Author Topic: Ryan's Flatbed project (Read 16048 times)

reklund5 · « **Reply #30 on:** Apr 11, 2006, 09:42:53 PM »

Got some more wire today...but didn't get around to welding. Maybe tomorrow.

I hope to make the roundup, but it's still a little early to know for sure.

-Ryan

reklund5 · « **Reply #31 on:** Apr 12, 2006, 08:29:20 PM »

Piddly little update:

I did some more finish welding tonight, since I finally got the wire installed into the welder. I really should have welded some of the joints before I installed the flatbed onto the truck, as it was hard to get to some of the joints near the cab...

Why is it that when you weld something trivial, and just for fun, the welds look great, but when you weld something important like the tubing you painstakingly bent for your flatbed, the welds look like bird crap?

Ryan

reklund5 · « **Reply #32 on:** Apr 16, 2006, 09:35:11 PM »

I spent all day yesterday and most of the day today working on the truck. Started out by making a new rear crossmember/bumper. I welded in some D-ring mounts and a receiver hitch just in case I get stuck.

reklund5 · « **Reply #33 on:** Apr 16, 2006, 09:38:00 PM »

Next, I finally got around to re-engineering my rear shock mounting. I bent up a piece of tubing to use as an upper mounting hoop, and welded new tabs to the axle. Must have spent 3 hours just removing the old All-Pro style shock mounts from the axle and grinding the housing smooth. I hate grinding.

reklund5 · « **Reply #34 on:** Apr 16, 2006, 09:39:11 PM »

I decided to ditch the LSPV rod, so I fabbed up a little bracket that will still allow some adjustment.

reklund5 · « **Reply #35 on:** Apr 16, 2006, 09:41:17 PM »

Finally, I fabbed up the frame that forms the flat portion of the bed directly over the frame. Heres where I left it...

All ready for some diamond plate, which hopefully I'll order tomorrow!

Ryan

KYOTA · « **Reply #36 on:** Apr 16, 2006, 10:37:56 PM »

Im in the same spot waiting to order the diamond plate but damn man its $7.20 a sq. ft here and I figured to get all my pieces I'd need 2 4'x8' sheets

thats for bright aluminum, the dull mill is even more

How are you mounting the diamond plate?

reklund5 · « **Reply #37 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 05:16:17 PM »

I took measurements and ordered all of the diamond plate this morning. $375.00

I had the shop cut the big pieces to spec on their shear, so it'll look nicer. The two "fender" pieces I'll have to shape by hand, since the fenders aren't exactly perfectly symmetrical... oops...

I'm mounting the diamond plate with small tabs and 3/16" rivets. We'll see how that turns out...

Ryan

KYOTA · « **Reply #38 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 05:24:36 PM »

aluminum? $375 for how much and what gauge did you go with? I got quoted $7.20 a square for .125 bright aluminum diamond. I think mine is longer than yours tho too. looking good

oh and ditto on the rivets

DTB · « **Reply #39 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 07:29:00 PM »

Trust me. You're gonna be sooooooo happy. I know I am. It was worth the extra money.

reklund5 · « **Reply #40 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 08:19:07 PM »

Quote from: KYOTA on Apr 17, 2006, 05:24:36 PM

aluminum? $375 for how much and what gauge did you go with? I got quoted $7.20 a square for .125 bright aluminum diamond. I think mine is longer than yours tho too. looking good

oh and ditto on the rivets

I'm using the same stuff... .125" bright diamond. I'll bring the dimensions home tomorrow from work and post up what sizes I ordered. That price included a $10 setup fee for the shear, and then $2 per cut...

I got it at Metal Supermarkets- you got one of those out your way?

Quote from: DirToyBoy on Apr 17, 2006, 07:29:00 PM

Trust me. You're gonna be sooooooo happy. I know I am. It was worth the extra money.

I'll just be happy when its done. It seems like all I've done for a month is work on that damn truck!

Ryan

reklund5 · « **Reply #41 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 08:20:30 PM »

Update-

I got one of the sliders installed tonight, but no pics yet. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get the other slider on and start on the diamond plate installation...

Ryan

KYOTA · « **Reply #42 on:** Apr 17, 2006, 08:30:22 PM »

yotaboy may be able to hook me up

he works for a steel yard out near me

reklund5 · « **Reply #43 on:** Apr 22, 2006, 11:52:36 PM »

Thanks to the help of a few very generous friends, the flatbed is done as of 12:30 Sunday morning, 23April2006.

Pictures to come tomorrow, but for now, it looks

Ryan

reklund5 · « **Reply #44 on:** Apr 23, 2006, 06:20:57 PM »

Quick picture from today. The local 'wheeling club I'm a member of was asked to put on a display at the New Mexico International Auto Show.

Ryan

reklund5 · « **Reply #45 on:** Apr 23, 2006, 06:36:27 PM »

A few more shots of the finished project. Please excuse my filthy garage...it still hasn't recovered from this project.

Ryan

reklund5 · « **Reply #46 on:** Apr 23, 2006, 06:38:50 PM »

Last ones for today.

Ryan

82toyotakid · « **Reply #47 on:** Apr 23, 2006, 08:59:40 PM »

looks nice how long did it take u? i want to do that to my yota nice

rocktoy83 · « **Reply #48 on:** Apr 23, 2006, 09:06:09 PM »

That is a sweet flat bead that you put together

Volcom · « **Reply #49 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 12:08:53 PM »

Very nice flatbed setup! Looks great with the bright diamond back there

82toyotakid · « **Reply #50 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 01:00:19 PM »

was that custon or from a company?

reklund5 · « **Reply #51 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 04:55:44 PM »

Thanks for the comments guys- I appreciate it!

The project took a little over 8 weeks, but I usually only worked on the weekends.

I built all of it from scratch, no prefabbed parts here. With help from a few friends, I'd say it turned out pretty well.

The diamond plate is indeed bright, which makes backing up a little difficult when the sun reflects off of it...

Ryan

unclejpl4x4 · « **Reply #52 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 04:58:12 PM »

omg thats sexxy

8Snaces · « **Reply #53 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 05:15:43 PM »

that is badass my friend. Came out nice. When i get another yota..i mite have to keep this one in mind. No copycatin just a general idea.

eightyfive · « **Reply #54 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 05:52:16 PM »

how'd you get rid of that mad rake you had?

reklund5 · « **Reply #55 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 07:53:22 PM »

Which mad rake? In a few of the pictures it looks pretty bad for sure, and in others, it's just my sloped driveway making it look worse.

So far, I haven't done anything. The added weight of the square tubing structure and the diamond plate has brought it down a little. I suspect adding a mount for my spare tire and a toolbox will help some too. I do plan to remove a leaf or two from the rear springs so it'll flex tho... Time will tell how much is needed.

Project next: A tubular front bumper to replace this one that I made a few years ago. It's all gotta match, right?

Ryan

FATB0Y · « **Reply #56 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 10:01:25 PM »

Looks good.

BigMike · « **Reply #57 on:** Apr 24, 2006, 10:17:52 PM »

I'm jealous

*FFC* · « **Reply #58 on:** Apr 25, 2006, 07:55:56 AM »

OMG Ryan!!! That thing is HOTTT!!

You can work on my rig anytime

motorider228 · « **Reply #59 on:** Apr 25, 2006, 04:32:44 PM »

I dont like how exo's look but please for the love of god exo that beast because it is so clean I wont be able to stand looking at pictures of it with carnage in the body. I will

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