Well my youngest son decided to do a flatbed build on his '89 that we are fixing up for his first truck. You may remember the thread on his truck that I started a while back when he first got the truck. He is not 16 yet but will be in a few months and we are working around the weather to get this truck done before he gets his license. I don't have a garage so this build is being done in the backyard with the tools we have. I think it will turn out pretty good. We just started on it this weekend and got a good start on it. I am starting with pictures from the beginning and will keep this thread updated as we get to the finish. It is not bolted down yet and just sitting on the frame for now so we could weld it up. Let me know what you guys think.

 

Looks great so far! What are you using for the platform? Also, that back weld looks a little rough, where there's a gap. And depending on where you live and what the ordinances are, I'd look into mud flap mounts on the bed. You'd be surprised what the PoPo will pull you over for..

 

Not professional welders here, but that is what a grinder is for right? Probably going to get some flat steel and weld over the openings to seal everything off. Kindof of messed up that cut on the one back piece but didn't have any extra to cut another one. As far as the platform he is going to do deck boards and then a roll on bed liner to cover it up. The little tail section there will probably be covered with some diamond plate. I hear ya on the popo! Mud flaps will be designed in there somehow as well as the tail lights and turn signals.

 

Looks good to me. Although I'd probably take some of that tube stock and make a step between the bed and the cab on the DS. Also I'd probably add a door for fuel pump access, just in case.

 

make sure and chamfer those cuts on both sides and lay your welder in there on an angle to get the best penetration.
The design looks great!

 

Glad to see another young kid, like me, tinkering with these trucks. I'm only 17.

Really like the idea of the driver side step someone put....I would say clean up the frame while you have the one bed off, but it appears to be in good shape, but just take a good look at everything while you have it off, it's a lot easier that way!

 

I like the idea of a step also. Plan is to do a headache rack and sides on it too. Also the fuel access is a great idea. Didn't think about that one! The frame on this was in pretty good shape as well as the one on my oldest son's truck. Check out the links below for my other threads:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...t-yota-251630/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...-heavy-261805/

 

Got looking at the one, and I do remember looking at it, just never commented haha and now i see why that frame seemed so clean to be from Ohio.

 

Well we got some more work done on the flatbed. Its all welded up now and got the boards cut and laid in. Going to remove them and paint them before we bolt them down. After that the truck gets painted and then the bed gets bolted down and this truck will be ready for the road. Going to add boards to the tail end too. Here is what it looks like right now

 

That looks great! It really comes alive with a little wood on there. It is too bad that one fugly weld is right there in the open.

 

it looks fantastic. love that you and your son did this project together. great bonding time im sure.

i agree with above, if you fix that drivers side gap and close the end of the tube on the passenger side, it would really complete the back of it and make it look a millions times better.

 

Those gaps will get fixed. Need to get some flat steel and cut some pieces to fit in and then weld and grind.

 

Last pieces of wood on the tail section. Hopefully get some paint on them today.

 

Got the boards painted and set on. Going to screw them down this evening. Mounted up the tail/brake lights that we fabricated.

 

Paint brought some life into it, looking good man!

Hmmmm no reverse lights?

 

Going to mount some type of fog light on the rear and use those as back up lights. Already have the wiring ready to hook up just got to get some lights mounted.

 

thats awesome, i love it. now i need a pickup too!

 

looks great!! Nice work!

 

flat bed looks great.

idea for back up lights-18W LED flood light...they put out a ton of light and they draw hardly any power so I didn't need to run a relay off the stock back up light circuit.



edit: the light output midway of the truck are from some smaller lights..

you guys may get some tire rubbage at full stuff..

 

I really like how it turned out. Great job!