Should I go flatbead or stay bobbed?

[bikejunkie]

I'm in the process of finishing my exo-cage and have been thinking of ditching my already oh so clean and straight bed for a flat bed. Just wondering what you guys think. Do you think going flatbed is really and advantage over the bed? Thanks

[WHITE_TRASH]

Flat beds are useless.  Dovetail it and be different than everyone and their cousin out there.

[MiniSimp]

There's no "use" to a flat bed. I built mine just cause I like the way Yoda's look with a flat bed.

Like WT said, just dovetail & bob.

[toybuilt]

You can fit a lot more stuff in a bobbed bed than a flat bed. I have a 83 toy long bed, took 18" out of it put a 2" x 4" rap around bumper on it and rearly ever touch the thing.

[4DEES]

I personally don't like flat beds,bobed beds are the shiznit!   

[mr4x42u]

sheet metal sucks,,dove tail for shizzle..

[wa4x4]

Bobs look really cool in my mind, I dont know why. The girls love flat beds though

[SLOYOTA808]

Wouldn't the leading edges of a flat bed act as some sort of slider in itself?  Furthermore, simple addition of staked sides would allow one to carry crap on-road.  I don't know; my bed on my 92 IFS is like GONERS...Soooooooooooooooooo ugly...

[WHITE_TRASH]

You wanna see a trashed 3rd gen bed?  Mine is wasted and it still looks better than a generic flat bed like everyone runs. 

[UNBREAKABLE]

I was in the same position as you....I decided to build a dovetailed/bobbed bed

[bluetoy84]

I think it totally depends on what you do with the truck. If you plan on hauling around a bunch of junk I'd say go with the bobbed bed, but if it's a trail only rig and all you plan on hauling is a toolbox , spare , and maybe a cooler then I would rather have a flat bed.  Also , it depends on the design of the flat bed. I have seen some flat beds that were  and I have seen some that looked like they were built by a blind monkey.
I had a flat bed on my '84 and loved it , but when I built my '89 I went with the bobbed bed because I needed it to haul all my hunting gear. I definately liked the flat bed better off road. One thing I didn't realize when I had the flat bed is how much better you can see whats behind you when your reversing. Now that I have a bed on my new rig I can't see a darn thing when I'm backing up.
Mainly just depends on what you like , who cares what anybody else thinks

[*FFC*]

How bout a bobbed flatbed with portable sides? 

[SLOYOTA808]

You wanna see a trashed 3rd gen bed? Mine is wasted and it still looks better than a generic flat bed like everyone runs.

Kinda turned me on for a moment:  reminds me of big -uns pushed together for more cleavage...

WHOA!  Family forum...family forum...

[*FFC*]

Kinda turned me on for a moment:  reminds me of big -uns pushed together for more cleavage...

WHOA!  Family forum...family forum...

[wa4x4]

Justin is that you? Just sounded strangely familliar...

[*FFC*]

Justin is that you? Just sounded strangely familliar...

almost

[wa4x4]

Naw talkin about the guy starting this thread haha...I would hope you werent a justin lol

[*FFC*]

Naw talkin about the guy starting this thread haha...I would hope you werent a justin lol

I am...whachu tryin to say   

[toybuilt]

 

[reklund5]

WT-

Those mudflaps are UGLY.


I love 'em!!!!!

Ryan

[kneedownnate]

Dude, what do you wanna do to your truck?  I wouldn't depend on the opinions of others to make your decision, think about what you really want and go with it.  Hell, if you have to mark a line down the middle of a piece of paper and put the good and bad points for either bed down and see which one outweighs the other.  Bottom line is it's only up to you, you should be building your truck to suit your needs, not everyone else.  Just my 

[RHG]

FFC, took me a minute to figure that one out. Your almost a justin...just add a letter. And I agree with kneedownnate, who gives a damn what we all think bout it. Its your truck. Take WT for example, I'm sure people cringe when he drives by but he loves that damn truck just the way it is cause he built it how he likes it. That makes it cool. I tell you what, no where in this world is there another truck like WT's. Buld your truck so people can pick it out from the rest of the toys.

[shad]

I dunno I perfer my flatbed. I get comments all the time how much better it looks with it rather than the stock bed.
It's way stronger too alread hit it on a few trees it takes it and laughs.

[k20]

what isthe differance between flatbeds and dovetailed/bobed beds?what would you call the tray that i built for my truck?

[*FFC*]

FFC, took me a minute to figure that one out. Your almost a justin...just add a letter. And I agree with kneedownnate, who gives a damn what we all think bout it. Its your truck. Take WT for example, I'm sure people cringe when he drives by but he loves that damn truck just the way it is cause he built it how he likes it. That makes it cool. I tell you what, no where in this world is there another truck like WT's. Buld your truck so people can pick it out from the rest of the toys.

I totally agreee 

[WHITE_TRASH]

One of these days Ill have my canopy chopped down to 28" long to match the 28" section of bed that is still not dovetailed.  Ive got a 95 yj seat tp put in the back with a dropped floor and a walk through.  It'll be sick.

And yea I guarantee there isnt another yota out there anything like mine, I do everything to be far diferent from the "norm"  Generic rigs suck.

[Westy]

Here is my truck currently...bobbed longbed - only decent pic I have online not the greatest to show the bed section...



here is an idea of the flatbed that I plan to build for my truck -


I am in the same boat as you and still trying to decide if I should keep my bobbed longbed or go flat...but im leaning toward flatbed.
To me it will be worth it for the wheel welll clearance and ability to mount my rear shocks through the flatbed and also not have anymore sheetmetal!
Of course I could trim the fenders more or cut through my bed but then it ruins the big advantage to having a bed/shell for me, which is camping/sleeping space, etc and the only reason holding me back from building a flatbed. and personally i dont like dovetailed beds but they ARE VERY functional.
It just depends on your needs...

Brian

[Suprarunner]

If it was mine I'd back-half the truck and tube the rear with skins.

[RHG]

I like the look of a dovetailed bed. Looks sweet from behind and you get a lot better view of whats behind you

[Rocksurfer]

Here's my rule of thumb as to what to do on anything with my truck, what does it do for offroad performance, if there is a major benefit then do it if it is just for looks then leave it the way it is. So now are you having any problems with the bed? If it works the way it is then leave it and put the $ into something else that will make wheelin' better. I can and do bring a house with me and don't think a FB could store my junk, plus if you've notice I sport a shell and it is my tent.