Flag in the bed

razorscs · Jun 27, 2007

Hey guys, I want to put a 3x5 flag in the bed of my truck for the 4th, at the front of the bed in the middle between the stacks. I have seen a few trucks with it around here but am not sure how to securely put it in there. Has anyone done this or does anyone have any ideas?? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

SmokeyWren · Jun 27, 2007

Here's one way.

Cut a 2x6 pine board long enough to fit on top of the bedrails and cross the bed as close to the stacks as would be safe. Make this board flush with the outside of the bed.

Cut a 2x6 pine board long enough to cross the bed on the floor of the bed under the other 2x6 that's on top of the bedrails. Make this board a tight fit between the walls of the bed.

Cut two 2x6 pine boards long enough to fit between the two 2x6s that cross the bed. Put one on each side of the bed.

Assemble that frame, using big 3.25" deck screws, and make it hell for strong so it won't tend to bend out of shape. You may need to pre-drill the screw holes to prevent the pine from coming apart.

Use a hole saw and drill a hole in the center of the top 2x6, where you want the flag staff to go through the top board and into the bottom board. Drill that same size hole in the center of the bottom 2x6. Make those holes almost exactly the right size so the flag staff will go though but not flop around in the holes.

Hold the top board to the pickup bedrails with 4 C-clamps. With 4 clamps, you can stop the forward and backward twisting of the frame - caused by the wind jerking on the flag.

Cut 2x4 pieces to fit between the bottom 2x6 and the front of the bed. When the pickup is moving, the flag will try to push the bottom board towards the front of the bed. So don't let it. Somehow attach those 2x4s to the 2x6 bottom board.

Insert the flag staff in the pre-cut holes.

When you have it right, then remove all the wood, and sand, prime and paint the wood to make it purrty. After the paint dries real good, reinstall the frame, clamp it down really good, and head to the parade. After you get ready to show off, then add the flag.

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>

______
| |
| flag |
|______|
|
|
| top rail 2x6
-------------|-------------
| | |
| | |
| | |
-----------|-----------
bottom rail 2x6

</pre><hr />

ccostell · Jun 28, 2007

Why only fly it one day a year?

Just make sure the flag is secured well and proper and that it's a quality flag so you don't tear it to hell and desecrate it.

The above suggestion, although labor instensive, is probably the best way to do it unless you can weld.

dwtoolco · Jun 28, 2007

Got a gooseneck hitch?? If so put it in where the ball goes??
IF not well............SOL!

firemediceric · Jun 28, 2007

A firefighter that I worked with, who passed away earlier this month (RIP), put a flag in his truck right after 9/11.

He just had a standard flag pole bracket mounted on the tool box. It was the type of bracket you would get to put on your house and it was mounted on the surface of the tool box that faces the tail gate. He had a 12 volt landscape spot light secured in the bed to illuminate the flag at night. It looked great going down the road.

THEDIESELMAN · Jun 28, 2007

What I have used is those U shaped brackets at the hardware store for supporting pipes and stuff just get like 3-4 of them and put one at the top and bottom and and if you want over kill 1-2 in the middle of the pole just drill holes and add screws and your done.

razorscs · Jun 28, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
Here's one way.

Cut a 2x6 pine board long enough to fit on top of the bedrails and cross the bed as close to the stacks as would be safe. Make this board flush with the outside of the bed.

Cut a 2x6 pine board long enough to cross the bed on the floor of the bed under the other 2x6 that's on top of the bedrails. Make this board a tight fit between the walls of the bed.

Cut two 2x6 pine boards long enough to fit between the two 2x6s that cross the bed. Put one on each side of the bed.

Assemble that frame, using big 3.25" deck screws, and make it hell for strong so it won't tend to bend out of shape. You may need to pre-drill the screw holes to prevent the pine from coming apart.

Use a hole saw and drill a hole in the center of the top 2x6, where you want the flag staff to go through the top board and into the bottom board. Drill that same size hole in the center of the bottom 2x6. Make those holes almost exactly the right size so the flag staff will go though but not flop around in the holes.

Hold the top board to the pickup bedrails with 4 C-clamps. With 4 clamps, you can stop the forward and backward twisting of the frame - caused by the wind jerking on the flag.

Cut 2x4 pieces to fit between the bottom 2x6 and the front of the bed. When the pickup is moving, the flag will try to push the bottom board towards the front of the bed. So don't let it. Somehow attach those 2x4s to the 2x6 bottom board.

Insert the flag staff in the pre-cut holes.

When you have it right, then remove all the wood, and sand, prime and paint the wood to make it purrty. After the paint dries real good, reinstall the frame, clamp it down really good, and head to the parade. After you get ready to show off, then add the flag.

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>

______
| |
| flag |
|______|
|
|
| top rail 2x6
-------------|-------------
| | |
| | |
| | |
-----------|-----------
bottom rail 2x6

</pre><hr />

[/ QUOTE ] that all sounds good but do you think c clamps are strong enough to hold it all down? or am i missing something?

SmokeyWren · Jun 28, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
that all sounds good but do you think c clamps are strong enough to hold it all down? or am i missing something?

