Flatbed build for cheapskates

[FSrepair&fabrication]

So a customer wanted a flatbed with a budget of $2000. Normally I wouldn’t be interested, but since he has a lot of connections for future work we agreed to do it. This is the 6th or 7th flatbed I’ve done, however it is definitely the cheapest as far as materials. So here come a lot of pics and see what can be done for not a lot of money. Any criticism is welcome, but keep in mind the design is what the customer wanted. If I were building it for myself it would be a little different.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Somehow I missed taking pics of the horizontal braces every 12” that the sheetmetal is welded to, but I promise it’s there lol. We incorporated the 5th wheel hitch same as it was with the original bed, it just bolted thru the sheetmetal to the brackets on the frame.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Lucky for me we had a friend that’s a painter who owed me a favor so he was able to do a better job than I ever could. So here it is a $2000 flatbed with a 5th wheel. I literally made $250 for this job and so did my helper but since it’s for a guy with a lot contacts in the construction industry we figured we go for it.

 

[MushCreek]

I don't know how you could do that for $2000. Looks great to me. It does look like the rear tires could rub, though? I'm thinking about doing something like that on my old F-250. I'm too lazy to restore the rusty original bed.

 

[matt_i]

Good job, hopefully the future business pays off.

Did you pull the assembly to paint it or just spray right on the truck?

What gauge materials go into it, 1/8" for the top?

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

I don't know how you could do that for $2000. Looks great to me. It does look like the rear tires could rub, though? I'm thinking about doing something like that on my old F-250. I'm too lazy to restore the rusty original bed.

It does look close in the pics, but the edges of the bed are about 1” outside of the tires. Also he has air bags on the rear for towing which are empty in these pics. With 30psi in them it sits about 3” higher and cant compress enough to rub. I wanted to notch the sides and make a small fender but he said he didn’t like the look so we did it his way

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Good job, hopefully the future business pays off.

Did you pull the assembly to paint it or just spray right on the truck?

What gauge materials go into it, 1/8" for the top?

We painted it on the truck, looking back it would have been easier to lift it off but too late now lol. The deck is 14gauge, the horizontal supports are 3/16 and the outer frame and head board are 1/4”

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Materials cost was about $1450 plus beer. Myself and Corey (guy in the pics) made $250 each for 2 evenings of work. Not worth it one bit, but trying to get our foot in the door with some bigger companies that this guy knows. They are ordering several cab and chassis trucks and we would like to be the ones building and installing the beds. So we gave him a sweet deal so he can show off our work to these guys when he’s on their job sites.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

Where is the 'SLIPPERY WHEN WET' caution sign?

Very nice job for 2K!!

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Thanks. Totally slick as ice. We did put some texture in the paint, but still pretty dicey. I would prefer diamondplate or oak boards personally.

 

[Ign]

^^^something I've found interesting...it does seem my work boots which are supposedly "anti-slip" or whatever the industry calls it grip the snowy, bare painted beds in my trucks way better than "regular" shoes. If I wear my Merrell "tennis shoes" every second in a pickup bed with snow is like one second away from a quadriplegic lifetime....but with my Timberland Pro boots it's far less scary -- of course I'm still VERY careful.

Anyway, I like the project. Nice work at $2k. What do you figure you'd charge under normal circumstances for the same thing?

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

I figure about 15-20 hours labor with paint so probably 32-3500. If I did diamondplate for the decking, stake pockets on the sides and added some more lights, $4000.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Also I would add reverse lights. He has some cobbed up idea of putting a light bar back there. So we left those out and left him a pigtail so he can do what he wants with it.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

My criticism is to add some tie down points, other than that it looks like a killer bargain at $2k!

 

[kingchevy]

If he's a cheapskate, whatever contacts he has probably are too.

 

[nadogail]

Thanks. Totally slick as ice. We did put some texture in the paint, but still pretty dicey. I would prefer diamondplate or oak boards personally.

A little sand mixed into the paint would make it Nonskid.

 

[Spareparts]

I like the D-Rings, weld on, for tie downs but we use the Key hole type a lot, nothing in the way to hang up on. But with the Ratchet Straps with the hook a 1 1/2" hole works real good, and like the Keyhole nothing to hang up on when sliding something onto the bed. That bed looks really good.