Tell me about your flatbed truck

[wsmoak]

I’m contemplating my next truck. I have a Ford F250 diesel now, and it’s fine… but it has a short bed, and I have a gooseneck trailer. I used to have a Dodge with an 8’ bed and I want that back so I don’t have to worry about the trailer ever getting close to the back window! Additionally, I don’t want to have to worry about clearance between the bed rails and the bottom of the trailer. Thus… a flatbed.

I’ve poked around the Ford site and it looks like you can order the truck with no bed. (Although it seemed like I could only do that with an F350, not the F250.)

Then what? Can any dealer install a flatbed? Or should I look for a specialist?

What types/brands of flatbeds have you used and liked? Back when things were normal I would wander the parking lot and look at the rigs. I’ve seen Eby and CM flatbeds that I liked. Any others I should consider?

And which (long ‘bed’ (chassis), gas, single rear wheel, probably 4WD) truck would you put it on? I’m seriously looking for a “plain white work truck” that will sell easily when I’m done with it.

[clanter]

saw “your” truck this afternoon setting at local Ford dealership

https://www.5starford.com/inventory/…hland-Hills-TX

[cutter99]

I have a 2016 RAM 3500 with an aluminum CM flatbed. I use multiple trailers and I like being able to hook up to anything and not have to worry about hitting bedrails or a tailgate. I have small side rails I can put on if I need to, but many times just strap stuff to the bed with ratchet straps. I have an 8am bed because I am not a fan of towing with a short bed. I get into some tight areas, and I do not want to worry about hitting either my rear pillars or popping out my back window.

I found the truck I wanted at a dealer and then they sent the truck out to have the bed put on. The CM bed is okay, but Eby is top of the line. If I had the option to get an Eby, I would have.

One option I love about my RAM is the diesel cab and chassis models come with an extended run 52 gallon diesel tank. I love less fuel stops, especially when hauling horses! [ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“large”,“data-attachmentid”:10720634}[/ATTACH]

[wsmoak]

@clanter

saw “your” truck this afternoon setting at local Ford dealership

https://www.5starford.com/inventory/…hland-Hills-TX

Almost! I don’t want or need the dual rear wheels. If I can get this in a 3/4 ton that would be ideal. (And it’s why I’ll probably end up having to order something… plus we have had abysmal luck with used vehicles. I keep mine forever so I don’t mind buying new. My F250 is a 2011 and it’s going to get a slide-in camper and pull the boat.)

@cutter99’s picture reminds me… MUST have locking toolboxes! All of my stuff is in tool bags in the rear footwell and under the seat.

I don’t haul enough to make diesel worth it anymore but I agree, the Ford has a tiny fuel tank compared to even the standard Dodge one, I can only imagine having 50+ gallons.

[TullyMars]

Keep in mind a flatbed may move you to a class A license division. Not sure where you are from, but that is why is CA peeps don’t just throw those beds on. Good luck in the hunt!

[streamline]

We have a 2012 dodge 3500 with a hillsboro flatbed. It’s super pretty! That seems to be what everyone has around here. I don’t remember seeing flatbeds in CA ever (even 5+ years ago) it is a diesel. (So won’t do dullays or gasers) he mostly hauls cattle, whatever random hay we need, and the horses.

Its sooo worth it for hauling. Don’t have to worry about messing up a truck bed.

[rememberthenight]

We changed over to a flatbed on my horse hauling truck. While it is easier to stack hay on and hitch the trailer- I REALLY miss being able to throw something in the back and not have to ratchet strap it down. It just adds so much time and having to think about properly balancing the items in the back and getting them strapped down can be a bother.

I hate ratchet straps and am slightly ratchet strap challenged.

[NancyM]

I love my flatdeck. 1997 Dodge diesel one ton duel wheels, I bought it new in 1997 as a cab and chassis. It was $10,000 less without a pick up box on it. Then we got a local welder/fabricator to build a flat deck for it. That cost $3000. The deck has a “cut out” to form a U shaped deck, to allow the fifth wheel hitch to be mounted below the level of the deck. When I am not pulling the trailer, a piece of plywood slides into the cut out, so the hitch is covered and the full flat deck area is available for cargo. The deck is 10 feet long, and it is a regular cab so it is quite short and handy, no extension or back seat, old style truck cab. If you want sides on it, just get a couple of 2 X 6 and nail some sliders onto it at the appropriate places to slide into the receptacles on the sides of the deck, and it is turned into a pick up type box, or make the sides as high as you like/need.

You can sometimes find affordable used cab and chassis trucks for sale, from a business that has had a custom box on them, and they have removed and kept their box. Then you just find a welder, and have the deck you need made. I have to beat eager buyers away from my truck on a regular basis. Dodge diesel is recommended, the cummins motor is the best. Happy shopping!

[beowulf]

The pros outweigh the cons for me, but many people can’t live with not being able to just “chuck and go” like you can with a bed.

You can fit more hay, generally, in a flat bed - but you need to strap it down. Same for any item on a flatbed, really.

I love my flatbed - I got a deal on it because it was a flatbed and the guy I bought it from was having trouble selling it. My favorite thing to do post hunter-pace or dayride, is sit on the flat-bed and pop a seltzer (or beer, depending on time of day) and munch a sandwich while my horse munches hay. I have tie rings drilled right into the flatbed - it’s the perfect height to hang a hay net and tie a horse… plus, I can just chuck the saddle + gear up there and tack up while someone else tacks up by the trailer.

I like the versatility of the flatbed, but I totally get why people like having a real bed too.

[clanter]

plus we have had abysmal luck with used vehicles.

the one I showed is New, it is very common around here for dealerships to have new flatbeds in stock

[Djones]

2007 Duramax diesel dually with a big flat bed from J I Manufacturing. It has a headache rack and two ‘boxes’ under-mounted right behind the king cab. They are lockable, but not water tight. In fact both boxes came with weep holes in the corners, so check that detail closely. Maybe the nicer ones are watertight.

I love this truck. you cannot hurt the bed or tear off a fender

https://www.jitruckbeds.com/img/slid…ide_slide2.jpg