Flatbed truck plans

   / Flatbed truck plans #11  
If you're gonna build one,you might want to add this feature.I made the side rails for my dump trailer double as loading ramps for my tractors.The forward bulkhead is mounted rigidly and all four corners are "hinges" welded up out of angle and half inch pipe,pinned with half inch round rod.I made stake sockets out of pipe for side stability.Matching brackets are mounted to the rear for the rails.Pull the pins,move the rails to the rear and pop the pins back in!! I'm sure someone has done this,but I don't recall seeing it.It gets lots of attention at the shows...'bout as much as the ole boys stratching their heads over my rotary plow /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #12  
I guess that I will have to go by Sabel's the next time up that way. I don't know MIMCO nor where it is. But if they are bulk scrap they wouldn't like some one digging around the stacks.
Thanks,
Leo
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #13  
Ask someone at the scrap yard if they sell or know who does,salvage steel.Turns out our local new steel supplier does exactly that! Anything in the yard for a quarter a pound.I picked up 48 feet of 2x4 11 guage tube for 65 bucks.Might not be a pretty...but I'm a Rustoleum slopper...
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #14  
Howdy-

I've built a few truck flatbeds. Nothing fancy, but good, functional, "ag" type beds.

I documented the last one I built with pictures and wrote up an article and posted it here.

Possibly it will provide some help/ideas.

Best,

Mark
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #15  
I can't picture it - but I like the idea. Pictures - Please!
 
   / Flatbed truck plans
  • Thread Starter
#16  
EXCELLENT ARTICLE!!
I'm bookmarking that for future reference /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks!
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #17  
Question?? What thickness steel do you recommend for the frame rails and cross supports? I won't be hauling real heavy stuff on it, but I don't want to build it too light or go too heavy either. I purchased an older F350 to pull the 14K trailer I just built and wanted to build a flatbed for it. Any suggestions?
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #18  
F350 is comparable to a 5 ton sprinter in Europe: We used to make beds on those Sprinters with 60x40mm cold rolled C channel with 3mm wall thickness as crossties, a 100x40 or 50 side profile all around, and 120x60x4mm runners. The height of the runner is mostly chosen because of the height between the tires and the frame. Our custom built beds were popular at construction and scaffolding companies that had lots of seasonal workers, that therefor used equipment like they stole it. Factory made beds were all of 2mm pressed steel.

To determine how high you want your deck to be, measure the distance between the axle tube and the rubber bumpstop on the frame, then add an inch which the rubber will flex (judge that extra distance based on the shape of the rubber)
Best is to sketch it all out on a piece of paper to keep in mind where your measurements go, so you dont get confused.
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #19  
Thanks. I have some 3"x2"x3\16" (.1875 wall thickness) rectangular box tubing for cross members and 4"x4"x1/4" (.250) angle to wrap the bed with. I may swap the angle out for some lighter weight c channel. So all I really will need to pick up is plate for the decking, channel or box for runners (once I determine the height I need), and steel for the bulkhead and hitch.
 
   / Flatbed truck plans #20  
I often use "van trailer" cross members for my trailers. The "Fruehauf " ones are made from *
80,000psi steel..They are light and strong , easy to weld also..If you cut the cross members into the side rails it will keep the deck height lower..They are available in 4" and 3" heights..
 
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