Aluminum Flatbed for Dodge Ram?

[sisu]

I am considering replacing my 8 foot truck bed with a Al Flatbed. Reason is for the slide in camper.
When I load the camper it is a tense job to say the least. The bed tapers from front to back AND from the bottom of the bed to the top at the very rear end. The last part is the worse as there is about 3/4 inch of room at the very bottom on each side of the camper's very last 1/3 where is expands a bit and at the top there is NO gap! I actually believe the camper and the box push and squeeze each other when load right there. Makes me very nervous.

What does a nice basic Al Flatbed run? Can they be found used for any old truck or do they need to be made specific for the make, model and year? Would I still be able to slide the camper off of the truck with a flatbed, use the Tork Lift tie downs and the camper jacks? I'm a novice with all of this at 60 no less!

The brain fart is this: Instead of buying a flat bed, would it be possible to modify the rear end of the bed? I'd have to remove material from the upper section of the very end of the box so that the camper could have room to slide in. I realize today's vehicles are made so that every part is integral to each other. I realize the tail gate would never fit again because the opening would be larger.

Any and all responses would be helpful. I put this question here because it deals with the truck, but if you believe I'd get more hits in the hard side camper section then I can re-post it there or a mod can move it.
thanks
Sisu

 

[chris_the_wrench]

Ute flatbeds are fairly popular around here. I spoke with them recently and they didn't have any new ones in stock at the moment and he wasn't sure how the price on incoming beds would be effected by the decreasing value of the dollar. I think they were currently around 3k w/ the headache rack and no rear lights. I've been wanting one for my '06 2500 for my slide in also. I'm leaning towards building my own though...

-Chris

I am considering replacing my 8 foot truck bed with a Al Flatbed. Reason is for the slide in camper.
When I load the camper it is a tense job to say the least. The bed tapers from front to back AND from the bottom of the bed to the top at the very rear end. The last part is the worse as there is about 3/4 inch of room at the very bottom on each side of the camper's very last 1/3 where is expands a bit and at the top there is NO gap! I actually believe the camper and the box push and squeeze each other when load right there. Makes me very nervous.

What does a nice basic Al Flatbed run? Can they be found used for any old truck or do they need to be made specific for the make, model and year?

 

[Rovertrader]

I did the Ute a couple months ago and absolutely love it!! I had gotten prices on other alum beds and not even close. The Ute is nice and light- so much so I was a bit skeptical. However, it is an engineered system using corrugated and interlocking panels and the sides etc fit great and would expensive to replicate. I could not be happier- I'll try to attach a pic, but posted one previously and site won't let me replicate... feel free to PM me email address for any specific pics wanted. Cheers, Dale
(other pics posted here: thread= Need to buy a fullsize truck, diesel, gas, 3/4 or 1/2 ton?)

 

[chilliwak]

That flatbed looks real good on the back of your Dodge, Rover!:victory:

 

[mustangwarrior]

if money is not an issue then go for it, otherwise, steel would be cheaper, and i would check craigslist for used beds, also if you wheel it at all, i would think you would want some wheel wells for when you flex it out

me and a buddy built this one for his truck, its only 6 foot and with the toolbox its not the most practical but it looks sweet and we were both only 18 when we built it

 

[OTR]

Check out www.xpcamper.com for their flatbed. I think they include a price as well.

 

[Code Monkey]

I assume from your post that you have a conventional pickup bed (with sides). You weren't explicit on that issue.

The UTE is a good bed from what I have read, and that might be what you need if you don't intend to ever use the flatbed in a heavy duty utility situation where there may be a forklift loading something on your bed, or a scenario like that - otherwise you would want to be very careful with it as it is not made for that kind of use (actually, most AL beds aren't but especially the UTE) - in which case you would probably want a steel bed instead of AL.

The problem with steel beds is that although they are strong and durable, they are also pretty darn heavy. I would bet the bed I got with my truck (all steel) probably weighs close to 1000 pounds. Of course, the AL bed would be a lot lighter.

The advantage of the UTE bed is that it is light and you can probably install it yourself and it is less expensive than a one piece bed.

Here is what I am looking at:

http://www.800toolbox.com/flatbeds/flatbeds.htm

But these are expensive.

 

[mustangwarrior]

those are nice, but i can't see spending $4600 on a bed when i only paid $3700 for the truck, imo

 

[my1stcummins]

I did the Ute a couple months ago and absolutely love it!! I had gotten prices on other alum beds and not even close. The Ute is nice and light- so much so I was a bit skeptical. However, it is an engineered system using corrugated and interlocking panels and the sides etc fit great and would expensive to replicate. I could not be happier- I'll try to attach a pic, but posted one previously and site won't let me replicate... feel free to PM me email address for any specific pics wanted. Cheers, Dale
(other pics posted here: thread= Need to buy a fullsize truck, diesel, gas, 3/4 or 1/2 ton?)

That is a great looking Ram. Awesome Snorkel.

 

[Kilroy]

Love my flatbed. Carry Alaskan camper on it, much easier to loan/unload than regular bed. Also lots of space to carry gear. I wouldn't have another truck with a regular bed.

I also considered these guys:

http://www.alum-line.com/truck-bodies/truck-bed-standard-production-model.html

And would have probably bought there's if hadn't gotten a Ute demo.

They can come off and go on the next truck.

 

[Rovertrader]

Kilroy- would you mind posting a pic of yours with and without the camper? Thanks, or email?

 

[Kilroy]

Don't have a picture with camper off bed. Will be taking one. I have also developed some technique's for loading and securing camper that I don't have time to go into right now, but make it go quicker and easier.

 

[sisu]

Well after looking at the prices of flat beds I gave up, but what really turned my mind around was a good neighbor. His hobby is building hot rods and I was explaining to him what the problem was. He had me drive to his house with the truck and camper. We looked at the problem and in 30 seconds he solved it. I'll remove the camper, we then well modify the two up-right posts or columns that are "squeezing the final 1/3 of the camper. The modification is simple. We'll cut a pie shape out of each post or column and then push the remaining material toward the bed. Then weld that material back in place, sand and paint. This will give me about 3/4 inch loading space on each side.

I still want a Al flatbed but I'll wait until I am in Alaska where there are scrap yards filled with the aluminum.

 

[Rovertrader]

very nice- thanks. PM me the details or secrets if you will. I have considered doing a RTT on the bed and remove it when not in use, but the camper is better rig for sure. Cheers

 

[sisu]

I will take a camera with me when we do the job, and then post pictures.