Starting a welding bed

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So I got fed up with working out of a truck bed so I decided to build a welding/flat bed. The total length it 121" going to have vertical bottle storage next to the cab and 7 foot behind the welder of flat bed. I really liked this dodge bed, think it was some one on ww that posted it. Really like the vertical bottle storage. Thinking mine will end up a lot like this but longer.
Reply:Looking good.You need to take out a loan to fill both those tanks? Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Funny yeah the back one is an oversized one think it holds 40 or 50 gallons. Total if both are empty its almost $300
Reply:It's amazing on how puny looking a truck's frame looks these days.  That C-channel is darn cute! Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Funny Was trying to keep the weight down, it's 3" by 1/4"
Reply:So you are going to have 4' hanging out behind the tires?  How much weight you planning on hauling back there?Thermal Arc  Power-Tech 10/270  stick welderLincoln buzz-boxPurox O/A setupNothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
Reply:Not all that much, it's more for hay, bags of feed and such. I don't have a dedicated welding truck yet so this one has to do it all.
Reply:Well I may end up shortening it up to the end of the truck frame. More flex than I would like at the end. Should have gone for 4 or 5 inch channel. Guess I can add a gooseneck hitch if I shorten it up
Reply:Yea, you could always put your welder and bottles on a skid.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:I actually started building my bed today.  I'm building it on a Ram2500 QCLB 4X4 single rear wheel.  You might want to look into Airbags.  I picked up "FireStone Ride Right Air Bags" good up to 5000lbs.  I got them from XDP for $359.00.  I know you have a SA250 (So do I) and there heavy beast!  Have fun with your bed project!  I really am!!  Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:I would bag it for sure if I had not moved to the 200. I think I'm going to put it on a work trailer. I got the deck and one bottle cubby done today. Going to try to get the skin on tomorrow. Think I'm going to throw on a gooseneck hitch since I shortened the bed to 8 ft. Going to try out my new Milwaukee metal circular saw. Excited to see how that works on the 11 gauge deck.
Reply:Any one know how far forward of the rear axle the gooseneck ball should be?
Reply:Originally Posted by darlingtonfarmAny one know how far forward of the rear axle the gooseneck ball should be?
Reply:looking great so far. I'm in the need to either build a bed or buy a service truck i have way to many tools i need with me mostly my portable line boring machine....Miller trailblazer302Millerxmt304millermatic 200lincoln squarwavelincoln SA250lincoln SAE400Climax BB5000
Reply:I would go 3 1/2 to 4.  Most people put it too far forward.  When loaded you should see little to now difference in weight on the front axle.. I pull 30,000 gross on a 3/4 ton a couple times each week.  I have had trucks ranging from an inch behind to 6 inches ahead.  A little behind will pull better than too far forward.Farmer2Hobart Champion EliteMiller S-32p 12Lincoln sp175tLincoln 225 ac tombstoneHarris oxy/aceteleneMakita grinders/chopsawHypertherm Powermax 45
Reply:Couldn't you keep the bed short and have two plus feet at the back hinged so it could swing up when you need bed space?  I did that on a mid sized international and it worked well.  Just use expanded metal where it covers your lights and plates.Farmer2Hobart Champion EliteMiller S-32p 12Lincoln sp175tLincoln 225 ac tombstoneHarris oxy/aceteleneMakita grinders/chopsawHypertherm Powermax 45
Reply:Originally Posted by darlingtonfarmI would bag it for sure if I had not moved to the 200. I think I'm going to put it on a work trailer. I got the deck and one bottle cubby done today. Going to try to get the skin on tomorrow. Think I'm going to throw on a gooseneck hitch since I shortened the bed to 8 ft. Going to try out my new Milwaukee metal circular saw. Excited to see how that works on the 11 gauge deck.
Reply:Getting the skin on, my steel supplyer had some scraps for cheap so I'm peaceing the deck and sides together. I love that Milwaukee saw for that 11 gauge sheet. Its just like cutting a sheet of plywood.
Reply:Looking good bro!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:I've got one of those saws, it's awesome
Reply:Nice work, can't wait to see more pictures!Craig MontgomeryM&L Fabrication, LLChttps://www.facebook.com/pages/ML-Fa...8228829?ref=hl
Reply:Got as far as I can get today, gotta clean up the house before my spouse gets back from a business trip..... Two 5 year olds and a 6 year old running amuck for a week while I work on the bed. Here is what I have so far. Also found out that my mag drill will not hold down to a peace of 3/8s while using a 4.5 inch hole saw. Happily broke out the arc air.
Reply:Could you have clamp the mag drill down with a c-clamp?
Reply:Guessing I could have figured something out but on 11 gauge the arc air works about as fast as a plasma cutter just not as clean.
Reply:Good looking bed so far friend can't wait to see more pics.I am new to the forum A trick I found that helps with a mag drill is to put a piece of heavy plate under  the thin plate to increase the thickness  so the magnet can grab
Reply:Is it finished yet?
Reply:I wish, just about the time I started the bottle racks things got crazy. About 1000 miles and more repairs than I  have done in a week since I opened in January. It's still at the same point just threw on some boxes from tractor supply and went to work.
Reply:Got one fuel filler in today
Reply:Very clean build my friend!!
Reply:Got a little more done on it today. Got a hell of a deal on these 5p+ and 7024 happy craigslist score $35 a can.
Reply:Guess it helps to post the pic
Reply:
Reply:Got a little more work done
Reply:Good progress ,Its a shame you have to take all the boxes and welder off to work on it ,then put it  all back when you need the truck,makes it hard to finish.gxbxc
Reply:It's a pain but I like having the work coming in though
Reply:Looking good D'!Can't wait to see it finished.  I may have missed something, do you plan on running propane as a fuel?Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:I have my eyes out for a dual fuel carb for my sa200. I use regular propane and oxygen for cutting. Not as hot as acetylene but filling up that #40 tank only costs $10 bucks.Last edited by darlingtonfarm; 08-12-2014 at 08:26 AM.
Reply:Nice job building the bed. I just bought a Milwaukee saw also and love it.
Reply:Nice job building the bed. I just bought a Milwaukee saw also and love it.
Reply:Finally about done with my bed, just need to build the door for the bottle rack. The air bags made a huge difference in ride and height.
Reply:Originally Posted by darlingtonfarmFinally about done with my bed, just need to build the door for the bottle rack. The air bags made a huge difference in ride and height.
Reply:Thanks, took some more pics today
Reply:Nice rig man!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Thanks, think I'm going to add a Hoosier pole and fix the ford rust on the body and call it quits
Reply:Added another bit of crap on the truck today. Needed a way to lift some premaid steel landings. So this was the solution. So far I tested it on a mower that weighs 700lb. I got the  A frame off a guy that owns a weld shop near me for 100 bucks and added a 5000lb winch.
Reply:I like gin poles , they are old school. gxbxc
Reply:Like the poles got a set on mine there handy. Don't know why you don't see more of them. Nice job
Reply:Originally Posted by darlingtonfarmAdded another bit of crap on the truck today. Needed a way to lift some premaid steel landings. So this was the solution. So far I tested it on a mower that weighs 700lb. I got the  A frame off a guy that owns a weld shop near me for 100 bucks and added a 5000lb winch.
Reply:Do you mount your weld/gen solid to the frame or use some kind of a vibration damper like rubber?