kinzer

im not sure if theres already a thread about this but i didnt see one so ill start one. in the near future i plan on removing my bed and building a tube flat bed. what are the pros and cons of a flat bed.
would it be better to buy a kit? or custom build one?
please post as many pictures as you want so i can get a good idea of what i want to build. thank you for any input.

sa51

there are a couple threads, my fav is this one https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f88/...latbed-160766/


and the ones at http://www.badlandbumpers.com/index_008.htm




i personally dont see any cons,besides price, flatbeds give you more room, a place to mount topside toolboxes. a rugged look, and u can build them in a configuration that best suits your needs.

kinzer

yea i did see that thread. the bed was def really professionally done but i wasn't a fan of the look. the rear was too big and bulky, looks like theres no departure angle, i want the rear corners at 45s and the front panel to meet with the line of the cab all the way down to the floor board.

im definatly gonna shorten the frame down and probably replace the tank with a fuel cell too.

please if you have any pictures of pickups with sweet flatbeds post them

thanks

sa51

oh then you are the allpro flatbed kinda guy, here is one i have in my files:




and this pic of a sweet hilux

kinzer

not really. iv looked through there stuff and seen some in person and i dont like it. i dont like how the wheel well is all the same level and how the headache rack support goes almost all the way to the back. there still sweet though, i just wouldnt buy one

sa51

i wouldnt buy one either, but for what they are they're cool. i prefer a wheel well that goes like this __/ \__ with some sort of bed side toolbox along the upper rail


i just found this thread on pirate

check it out


http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98472


hope you [and me haha ] find something good on there

kinzer

exactly, but i would put a tool chest up agains the cab mostlikely, or better yet inset a box underneath the bed an make a hatch up by the cab so you get more bed space. that'd be sweet

sa51

that would be a great idea


check out my edited post above for that pirate link, hope there's some good ideas in there

kinzer

thanks dude... that pirate 4x4 link thread is sweet, nothings caught my eye yet, i see alot of people like all pro beds,

lol, the 4 door hilux is funny lookin with the 3 foot bed

thanks alot dude

kinzer

i found this one on pirate 4x4 and i really like it. see how the front of the fender well meets flush with the cab and how the rear has 45s that meet with the frame. ill prob model mine after this one





id make the headache rack a little different but basically this is what im looking for

sa51

i like that one too, it has very clean lines, and very well made.



you could prob integrate a storage box in the floor and even 2 small ones in the sides above the rock slider

kinzer

thats what im planning on doing. i like how the side looks and i dont really need the extra storage cause i have an extended cab, i think the one tool box would be enough. hopefully theres enough room for a fuel cell in the back too.

maybe even add a rear fender that comes in back to the frame to fill in that gap by the mudflap.

eventually ill draw all my own plans but im most likely gonna base it off of this

sa51

well be sure to do a write up.



i'm going to base the lower part of mine off that too, but i will end up with more overhang. [i still want to be able to haul a dirt bike in the back] after seeing that one, i'm not sure if i still want to use bedside boxes as bedrails....but i need the storage


something like this...painted to match my truck

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Here you go:
12 pages of Flat Bed Ideas

kinzer

that would be a pretty sweet idea, i was hoping i would still be able to haul a quad on mine too, but idk. but like i said i have an extend cab while you still have a standard cab.

iamsuperbleeder

is that a breif-case on the back?

crazy company VP's and their shortcuts to work...

kinzer

well we started a flatbed for our 83, mine should be about the same. were modeling both off the same rig...

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f88/...-build-167836/

check it out and give me advice, what you like and what you dont like. there will be alot of pics to post too. but this is what we started last night

SwampThing

Definitely build your own. Built this one for $140 in material (40' 1.75"x0.188" hrew, 4'x8'x1/8th" diamond plate).



https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...-lovin-166953/

shaw_j

Swampthing, looks WAY better in black. Good on ya!

Plumbrbob

work in progress, built not bought