I guess I am not a die hard off roader. I never understand the flat bed. I see it as having zero function. I use my truck for dump runs, trips to Lowes or home depot. I see a flat bed the same as someone using 3/4 of their bed for sub box.

 

The typical reason for making a custom tube bed or steel bed creation is because when you hardcore wheel tight trails like in the NW your bed becomes a bulls eye for trees and rocks.

The typical reason for "bobbing you bed" cutting off the rear is again for hardcore tight vertical trails were you spend most of your time climbing and transitioning from vertical positions. You hanging rear end becomes smashed to bits and you most commonly high center your self on a 2' over hanging bed.

 

Thats cool. I get it if its strickly off road, but why do it to a daily driver?

 

sacrifices for the love of the sport! OF COURSE
some things like being able to haul stuff is not as important to some as being able to wheel hardcore trails then drive to work.

 

Just sawzaw or drill out the welds on the bed sides and leave the bottom of the bed on there and then weld some side rails and maybe a folding tail gate to match, mount your tail lights to the rails. Bob it if you want....

Just a thought

 

I thought about that shawn, but I want a wood floor.. and thats a hella lot of cutting!

 

no kidding man, i can't haul squat in my flat-bed, with the spare tie, tool boxes, gas cans, hi-lift, pioneer tools, smokestack......but i bought the truck with no bed so it was better than nothing. band the more i mod the drivetrain i'm glad i didn't buy a regular bed for it instead, it would gone by now

 

heres some pics of my "flat" bed while we're on the subject. if you'er building your own I have some helpful hints. I'll try to include pics. I stepped the fenders up about 9 or 10 inches so my 38's would clear. I made sure that I kept the angle iron flush or to the inside of the frame by welding mounts on the outside. the spare tire is very easy to remove and put on. the center cap that holds down the spare is a wellcap, I think, with an offset hole so all u have to do is throw the tire down over the 1 inch bolt and not have to worry about lining anything up. just spin the cap around. I made the flushmount with 3/16ths plate steel with a 1 inch bolt welded underneath. i set it into the 5/4 dech board so it is completely flush when the centerbolt is removed. 2X's are way to thick and heavy for a wooden bed. I'd like to alluminum diamondplate the whole thing but finances are a little tight right now. and try not to pay attention to my mudflap brackets, PA laws suck! I already ripped em off while wheeling<a href="http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t...t=P1180712.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...p/P1180712.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t...P1180708-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...P1180708-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t...t=P1180709.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...p/P1180709.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t...t=P1180710.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...p/P1180710.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

If you decide to keep it stock you could look at a fiberglass bed.... Ive had my B&G bed for a few years and its held up great!! The family that run the business are great too, I had an issue with my bed shortly after installing it and they drove all the way from PA to WV to take a look at it first hand and corrected the issue with nooo problems....

http://www.bgfiberglassusa.com/

 

this looks better

 

I love my flatbed. Well, tube bed really, but it saved my life.