FlatBed for Ram 3500

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I am wanting to build a flatbed for my 01 Ram Cummins 3500 DRW.I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of one or a place where I can look at some plans to work off of.I am planning on having it wide anough to stick a few inches over the duals,and maybe 9ft long.I also will be setting the bed about 5.5inches from the cab so I can run my 5 inch stacks between the cab and the bed. Thanks         Jeff
Reply:Step 1 - Build flat square.Step 2 - Bolt to truck.Owner of Welding Wiki,The free wiki based resource for weldor's around the world.http://www.weldingwiki.comWe have cookies!
Reply:Step 3 - Smoke Test!
Reply:Jeff,  Go to my site and click on the chevy truck page. I did one. I made it dump as well. The first thing I built for this bed were stands to hold up the frame of the C-channel while buidling/welding it together.     T.J.www.tjsperformance.com
Reply:Thanks Tj, That is what I was looking for.I just don't need to make it a dump bed,Cause I am building this bed so when i get out of college(starting next fall)for Diesel Mechanic,I can make the truck into a portable welding shop and mechanic so i can do on site repairs to logging equipment and semi trucks,and i am also hoping to get a job at one of the many diesel shops into.I like the headache rack to,I'm gonna put one of those on to since I plow with the truck and need some place for my light bar and Aux.lights.Thanks        Jeff
Reply:Always wanted to make one where the the back of the flat bed looks like the front of the dodge truck. Drop down fenders and all. Just dont seem to have time anymore. Good luck.
Reply:For the stacks I'd just make the bed rigth up to the cab and just cut round holes for the stacks.  It'd look better then a big gap.
Reply:Mowerpan, I will have to disagree I like the look of a flatbed with the stacks between the cab and headache rack.The gap isn't gonna be huge it is only 6" you won't even notice it will teh stacks in their,plus i wil probly make use of the space that is inbetween the stacks.
Reply:HIWE BUILD FLATS AND DUMP BODIES PROFESSIONALLY SO I THOUGHT I WOULD HELP YOU.IF YOR TRUCK IS A 60" CA YOU CANPUT UPTO A 9'6" BED .USE 3"CHANNEL FOR CROSSMEMBERS 12" OC, FOR RUBRAILS USE 4" CHANNEL (FLANGE FACING OUT. FOR LONGSILLS USE 4" CHANNEL .USE 10 GA SHEET FOR FLOOR. FIRST LAY 2 4X8 SHEETS BESIDE EAH OTHER SO THEY ARE 8X8 AND 1.5 X 8 ON END TACK JOINTS FIT 1 RUBRAIL CUT 3" XMEMBERS 92" LONG LAY OUT AND SQUARE UP. TACK 1 RUB RAIL AND ALL XMEMBERS THEN WELD.LAST PUT REMAINING RUBRAIL ON AND WELD, YOUR SHEETS WILL BE OVERSIZE , MOST LIKELY 97"X49". LIFT OFF FLOOR CUT OVERHANG OFF.CHECK YOUR TRUCKS FRAME RAILS STD IS 34" BUT I BELIEVE DODGE IS 44".SET YOUR LONGSILLS AND WELD AND PUT SOME 1/4"GUSSETS EVERY 3RD XMEMBER.TURN OVER BUILD BULKHEAD AND INSTALL USING U BOLTS AND 2 SHEAR PLATES.STD MOUNTING IS 3" behind cab.ameritrucksales.comFRANKIEFrankie
Reply:Hey thanks that gives me a good idea of what i need to do i am prolly just gonna make the bed 9' since i am gonna move it back 6 inches from the cab,i dont want the bed to stick on 10' form the back on the cab.
Reply:Good post, frankie.  Great detail.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I aslo need to incorporate a pintle hook that can pull a 8,000 lb skidsteer,on a trailer that is rated for 12,000 lbs that weighs close to 2,000 lbs in it self,so all together that is 9,500 lbs just to be say around 11,000lbs(5.5tons).I would like to be as safe *** possible cause that truck with a trailer has tipped the scales at 36,000 before and that was with the trailer loaded with the skidsteer and 5 16foot boxes of sideing two ladders and lawn mower and the bed of the truck loaded with plywood and 2x4s,2x6s,2x8s,2x10s,2 40 foot ladders,3 20 footers,1 12 foot step ladder,1 6 foot ladder,and a alumunim brake on the rack,the tool boxes filled with tools and the bed filled with tool along with me,my dad, a full tank of diesel,the back seat was loaded with tools and clothes...and we hauled threw NY,MASS,CONN,NH,ME,too Houlton,Me to the new house... so i need a pretty good hitch,and later on i will prolly put a GN hitch in..
Reply:If You Are Thinking Of Installing Gn Hitch You Should Do It When Mounting Body, It Is A Lot Easier.I Can Get You A Buyers Hitch That Flips Over So You Have Clear Deck Space. You Can Buy This For About $200.00 .cxall Me Ifyou Need Any More Info407-291-7566Ameritrucksales.comFrankieFrankie
Reply:I aslo need to incorporate a pintle hook that can pull a 8,000 lb skidsteer,on a trailer that is rated for 12,000 lbs that weighs close to 2,000 lbs in it self,so all together that is 9,500 lbs just to be say around 11,000lbs(5.5tons).
Reply:I got a basic idea of the flatbed in my head and some of it on paper,what is was looking for mostly is the measurements frankie gave me so i can do a Cad Drawing on the computer.Frankie i will prolly buy the GN hitch at the time of the build even if i dont have the trailer yet,just so i dont have to go through the hassel of doing it after.What frankie has provided is very useful,i got pretty a pretty good fabrication mind,to get my measurements i would need to take the bed off which i dont want to do at this time..So thanks..
Reply:You have any pics of your project thus far?  I just got finished w/ a headache rack that has recessed LED lighting.  Kinda trick looking, but might not be quite what you are looking for.  I'll post some pics when I get some.
Reply:This project got pushed way back. It came to the point that gotts sell the truck, with me saving for college i can't afforrd $500 a month plus 200 a month insurance, and then the registration fee of $1220 a year and if i would have a flatbed on the truck it could be closer to $1350 a year. So were getting rid of the dodge and i will most likly get another dodge once i am out of college since i will need one for the line of work i am going into.Jeff