What's flatbed pickup life like?

[slavenoid]

I have multiple second GEN Dodge trucks, my 98 1/2. I have a flatbed that I built on it and absolutely love it. If you’re building your own, consider doing tiedowns like I did where I used a piece of 2 inch flat bar in have it run the whole side of the Flatbed and it has standoffs every 6 inches welded on so you can put straps all the way down the side, having strapping points in multiple places and it’s a good bump stop if something hits it if you build it strong enough. The only thing I would have done different on mine and I may still do is cut a hole in the bed and put a access panel so I can change my sending unit on my fuel tank without having to pull the bed off. I also made toolbox mounts underneath on both sides. That work really slick. For sideboards I had a buddy that has a sawmill cut me dug fir that’s 2 inches thick and then I used you channel bolted to that and they drop into pockets and they’re about 18 inches high the back one on the inside when I painted it, I took sand and put it all over in the paint on the inside. That way I can just lift the back board off and I can set it against my rear bumper and I can use it as a ramp to walk up to load and unload things that works really good specially if you get a roadkill deer, you can drag it right up the ramp into the truck. make sure you put good backup lights in it also.

The ramp idea is genius! I hadn't heard of that.

[Ghost Hunter]

2005 Ram with 250K plus on it.  No longer need a AAA account, they wouldn't tow because of FB.  Some insurance companies frown on them.  Use mine to capacity quite often.  Used factory mounts, bolts and hitch when installed.  Lights can be tricky with factory harness.  Wished I had an aluminum FB for weight issues, but the price was right from Coach.  Airbags solve some of the problems.  Second the backup/cargo lights and tiedowns.  Add the large aftermarket fuel tank while you're at it.