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Posted by Jerry in Idaho [69.59.83.175] on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 12:17:49 :
In Reply to: flat bed construction posted by Doc Dave [69.19.14.33] on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 07:50:16 :
Dave, I researched and planned building my bed for the WDX, quite extensively. It ended up that a very nice factory bed became available for less than the cost of the steel, so I bought it. If you build your own, the flat bed should have 2 parallel channels (or box tubing) that rest on the frame rails of your truck. Then you can make the bed the length you want, regardless of the length of the frame rails. The bed on my W500 had 2x6 channel with smaller channel (2") crossing the 2x6. The perimeter could also be channel, or maybe you could get a metal shop to break a piece of lighter gauge metal into a channel, since it doesn't need to be as heavy as the two in the center.
Are you thinking of using a hoist on this bed? If so you might think about what you are going to carry. Dumping lumber, the rear of the bed should be fairly close to the ground so the lumber can be held in the straps until the bed is raised, so it only slides a short distance before hitting the ground. Dumping gravel or dirt, you probably want it a little higher off the ground so it empties quicker.
I would say the method of fastening depends on the type of wood. Any where from 1x6 with some nice SS strips between, to 2x6 screwed directly to the cross channels. The spacing on the small cross channels depends on the thickness of the wood.