Tonka turning crawler!

[6.72:1]

Hello everyone,
After hanging out on this board so much, my truck is turning more "crawler style" everyday. Anyway, I took my bed off and I am planning on building a nice, clean flat-bed with maybe some diamond plate aluminum for the bed. It would be nice if someone could help me out with some ideas. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are there any templates out there? I have seen numerous flat-beds here on the Marlin BBS that look great. I just want a clean look. I want it to be street legal too. So, help me out a bit guys (and gals).
Thanks,
Pete Kupfer

[6.72:1]

Looks funny doesn't it?

[6.72:1]

I have noticed more folks running around with 40s. It's seems like the thing to do now. LOL.

[nu106]

Looks good...

Rock meet sheetmetal , sheetmetal meet rocks...

[BLACKDOG]

looks good   Gonna be sad to see that clean truck messes up, the first scratch hurts the worst


Like the bungee cords too

[6.72:1]

I am not going to rock crawl my truck. I just want it to look like a cool capable crawler. I am definitely not going to crawl the Tonka. I just want a flat-bed with the LED lights. Could you guys help out with the design aspect of it? Where can I find some LEDs?

[To The Floor]

E-Bay

[MagPede]

 
You might want to cut your fenders off like the ones in the pic. Looks much better IMO.

[6.72:1]

Thanks. Would the LEDs be difficult to hook up? Should I be looking for a specific type of LED light with a certain connector or are they all universal? I am new at this and I definitely want to do it correctly. I like MiniSimp's design, but I am not going to use the plaino square lights and I don't plan on having a toolbox between my cab and flat-bed. I guess I just want a really long flatbed. LOL.
Thanks!

[6.72:1]

You might want to cut your fenders off like the ones in the pic. Looks much better IMO.

I am planning on doing that. I just need to know how to do it cleanly without messing up the paint. I don't have the money to take it to a body shop, so I am trying to figure out what tools I need to use to make a clean cut. What should I use to cut to fender cleanly? An air saw with painter's tape?
Thanks.

[Rocksurfer]

I have noticed more folks running around with 40s. It's seems like the thing to do now. LOL.

Is that what you are running? I was going to ask you that question. Whatever size they look nice, and if they are how much lift did you need to clear.

[6.72:1]

I am indeed running 40s. I believe my truck has about fifteen inches of lift, however, I do not believe that one needs that much lift to fit 40s. I am glad you like the tread design. They are 17/40-15 Ground Hawgs. Gotta love 'em!

[BLACKDOG]

I am planning on doing that. I just need to know how to do it cleanly without messing up the paint. I don't have the money to take it to a body shop, so I am trying to figure out what tools I need to use to make a clean cut. What should I use to cut to fender cleanly? An air saw with painter's tape?
Thanks.

or a cutoff wheel with painters tape.  That works well.  Check around at truck  stores, and trialer stores for the LEDS, or ebay like TTF said

[gotrocks]

Led's are not taht hard to figure out.  I did it on my 83 that I had with a flat bed.  Go to NAPA for the LED's.  Ask for trucker led lights and they are fairly cheap if I remember correctly.  They have round ones and oval ones.  I'd check there first.

[6.72:1]

Thanks. I will check NAPA. You guys are the best!

[blackdiamond]

I am going to have to vote for keeping the bed, cutting it short, and putting on some Marlin type bumpers for protection.  Flatbeds are functional, but the stock beds look much better.  Marlin is the king, and he runs a stock bed.

[6.72:1]

I would keep the stocker if it wasn't rusting apart. I am unable to find a bed that is in good condition near me. I concur with you, but at this point I cannot find a bed anywhere, so....

[Reynolds]

What kind of gears are you running to turn those tires? BTW, I'm also going to vote for keeping a stock bed, bobbing it and slapping some bumpers on, would look sweet IMO  Good luck

[WHITE_TRASH]

Bob th ebed cut the bottom of the rear bedsides off and dovetail it.  Thats about the only way to not be just like every other damned yota out there.  Its getting hard to be origional these days...

[4DEES]

you got my vote on keeping the bed, flat bed would be kool too. keep us updated on any work! 

[MiniSimp]

Nice!

[6.72:1]

What kind of gears are you running to turn those tires? BTW, I'm also going to vote for keeping a stock bed, bobbing it and slapping some bumpers on, would look sweet IMO Good luck

I am running 5.29 gears. They have been cryogenically treated and are shimmed to one thousanth of an inch instead of Toyota's five thoudanths. The rear has a limited slip. Needless to say, I don't get off the road much! Thanks for asking though.

[stanley02]

what is the back spacing on your wheels, just curious for mine.

[IronClad]

looks like standard offset  15x12 inkies

[wa4x4]

Pete, I think first you need to address your off-road ability before your bling ability. Just a thought. And no I am not trying to offend you or anything, but it seems like you enjoy that truck, but would like a little bit more performance, you know what everyone has suggested now to go out and try it out.

[6.72:1]

I will take photographs soon.

[BoMXtreme]

or a cutoff wheel with painters tape. That works well. Check around at truck stores, and trialer stores for the LEDS, or ebay like TTF said

I think that a jig saw with a metal blade works great for bodywork because it won't heat up the paint, which prevents rust on the cut.  It is still a good idea to paint the corner of the sheetmetal to keep off the rust.

[toybuilt]

I am going to have to vote for keeping the bed, cutting it short, and putting on some Marlin type bumpers for protection. Flatbeds are functional, but the stock beds look much better. Marlin is the king, and he runs a stock bed.

I'm with blackdiamond on this one

[snohman]

party time for the Toy...

[6.72:1]

party time for the Toy...

I believe it is that time. Any ideas?