Best way to mount a bobcat in a pickup bed?

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So, my 1979 Ford F-150 is about to become what it was bought for. I'm buying a Miller Bobcat 225 from my boss..already paid him part of it, all my side work money is going in his pocket til it's paid for. (but I just got a sweet little deal worked out this morning that should make most of the money quick) ...anyway, I had originally wanted to put a flatbed on this truck but now I'm leaning towards keeping the stock bed, mounting the welder and a (possibly homemade) job box to hold my 211 and the rest of my gear.  Living in Nashville in an apartment, I have no garage. so the question is....can you guys give me some good ideas on how to mount the bobcat and make it very very secure.... I don't need my livelihood walking off in the middle of the night, you know? I'm aware I'll probably have to beef up the frame...I'm okay with whatever, I just want some tips and ideas to get me started in the right direction. thanks. Millermatic 211 Miller Blue Fire 140@swiftwelding on Instagram
Reply:the best way to keep it safe is move to a better neighbor hood! But I know what you mean some streets in Nashville you could leave a bag of cash laying in the back of your truck others they will steal your leads for copper scrape pawn your hand tools and ship the welder to southamerica
Reply:Need to make some precautions, alarm and kill switch so they don't steal the truck also.
Reply:The 600# Bobcat shouldn't need a beefed up frame . . .. . . oh wait, you said Ford . . . MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by CraboNeed to make some precautions, alarm and kill switch so they don't steal the truck also.
Reply:That old Ford has plenty of frame to bolt to and as Duane eluded to, enough spring to hold up a Bobcat. You'll get lots of ideas here. I might make an angle iron frame to bolt the welder down it, then put some short legs on it to keep it up off the floor say 6" so you can slide 8-10ft lengths of steel under it, and bolt those legs down to your frame. Can't remember on a Ford - 2 sets of bolts in front and back of bed?  If so maybe take 2 out of the front and 2 out of the rear and run your welder frame anchor bolts through those holes.Slick truck!
Reply:Last weekend, a friend loaded his awesome Jeep on a trailer and used his old Ford Diesel truck to haul it. Someone decided they liked what he had, so they hot wired the truck and took truck, trailer, and Jeep.Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkQualified & experienced at welding scrap metal
Reply:Congrats swifty, hope everything works out. My first truck was a 77 model, and from experience as far as keeping your truck safe goes watch out for the triangle shaped window on the doors. They are awfully easy to get into if there isn't a lock on them.Shake and Bake
Reply:Just throw the weldr in the back and move it around until you are happy. Drill the four holes, then make some frame tie in brackets, bolt it in.  I have mine mounted for and aft on the D/S of the bed. I also have two pork chop tool boxes mounted that hold all my tools.
Reply:If it were mine, I would mount it sideways up close to the cab. Reasons: 1) Filling up at the gas station, both fill nozzles could be within reach of each other (welder's & truck's) 2) with the jobox centered between the wheel wells, you don't have to crawl over the welder to get to the bottom of the tool box. And still have a little bed left to carry stuff.My $.02
Reply:yeah, I know the weight isn't a problem, I haul over 1000 lbs of scrap at least a couple times a month - I figured the frame would need some reinforcement so there'd be more to mount to. haven't really looked yet either. But I'm happy to hear you guys say it should be fine. I really like the idea of lifting it up a few inches for things to slide under...nice! The good news is it's an 8 foot bed, so there's still plenty of bed left over after I put a welder and a box in there. My lease is up in May, and then hopefully we'll be ready to get a house with a garage. This isn't actually a bad neighborhood, I'm more worried about people from surrounding areas coming over here at night after they see me driving around with the welder. already planning on making my box big enough for my leads and everything that could be taken easily. not going to make it easy for them. I'll definitely do some research on kill switches/etc. thanks guys!Millermatic 211 Miller Blue Fire 140@swiftwelding on Instagram
Reply:For a vehicle theft alarm just run a wire from the ignition power wire, preferably near the distributor, thru a toggle switch mounted in a hidden but easily reached spot and from the toggle switch to the horns. If the engine starts w/ the toggle switch closed the horns continuously honk. Might pizz off the neighbors 'til you train yourself to disarm before starting it,LOL!!                                                       MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:I wouldn't worry so much about the frame being strong enough, but if you point load the bed you may have issues down the road. The easy way to solve that is to put larger "feet" on the legs to spread out the load more. I'm thinking if you set the machine up on a frame so you can slide stuff under it for storage. Keep in mind you also want to be able to easily clean under there as well. I've seen plenty of guys who end up with all sorts of leaves and trash stuffed under the box or whatever that's tough to get to and clean out. Leave yourself enough room to easily be able to clean things well..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I set mine into a 3" channel frame, between the wheel wells, like a grid. It's bolted to the channel, but not to the truck bed.  I like the other idea by "machivas" above of setting it in crossways up front though, gives more useable space.
Reply:this bobcat just goes about any where it wants in the back of the pick up Attached Images
Reply:Farmerboy wins this thread. for sure. lol.Millermatic 211 Miller Blue Fire 140@swiftwelding on Instagram