I have blown 2 pistons, calling for boring .030. Frankly, I worry the least with the v10... and it's cheaper to repair, rebuild, and maintain than all the diesels... Just keep in mind it doesn't quite pull like a diesel.

I've had all 3 makes in last 12 years in business- close to a million miles towing 20k+, from 12 valve to 24v crd, (3) 6.6 dmax, 6.4, 6.0, 7.3, and v10. I won't build any more common rails of any brand in the future. Gas or 12 valve for durability and economics from now on.... but definitely will be using '05 up f450 4x4 chassis for suspension and brakes and 19.5 tires, and best of all - turning radius... you can really manipulate a trailer in reverse with these.

Been in Fords for last 4 years due to cheaper on parts than Chevy/ duramax and crappy dodge trans and chassis.

Next work truck build will be 05 up f450 crew chassis length, 85 Chevy 3+3 crew cab, my own flatbed, either 12 valve/ 47rh or Chevy ls 6.2/4l80/6l80/ Allison.

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Re: Re: Re: Flatbed or regular bed???????

mcutler said:

7.3 is most durable, least power of course. 6.0 was deleted, but still in the shop some for blowing injector o-rings frequently. 6.4 is the best power and 5r110 best transmission... but I have blown 2 pistons, calling for boring .030. Frankly, I worry the least with the v10... and it's cheaper to repair, rebuild, and maintain than all the diesels... Just keep in mind it doesn't quite pull like a diesel.

I've had all 3 makes in last 12 years in business- close to a million miles towing 20k+, from 12 valve to 24v crd, (3) 6.6 dmax, 6.4, 6.0, 7.3, and v10. I won't build any more common rails of any brand in the future. Gas or 12 valve for durability and economics from now on.... but definitely will be using '05 up f450 4x4 chassis for suspension and brakes and 19.5 tires, and best of all - turning radius... you can really manipulate a trailer in reverse with these.

Been in Fords for last 4 years due to cheaper on parts than Chevy/ duramax and crappy dodge trans and chassis.

Next work truck build will be 05 up f450 crew chassis length, 85 Chevy 3+3 crew cab, my own flatbed, either 12 valve/ 47rh or Chevy ls 6.2/4l80/6l80/ Allison.

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Your next truck sounds like my ideal truck also.

I'm in the same boat. 2002 srw. rusting to death. debating on flatbed but like the normal truck bed the best on srw. has anyone done a dually conversion with the original axle? or swap entire axle out for a dually axle?

I sell and service bale beds, they work great for all kinds of things though. I like the krogmann bale bed the best.

Here is a video of my personal 86 F-350 loading some bales.


Krogmann Balehandler bale bed 6.9IDI diesel