flatbed project-done

[Hyena]

I needed a project at school so i decided to make a flatbed.  I have the frame mostly done.  I am going to mount it tomarrow on the truck. 

[Hyena]

What i want it to look like when it's done.

[Mike D]

do this

[freds40]

Dude I hear those T-birds are supposed to kick some serious a$$ on the trails

[Mike D]

I have heard that the suck some major grandma

[Jared]

thats gonna be one bad flatbed....         

[Hyena]

Thats kinda what i want to do.  I actually started this last week.  Put it on today.  I had to make the two mounts that are holding it on right now. 

[Hyena]

more

[Hyena]

mounting.  I had to make this mount for the back on both sides using the stock bed bolts.  The second picture is the 2 mounts i have to make tomarrow on both sides.

[Hyena]

last one

[Hyena]

Today i finished the front 4 mounts.  6 mounts should be good enough altogether.

[Hyena]

others.  I used a piece of 2x2 and then welded on tabs to the bottom.  Then bolted those to the stock mounts.

[KYOTA]

So far it looks hella stout, are you going to make the top tubes out of square also?

[Hyena]

No, i was thinking more like 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 round .188 wall?  I haven't decided yet.  I have decided to use diamond plate for the bottom.  There is going to be another piece of 2x2 going across the middle.  And then there will be pieces of 1x1 on the corners for a little more strength and to hold up the diamond plate.

[KYOTA]

I dont think you'll have to worry about dingin' it up but man that things gonna be HEAVY

[SWAMPER]

Dude congrats that things looking good...how much do you think it weights?

[brainlessfool]

I agree, the fab work looks very nice. but it is going to be very heavy, you may have to do a V-8 swap to get it up to speed on the freeway! 

[KYOTA]

I think the fab work looks awesome, the mitres are nice and everything looks square and even just concerned about the kilo's

[iNfErNaL]

Looks good .

[GrimReaper]

Great Fab work but watch the weight!!!!!

I was over bullding and now have a 75 GMC Jimmy that rocks the scales at 6640lb with trail gear. Its Max GVWR is 6200lb. 
That weight is killing it! Thats why I now have a Toyota 4Runner to start over on. .120 or so on Exo cage and bumper and ready for trail I want to be under 4200lb.

The frame is your suport. I would have looked at some 1/8 thick steel (not extruded iron) C-channel for the frame to keep the weight down. What you built is stronger then the frame of the truck it sits on.  Weight is bad. Got to ballance it to the need for things like the roll bar. 2x2 1/8 wall box would have been plenty and just a triagulate bar from the fram up to where your roll cage will be against the back of the cab to give it the needed suport.

I'm not saying scrap anything but when you put in your cross bars for the bed go light.

Looks top notch on the basic design and fab work. 

[Hyena]

Thanks guys.  It doesn't weigh that much at all right now.  It was pretty heavy before with the roll bar and bumper.  I would actually like it to be a little heavier because it is riding stiff right now. 

[Skinny_Pedal]

looks sweet. are u gonna put led's in it or just zip tie the stock lights back there?

[SWAMPER]

  Where could I get led's for a turn signal?

[Mike D]

napa auto parts if you have them in texas

[Skinny_Pedal]

any autoparts store, truckers store, even poison spyder and other people like them.....to swamp

[Hyena]

I plan on putting a crossmember in the frame on the very back.  Then i will buy some store bought lights and put them in the crossmember.

[SWAMPER]

Cool (to all) 

[Jared]

brad, for my mounts i took some angle iron and cut them to about 2 inches in length and i drilled a hole in the middle and bolted the piece to the stock mount.  then i started the frame of the flatbed according to the mounts.  it made it so much easier.  ill have to get some pics

[Hyena]

Thats what i kinda did.  I just built the first thing that came to mind.  I did put a 2x2 crossbrace going from side to side.  All i need is some braces in the back corners out of some 1x1 and then i can go buy the diamond plate.  Actuaaly i have to smog my truck, make mud flaps, extend my exhaust behind my rear tire and put a lisence plate light on and then i can get the diamond plate.  I got pulled over last week so i have make it legal before he sees me again.  He only gave me a warning.   

[Mike D]

lucky