weight estimate from the experts?

admin

Hey all,I am learing to weld with the goal of building something like this for my truck...It's a 95 Toyota Tacom. The original bed is 6ft long.Is there a way to get a rough estimate of what building a flat bed in the manner of the above would weight? Or is that to ambiguos to attemp?I was planning to use 2x2, 1/8 tubing for the frame and 1/4" diamon plate for the floor.Is there maybe a "known" wieght of the materials I can refer to, then estimate what it would take to build it?Then, can you maybe esitmate what the bed of a Toyota pickup weighs? I have not been able to get a definate number.My curiosity is because I want to make sure that my suspension will handle the wieght of the flatbed vs the factory bed.It would seem to me the flatbed would be heavier with the thick tubing and diamond plat vs a sheet metal bedm but wanted your expert opinions. Last edited by mkatts; 04-17-2014 at 10:25 AM.Eastwood Mig135
Reply:Here you go, not sure they have the diamond plate though - http://nwsteel.net/NWSteelProductBook.pdf-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:If you have drawings or even a sketch of the design, it is not hard to calculate a weight.   Sheet and plate have weights listed on a per-square-foot basis, tube, angle, etc. have weights listed on a lineal foot basis.   It is a matter of getting out a sheet of paper and a calculator and writing down the details.  (8 square feet of diamondplate, at X pounds per square foot, is Y total pounds).   If the weight comes out too heavy, you can easily see where you could cut thicknesses, etc., to get the weight down.One good reason to calculate the weight is to come up with a rough cost estimate.   I usually figure steel costs $1 a pound, and that gets me in the ball park, close enough for my purposes.I am unsure how to estimate the weight of the existing bed.   If I had to, I would probably estimate how many square feet of sheet metal are in the bed, and then figure it was 18 ga or 19 ga steel.  Maybe a little web searching will come up with an answer, or at least an approximation.   The article below says 300 pounds, but not sure if that applies to your truck.http://www.yotatech.com/f116/weight-...9-95-a-201681/RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:thanks. :-)I have seen that one too. Have seen several numbers up and down from that as well. That's why i figured I would ask some metal experts. Eastwood Mig135
Reply:Happy birthday !http://www.calculatoredge.com/matwei...erial%20wt.htmBubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:That PDF is spot on what I was thinking about. It did have diamon plate too. :-)The web calculator is pretty sweet too Burpee. Eastwood Mig135
Reply:Called Toyota and the shipping weight of a complete bed is only 250lbs.Wow that is a lot lighter than I would have guesses.
Reply:It aint light if it's sitting on you. Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:hmmm, more cushion for the pushin!!Eastwood Mig135
Reply:Originally Posted by BurpeeIt aint light if it's sitting on you.
Reply:Do you suppose that's a thong she's wearing?
Reply:Looks like she sat on a waffle iron.