[/ QUOTE ]

They make C-clamps in various sizes. The small ones probably won't do the job, but those about 6" long by 4" wide should do the trick. Use a "cheater" to tighten them really tight.

I hope you're talking about having the flag mounted only when at slower speeds around town. I wouldn't want to be cruising down the interstate with such a jury rig, but around town at up to about 30 or 40 MPH should work fine.

razorscs · Jun 28, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
that all sounds good but do you think c clamps are strong enough to hold it all down? or am i missing something?

[/ QUOTE ]

They make C-clamps in various sizes. The small ones probably won't do the job, but those about 6" long by 4" wide should do the trick. Use a "cheater" to tighten them really tight.

I hope you're talking about having the flag mounted only when at slower speeds around town. I wouldn't want to be cruising down the interstate with such a jury rig, but around town at up to about 30 or 40 MPH should work fine.

[/ QUOTE ]well im planning on driving mostly under 40, but Im going to have to hop on the freeway a few times and I dont know if the C clamps will be strong enough

SmokeyWren · Jun 28, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
... but Im going to have to hop on the freeway a few times and I dont know if the C clamps will be strong enough

[/ QUOTE ]

It takes two seconds to remove the flagstaff from the bracket. Remove the flag and roll it up and store it when pounding pavement.

razorscs · Jun 29, 2007

thats a good point, thanks a lot for your help

razorscs · Jul 3, 2007

So I just finished building the frame that SmokeyWren gave me the plans to and I am really impressed. It is very solid, was easy to build and I just drove on the freeway for an hour and it is absolutely solid, the windstream kind of wraps around the flag so it doesnt beat the flag to much. I'll have some pictures up in a little while.

Thanks Smokey!

Tipher · Jul 3, 2007

My brother used to run one in the back of an old 79 ford. Just made a little bracket that bolted to a spare tire in the back. It has a rod that the flag mounts too.

razorscs · Jul 4, 2007

alright guys i just put up some pics of the flag and set up in the bed, click on the link to my pics to see em

SmokeyWren · Jul 4, 2007

Wow! That's exactly what I visualized. But you made it even better with that extra reinforcing board added to the top board. Except you haven't added the purrty dark blue enamel yet to make it match the truck better. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif

FloridaEd · Jul 4, 2007

May I remind you that flags are not designed to fly in constant 50-70 MPH winds and the seams will unravel, letting the fabric on the loose end start to fray.

Please properly retire and dispose of the flag when this happens.

Happy 4th of July, all.

Florida Ed, US Army, Retired

boyington · Jul 4, 2007

Good point FloridaEd...

And may I add something along those lines as well.

If your flag comes off while driving, please stop and pick it up.

I have stopped and picked up numerous flags from the roadway that have blown off vehicles. I just can't stand to see our flag laying in the gutter.

As I was driving to work this morning, someone has lined the street on both sides with small polyvinyl flags on sticks stuck in the ground about every 300' for nearly 10 blocks. (With their business card attatched by the way).

No problem with the flags, but who is going to pick them up? I assure you they will be in the gutter by the end of the week.

I applaud all of you for flying "ole glory" from your trucks. Looks great!! Needs to be more of this I think!

But, please don't let our flag lay in the road if yours comes off.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PATRIOTISM!!

God Bless the U.S.A. and all of our Troops!!

razorscs · Jul 5, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
May I remind you that flags are not designed to fly in constant 50-70 MPH winds and the seams will unravel, letting the fabric on the loose end start to fray.

Please properly retire and dispose of the flag when this happens.

Happy 4th of July, all.

Florida Ed, US Army, Retired

[/ QUOTE ]Well I am an Eagle Scout and me and some of the guys that were in my troop with me a while ago get together once a month to properly retire flags for people in the community as Boy Scouts are authorized to do so, It will be respectably retired when the time comes.

razorscs · Jul 5, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
Good point FloridaEd...

And may I add something along those lines as well.

If your flag comes off while driving, please stop and pick it up.

I have stopped and picked up numerous flags from the roadway that have blown off vehicles. I just can't stand to see our flag laying in the gutter.

As I was driving to work this morning, someone has lined the street on both sides with small polyvinyl flags on sticks stuck in the ground about every 300' for nearly 10 blocks. (With their business card attatched by the way).

No problem with the flags, but who is going to pick them up? I assure you they will be in the gutter by the end of the week.

I applaud all of you for flying "ole glory" from your trucks. Looks great!! Needs to be more of this I think!

But, please don't let our flag lay in the road if yours comes off.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PATRIOTISM!!

God Bless the U.S.A. and all of our Troops!!

[/ QUOTE ]Heck no I would never leave it on the ground thats never going to happen. But that flag is way way overly secured on that pole and there is absolutely no way it will fly off.

razorscs · Jul 5, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
Wow! That's exactly what I visualized. But you made it even better with that extra reinforcing board added to the top board. Except you haven't added the purrty dark blue enamel yet to make it match the truck better. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]Haha ya I didn't do that but I used some older wood thats really dark so it wouldnt stand out, I am extremely surprised at how sturdy it is, Those plans worked perfect Smokey, you should sell them on ebay/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Flag in the bed

Top Contributors this Month