I purchased a new truck but could not get a cab and chassis. Ram has a limited selection of colors, I couldn't get the interior I wanted, and they de-tune the engine. So I had to get a truck with a bed to get what I wanted, with full intentions of putting a flatbed on it. I've been wanting a flatbed ever since Nov. 2013 when I took ownership of the land, and built the range. I was fed up with a chest box, and climbing over the side of the bed to get into it. There are plenty of bed manufacturers that make pretty nice beds, but none suited me. Their boxes are very small, and the beds don't fit the truck perfectly. So I went to J and I Mfg. for a trailer load of steel, and to Earl Owens for boxes. I wanted T-handle twist latches, not paddle latches that come with RKI boxes. Cattleman brand was the answer. After much measuring and note taking I learned that I could fit 18"T X 18"D X 24"L front driver, rear driver, rear passenger, and 18"T X 18"D X 30"L front passenger. I could not put a 30" box front driver to leave room for the fuel neck. I wanted a pierce frame to get the bed 3" closer to the ground, and I wanted to cut weight where I could. I got 2" x 4" x 3/16" rectangle tubing for the main frame rails, and 2" x 3" x 11 gauge for the cross members, and end caps. My frame weighs less than the bed makers that use 4" channel iron, and 3" channel iron, but my steel cost a bit more.

The truck the day I got it.



Only a few days later I sent my wife the pic of me disassembling a brand new truck.



Bed frame started.



Frame and headache rack perimeter to make sure everything matches, and it did perfectly!





I only test fit that one time. I took a ton of notes for the rest of the bed I was building, then put the factory bed back on so I could still use the truck. Pretty brave, but it did work out.

More parts to cut and weld.

We built the goose neck hitch to house a B & W turn-over ball.



As Max Stalling says "there's comfort in the curves"

Finally put the deck on, and welded everything up solid.







Several friends convinced me to paint the bed to match the truck. Once I was built, body filler added where needed, and primed I agreed. They said it was too fancy to make it black.

In primer, finally!

Went to English Color in McKinney and decided on the highest quality automotive paint they had. He took paint chips out to the truck, and matched the silver exactly. I also got Herculiner DIY bedliner on sale from O'Reilly's and covered the entire deck, the inside of the sides, the front sheet against the cab, and the rear step.







The Montezuma box on top, the big under bed boxes on the sides, and the fact that the deck is 7' 6" x 9" long sure does make it nice to work off of.

Thanks for looking!

Excellent work!! Are you going with any type of under coating to prevent rust on underside? Or is it even needed?

It'll rust, but I don't care, can't see it. And nothing is less than 11 gauge, so I'll die before it rusts through.

Forgot to mention THF member Big A. I've taught him on my range, and he shoots there regularly. He works for a plastics company in Dallas, and he hooked me up with to type of poly black sheet to make inner fenders. I didn't want mud caking up around the rear wheels, it worked out great!

Dang man, you did a very good job!

That is awesome!!!!

X2

impressive

Very nice.

That looks really nice.

very nice!

Very nice fabrication work!
And to be honest, I kinda envy your workshop!!!

Looks great Jason!

Now where are those mid flaps

Is there any kind of support on the bottom of the boxes? Something to prevent crushing them from the bottom?

And did you leave your frame mounted fuel filter in the same location or relocate it? It's a booger to change for somebody with long arms laying on their back, it would be near impossible with that bed.

She kind of resembles the Beached Whale

Love the color!

Mighty fine work JG

Still haven't got mud flaps. Just waiting on a Trooper to pull me over, see the FD sticker and go "WTF?"

The boxes are totally 11 gauge. I'm not worried about anything hurting them on the bottom. If I need to do any work in the mud, I've got a tractor, skidsteer, and Polaris Ranger. Duallys aren't any good in black mud.

I don't trust Troopers

I was more concerned about at the lease or other places without tractors.
I drag my front bumper and rear hitch at the lease

Looks great I think matching the paint makes it even better.

Wow, looks great!

If I had my way every truck I owned would be a flat bed. I like the look and function.

Yes sir, you did a fine job. The rig looks real sharp.

MAN that looks good!

Good job, you did.