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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: slavenoid on May 20, 2025, 05:22:48 PM

Title: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: slavenoid on May 20, 2025, 05:22:48 PM: Might be looking for specific recommendations but really just looking for advice on whether or not it's super beneficial. Does everyone love having flatbeds or any regrets having one? Is there downsides someone might not realize switching to a flatbed for the first time?

I have a GMC 2500 (non dually) that I use for landscaping/construction type work during the week and farm stuff on weekends. Employees tend to ding up the bed and tailgate pulling tools out and my wife also dents up the bed unloading hay bales and pallets of feed with the loader. Where the linex ends the damage begins it seems.

I usually haul a dump trailer while working but figured I could build some sides up for the rare hauling dirt, mulch, or kids sports equipment.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on May 20, 2025, 05:58:57 PM: Once you go flat you’ll never go back.😉

Love mine, saw horses become obsolete, no more scratched paint, when the powder coating becomes all jacked up spray it with a bedliner( I’ll going to use linex, or Raptor Liner off Amazon).

What ever you do don’t weld it to your frame, glass companies won’t replace your rear window if it gets broken with the headache rack in the way.

This is a CM flatbed, it has the welded rail full length for tie down spots plus stake pockets.

Goose neck as well, I love pulling a stock trailer with it.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Mudman on May 20, 2025, 07:36:40 PM: I was going to flatbed my 2020 Ram. I didnt. It seems new trucks (RAMS) have fancy steel in frame and drilling welding etc is a no no.? Local outfitters didnt want to do it for liability reasons. I do like flat better though. Racks, straps, full width, headache racked, lighting etc. Usefull!
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: elkslayer069 on May 20, 2025, 08:20:07 PM: I love mine. Next new truck i order im going to order as a chassis so I don’t have to buy the bed and take it off. Saw horse, quad, sleds, shooting bench, hay you name it. I like not worrying about loading and unloading with the excavator or tractor. The other plus is with a goose neck you don’t have to worry about your tailgate or side rails of you bed getting smashed if your at a weird or steep angle. You dont need to weld it to you bed. Most trucks take a 2” spacer in the very front and very back on top of the frame then bolted to the bed. Only downside is most flatbeds take fuel slowly since the fuel cap is lower. Check out Diesel Werx in Cle Elum. He got tons of beds in stock usually and knows what measurements you need to get the correct bed.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: TitusFord on May 20, 2025, 08:25:21 PM: I'm fixin to find out😎
Flat bedding my highboy since the beds all rotted out. We will see how I like it, I feel that I'm going to miss having a stock bed but we will find out.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: HUNTIN4SIX on May 20, 2025, 08:37:52 PM: I own 3 for our farm and ranch. Wound up putting one on my daily driver 15’ chev dually. The truck sucks but the bed is awesome for our lifestyle. I literally use it almost everyday. Way easier to hook up trailers. I been driving around fishing a couple tournament and hate it for that purpose..it too big and awkward. Picking one is a whole nuther deal...lol. Bought a Hilsboro a little over a year ago. I got a Dually bed with boxes and install for 6k. Saved 3k by traveling to Idaho trailer sales down in Twin Falls.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Born2late on May 20, 2025, 08:42:43 PM: 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.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on May 20, 2025, 10:43:20 PM: Saves your back and knees. Love mine.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: bearpaw on May 21, 2025, 12:38:30 AM: I love the one on my short bed F350 crew cab. Way more room for hauling, and the backup lights are awesome, they really light up the area when you are backing at night! The box is starting to rust out around the wheel wells on my dodge cummins, I think I'm going to get the same flatbed for it.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Sandberm on May 21, 2025, 08:47:29 AM: They are not for me but I appreciate all the free hand tools I find alongside the road. :chuckle:

A guy I knew put a really cool looking aluminum one on his dodge and he made the comment that it was so light that he lacked traction in the rear.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: luvmystang67 on May 21, 2025, 09:32:38 AM: I was debating this with my rusty bed. Problem is I'm always leaving stuff in my bed, and use a canopy in the winter. I have kids and am always putting strollers and things back there that I want to keep dry or safe under the canopy. I think there's a phase in my life that this would work, but I'm not in it now. Too many seats taken up front with kids, car seats and gear to move my tools and things up there. I think it depends how farm-life vs domestic-life you're in.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: timberfaller on May 21, 2025, 11:20:01 AM: Love them or hate them, they have and do serve a function.

They work great if you have removable side racks and lots of tie down areas. A added bonus is a attached tool box of some sorts, WITH locks!

