Thinking about getting a flatbed - Diesel Forum

lone_star_dsl · 11-17-2009, 08:29 PM

I have had some peeling of the clearcoat on the passenger side of my bed and stopped by the body shop to get a quote on repairs. They recommended a total re-paint of the entire truck (which it probably does need) for $8,000.

After I picked my chin up off the floor, I decided I would look around for a flatbed.

I need recommendations for a steel bed that will fit a SRW. Pics would be great! Also, does anyone know what the going rate for an 8' bed that needs a little clearcoat work would be? I may have one for sale soon.

Thanks

LMJD · 11-17-2009, 10:20 PM

A big seller around here is Hillsboro. Check out their website, they are CLASSY looking flatbeds.

**djbrown** · 11-18-2009, 12:44 AM

i have had a ton of diff. flat beds, the best one so far hands down has been BRADFORD BUILT. they come with lights and wiring. flip down sides gooseneck, stake pockets. powder coat, reese hitch built in, mudflaps.etc,,,. alot of beds come with some p.o.s tail light assy. that you have to modify the tail light to bolt or weld on. not with bradford they send all the lights and have backup light on there also. as you can tell i like them, hands down best bed. they also have boxes that you can get for the underside in front of the rear tire. when you buy the box it has mounting hardware, under the bed is all the holes needed to add the boxes, so they really have thought the bed over. now i hear if you want a bed with out the gooseneck it cost MORE, the comp. told me that they move the beds with the gooseneck ball, so if there isnt one there they have a hard time moving it. well enought said, i like the bradford built beds.

Bradford Built, Washington, Kansas

RajinCajun · 11-18-2009, 09:11 AM

I like my Western Hauler a lot. Pop in brake/back up lights so they are easy to change and available at every truck stop. Plan to upgrade to LED's too. You can get a wedge fuel tank and other options for them. TON OHV, Jeeps, and 4WD Galleries :: Ultimate Tow Rig :: F4503

LMJD · 11-18-2009, 11:01 AM

There's a lot of nice ones out there, Featherlite is another one. Just my opinion, but I'd bite the bullet, go without eating or whatever it took and spend the extra bucks on aluminum rather that steel. At the time I thought I couldn't afford the extra for aluminum when I bought my current horse trailer. Right after I got it paid off I was sorry (and still am) that I didn't spring for the aluminum model.

NickKent · 11-18-2009, 07:20 PM

go aluminum. SRW truck has no payload to begin with. And with a steel bed you are at least 500 lbs heavier than with just the stock pickup bed. Might as well throw in a dump cylinder on it too. Unless you have a dump already.

lone_star_dsl · 11-18-2009, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the replies fellas.

I am looking around at some aluminum ones but I am worried about what it would take to repair it if it should get damaged in some way. I am a competent welder but I don't have access to a TIG.

I did find this one: ALUMINUM TRUCK FLATBEDS - lightweight , save fuel, and look great! by Highway Products but the $8,400 price tag scared me away.

I say that I worry about damaged but my current bed doesn't have one single ding in it so far (knock on wood) and it's been almost 8 years.

I really do like the look of the Bradford Built beds. Very classy.

I have pretty much talked myself into getting a flatbed and calling it an early Christmas present to myself. I have a tailgate spreader that I use in the winter when we are plowing snow and it doesn't allow me to open the tailgate. I was thinking with a flatbed, I would have access through the sides to load the snowblower or ATV. Also, it would make loading pallets of ice melt much easier. I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier.

I did some checking around but couldn't nail down a price that I could get for my bed. Any ideas? Long bed, charcoal in color with a 2"X14" section of peeling clearcoat. No dents BTW.

NickKent · 11-19-2009, 09:14 PM

you can probably get a couple hundred bucks for your bed.

bryrylan · 11-21-2009, 05:19 PM

check this out, fresh install last week

bryrylan · 11-21-2009, 05:23 PM

Note: I just changed the lights out to clear LEDs and the harness that came with that was AWESOME plugged right into the stock ford connector.

lone_star_dsl · 11-21-2009, 07:01 PM

I saw pics of your truck on plowsite. You definitely threw a ton of fuel on the fire when I saw how good it looked.

I think I have settled on a Bradford Built but I need to find a buyer for my bed first.

Thanks for all the input guys.

bryrylan · 11-21-2009, 08:44 PM

I wanted a bradford built in the worst way but had no way to get one here with out paying almost as much as the bed to get it to me..

barnbuilder · 11-22-2009, 04:18 PM

I got a price on a TruckCraft Corporation ::: Truck Bodies and Equipment aluminum flatbed with fold down sides. The price on the bed wasn't bad but they wanted like another $2200 for the sides!! I had priced the Highway Pod. also and it was over $8000.

Not sure if the pic works.

**djbrown** · 11-23-2009, 01:32 AM

one note, the bradford beds do weigh about 900lbs. i have air bags on my truck and keep just under 30 lbs to keep the truck level.

lone_star_dsl · 11-23-2009, 11:20 PM

I found a bed locally. It is in great condition and very similar to a Bradford. The only issue I see is that it is only 8' long. Every new bed I have looked at has been 8'6".

I measured the frame of the truck and from the cab it is 8'. The problem is that I would have to relocate my spare tire, fabricate a new hitch and build my own mounts to fit it to the frame. I have all the tools, but is this a major undertaking?

I can pick this bed up for $1,400 less than a new one. Is it worth the trouble?