Tips for replacing deck on steel flatbed

[junkandcattle]

A recent purchase was a really good 93 one ton 4wd truck but the steel flatbed is rusted through at several points on most of the crossmembers. Is the steel decking typicaly welded at all the crossmebers or just at the ends ? I have not took it off yet as I need to use it for now. The floor is bent at the sides and ends to form the outer frame with rails added to that. I wondered if anyone has ever done this and did the bed move out of square with deck off?

 

[Ruger_556]

Air-arc makes it really nice... As to whether the cross members are welded

 

[bigsexy1985]

Let's see some pics brother sounds easy though just cut out all the rot through some 11 gauge on top burn it down with some nice welds should be nice but ya you should weld every so many inches as I built one and when you let off the gas it made hella noise till I crawled back under her with the mig gun

 

[rockinacummins]

Every flatbed I've dealt with (quite a few) has been welded on the cross members. Usually not solid welds, but either spot welds or 1" welds every 6-8 inches. And believe me when I say, it is harder than heck to ever get them broke/cut loose without damaging the crossmembers. The last one I attempted was so rusted that we ended up scrapping it. I certainly hope that this isn't the case with yours. I've never done it myself, but what would it be like to just plate over the existing steel? Cut a few holes in the better parts of the old decking to be able to weld through? And add some angle iron to the crossmembers to have a little more to weld to there. This is probably what I will do if I am ever faced with another situation like this. Might work, might not. Either way, I wish you the best! Good luck!

 

[junkandcattle]

I will get some pics when the snow gets off and its not below zero. The crossmembers are channel and I don't see signs of spot welding maybe some short bead underneath the dirt.I have given the plate over some thought but I have to cut the side rails off to plate over the sides I thought I might have the thing damn near disassembled. We will see . ILL BE BACK
THANKS

 

[Red_Bull]

Hey junkandcattle where at in central mo are you?

 

[junkandcattle]

Chillicothe about 120 miles from you

 

[Strouty]

When you walk on the deck, does it feel spongey at all? I don't mean like are you going to fall through it, just does your weight seem to push the floor down and then it springs back a little after you step off it. Usually the decking is tacked in several locations, if it isn't or if the are rotted off or broken, the deck may have some spring to it. It is pretty hard to weld a deck on and keep it flat without some welds in the middle. Just make sure when cutting or welding you either remove the gas tank or take precautions not to blow yourself up.

 

[junkandcattle]

I have not noticed any spongy areas except right on thr rust thru spots. I am thinking that is where the beads may have been run on the c channel . It needs a bath when it warms up then maybe I can tell

 

[Strouty]

I have not noticed any spongy areas except right on thr rust thru spots. I am thinking that is where the beads may have been run on the c channel . It needs a bath when it warms up then maybe I can tell

It will be obvious, my boom truck has some areas, that have broken free and it has that spongey feel I was trying to describe. How big is the deck? Are they sheets of diamond plate (assumed it was diamond plate) or is it made up of smaller pieces?

 

[Spareparts]

I have replaced many rusted floors on line building trucks, when I stripped the floor off I measured the crossmembers and drilled about 6- 1/2" holes centered on the crossmembers and plug welded from the top instead of burning myself up trying to weld underneath.

 

[2mJps]

Junkandcattle Sorry but i would bet every thing else is rusty but the best way i have done it is to cut the floor in several parts and work on one part at a time. So you can tell when you have it free. I am geting ready to build a bed for a pickup i just got. I already have the steel or i would try to find one.I was in chilly saturday went to midwest supply. They have alot of cool junk to look at in there back room.

 

[junkandcattle]

Today I was able to see remains of short welds on the edge of the c channel crossmembers. They seem solid and it looks like they should have used the same channel to make side frames from instead of bending the diamond plate. I know all the grain bodies have and exterior frame.

 

[sberry]

I am going to do one shortly on a 20 ftr, will picture it when I do. I was waiting to do the demolition outdoor. Mine is rusted over the cross members and am going to have a sheet sheared in to strips, most of the welding id already busted under and it wont be any more work, even less than replacing the whole bed.

The bed is the next job, just did a cyl leak and got a couple new hoses. I wouldn't mind changing out one of the tool boxes but,,, my duty cycle is so low that it doesn't save daily time making it any better than it is, some things are not worth fixing but an oil leak is another matter especially when its not running.