Two things that get to them over time, salt water spray and DOT de-icer. But then, its just maintenance. Sand,primer and paint.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Bowhunter3 on May 21, 2025, 02:48:06 PM: If you decide to move forward with a flatbed feel free to reach out for options and a quote. I’ll dig up a couple pictures of beds I have done.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on May 21, 2025, 05:35:18 PM: Quote from: Sandberm on May 21, 2025, 08:47:29 AM
They are not for me but I appreciate all the free hand tools I find alongside the road. :chuckle:

A guy I knew put a really cool looking aluminum one on his dodge and he made the comment that it was so light that he lacked traction in the rear.

Wood racks solve that problem, definitely stay away from aluminum IMHO to light, and noisy, my steel flatbed actually improved my snow traction due to the weight.🤣
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: millerwheeler on May 21, 2025, 05:57:41 PM: I have had several large trucks with flatbeds and one Toyota with one there are always positives and negatives personally though the flatbed is the way to go on full size trucks especially if you have multiple hobbies and haul and array of things
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: slavenoid on May 22, 2025, 09:00:50 AM: Quote from: Born2late on May 20, 2025, 08:42:43 PM
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.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Ghost Hunter on May 22, 2025, 10:56:16 AM: 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.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Special T on May 22, 2025, 07:31:03 PM: Only reason not to have one is if you need a canopy at least part of the time. It sounds like a flat bet would work good for you.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on May 22, 2025, 09:19:59 PM: Must have medium duty tow truck specified in your roadside/towing insurance. A good agent knows this and they will tow dually trucks. It's up to you having a decent agent who knows what a 1 ton is and makes sure your provider has it specified that the tow company must have a medium duty hauler/deck.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Jpmiller on May 22, 2025, 09:28:01 PM: Quote from: Special T on May 22, 2025, 07:31:03 PM
Only reason not to have one is if you need a canopy at least part of the time. It sounds like a flat bet would work good for you.

This.

If you’re not running a canopy I feel like you should be running a flat bed. Removable wood sides and an under mount box if you’ve got the room. You’ll never believe how much more useful your truck is.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: slavenoid on May 26, 2025, 10:16:25 AM: Thanks all for the input. I'm definitely not a canopy guy and have commercial insurance so no concerns there.

Im thinking just a plain flat bed with no permanent boxes on top and removable wood rails. We have had more service style setups that are convenient for tools but terrible for loading and unloading. I'm leaning towards a wood deck for better traction and securing cargo, but wouldn't mind hearing an argument for steel.

I'm excited to make the change.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: bearpaw on May 26, 2025, 10:36:00 AM: Prior to my Ford, I had a 98 dodge that I had a steel flatbed on, I built side racks that doubled as ATV ramps, I would put them on whichever side of the truck had the highest ground to make load and unload not as steep. However, over time and heavy usage the paint was abused and rust took over much of the steel flatbed.

I like the looks of the aluminum bed on my ford much better and it won't rust, I also think there is a sight increase in fuel mileage not being as heavy. Currently I have a single board side rail to keep things from sliding off but I think I'm going to build some aluminum side racks to match the aluminum bed and for use as ATV ramps.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Ghost Hunter on May 26, 2025, 01:41:48 PM: Can always put Rhino liner on it. Nothing slides on mine. Steel is heavy. Want to protect it from rusting. In deck D-rings are nice but clog up and stick a lot. Have the tools handy when you need them.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Special T on May 27, 2025, 10:19:28 AM: I have my 5th dodge one ton and I'm keeping it with the factory bed because I now need my canopy sometimes. I'm working on a bed reinforcement with z bar for maximum tie down points and beef up the bed.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on May 28, 2025, 11:42:29 AM: My main gripe about mine is there are no tie down points.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on May 28, 2025, 11:45:28 AM: Smashed a deer last week. And a bunch of stuff behind the grill
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: CP on May 28, 2025, 11:54:44 AM: Quote from: Happy Gilmore on May 28, 2025, 11:42:29 AM
My main gripe about mine is there are no tie down points.

Can't you add some D-rings or E-track? You need something to tie down that deer.
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on May 28, 2025, 01:29:15 PM: Quote from: Happy Gilmore on May 28, 2025, 11:45:28 AM

Smashed a deer last week. And a bunch of stuff behind the grill

What brand of bed is that?
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Happy Gilmore on May 28, 2025, 08:38:50 PM: I can't remember the brand. I need to add some rings. The sides fold down. When they're up they cover stake pockets which dont make sense.

I won't see it for 6 weeks at best.

Edit: i think the brand is TM
Title: Re: What's flatbed pickup life like?
Post by: Special T on May 29, 2025, 05:52:28 PM: I have had metal and wood. Steel is more durable for heavy metal stuff baning around and you don't get road spray on the stuff in the bed. The wood ones are nice be cause of the traction and the price. I have seen several that need wood decks for cheap that you could modify and mounting them before decking makes figuring out everything easier . 40 mm army cans make great under bed sealable boxes for straps and chain. Can be had for $40 and welded wherever. As for a tool box I have a Montezuma tol box and those e things are awesome