Posted by Clint Dixon [172.68.58.86] on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 09:03:05 :
In Reply to: Mounting a flatbed posted by Steve in FH [172.68.174.7] on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 02:33:45 :
"Was an optional factory flatbed ever available for the FF PW?"
As a general rule, all parts and assemblies that were considered as a Dodge "factory option", available on the WDX-WM300 model Power-Wagons, appeared somewhere by number and description in a factory parts listing.
Out of the approximately 25 or so factory parts lists that included the WDX-WM300 models on their pages, and that were published during those model runs, only one ever made reference to a flatbed. This particular list was publication #D-15788 dated April 30, 1956 and it included models WDX-C3PW produced up to that time. Page 23-2A shows an image of a handsome flatbed, complete with side racks, mounted on a light colored Power-Wagon. The image is an isometric view and is "ballooned" with arrows and callouts directing the reader to various part groupings. Three arrows point to the flatbed and direct to the "Group 23 - Body" section of the parts list.
Once in Group 23, only 10 parts are found to be detailed: Two Side Skid Rails (left and right), two Stake Rack Connectors (left and right), a stake pocket, a latch, and four stakes. None of the rest of the floor or rack boards, stake pockets, cross-members, sills, frame, or hardware are listed. No top level assembly is listed either.
The incomplete nature of this listing would seem to indicate that Dodge was making an initial attempt at trying to provide the customer with a "preliminary" list of parts available for a "factory flatbed". None of the parts lists to follow showed any of these parts, the lack of which hints that the venture was quickly abandoned.
Both prior to this, as well as afterwards, Dodge offered vendor supplied flatbeds through its Special Equipment Catalogs for dealer install and/or factory installation at the Special Equipment Group. Dodge did not service or carry parts for these special bodies. These would be considered factory approved accessories.
So as I see it, the short answer to your question would be "almost". In over 30 years I have never seen in person, or even seen a modern photo taken of, a flatbed like what was sown in the image in the 1956 parts list. At least one must have been constructed for the photo to be taken. The question is; did Dodge build it, or was a vendor supplied flatbed mounted on the truck for the photo shoot?
Junior
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