can it be done? anyone done it? how thick or square tubing should i use?
designs?
designs?
Building a steel sleddeck!?
- Thread starter Sledneck26
- Start date
It's gonna take about 8 guys to put on and take it off!!
E
Extreme-One
Well-known member
I had one built many years ago and still use it. I need to replace the deck on it but I think you'd have to do that on any of them after 5 years of sitting in the weather. As for the weight... if you build it right it won't weigh that much. I can load mine by myself by lifting it to the tailgate and then lifting it up and sliding it in. If I did another steel one I'd have it powder coated.
Sure its possible but sound pretty heavy to me....
I was thinking of the same thing only combining steel and aluminum in construction. Finding decent plans for one to work with is another story.
I was thinking of the same thing only combining steel and aluminum in construction. Finding decent plans for one to work with is another story.[/QUOTE
I have a 101"wide by 10' long aluminum trailer that would work fine as a sled deck conversion.Only problem is I'm in Michigan
You pay my fuel and I will deliver it to you and we'll call it even
S
SpokaneRMK
Well-known member
I made one a couple years ago, used 1.5x1/8 square tubing for the subframe, and 1.5x3x1/8 tubing for the deck frame with 1x1x1/8 sq. tubing for the runners in the deck frame, gusset your sub-frame, had a 1x1x1/8 sq. tubing bangboard as well. The deck wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be, still needed two people to put it in, have it powdercoated.
Thanks for the offer, my plans are still a ways from becoming actual. Plus I work as a welding inspector, 1 of the percs is having ample supply of welders and equipment at hand.
Again thanks.
Again thanks.
aluminum.
the reason i wanted steel is that i could probley get alot of it for free. and my truck has asteel headache rack on it i could build off of. how much does a aluminum sleddeck weigh?
also i could weld the steel togther at my home. aluminum i would have to pay someone and build it somwhere else.
anyone have any plans?
how wide before its illegal in B.C.? how long out the back before illegal?
the reason i wanted steel is that i could probley get alot of it for free. and my truck has asteel headache rack on it i could build off of. how much does a aluminum sleddeck weigh?
also i could weld the steel togther at my home. aluminum i would have to pay someone and build it somwhere else.
anyone have any plans?
how wide before its illegal in B.C.? how long out the back before illegal?
No probs,thought I should at least try.
Ya never know!!
I would have strapped it to my pick up,upside down,bought a sled out there,ride like a madman,throw the sled in the back of the pickup and drive home.
It sounded good in my head anyways!
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8'6" is the absolute widest you can go,length probably wouldnt matter as much within reason,as long as your brake/signal lights are not obstructed.
Its all in the design. You want a good structural design with as light of material as possible. I have seen several poorly designed aluminum decks that are heavier than my steel deck. Not to mention a good percentage of aluminum decks will require repair when they crack, I have seen many top manufactured decks in poor condition. Steel can be coated in new products that will last a life time! Aluminum rubs grey on everything and carbides chew it up. Just my 2 cents
buddy has one that is light and isn't corroded, 1 1/2 sq tubing .081 wall, gussetted well, 8 ft wide, expanded metal deck with plastic skeg guides,rhino lined, solved rusting problem there, light
i was thinking of making my own, i think the key would be to make the base as wide as you can to fit in the bed, that way you have the least amount of weight hanging off the sides, putting tons of force on the bars hanging off the side.
weight distribution.
I was tinking about going wide and just putting sopports down to the box and bolting them through. i think that would be the way to go, save some weight and more room undernieth.
I was tinking about going wide and just putting sopports down to the box and bolting them through. i think that would be the way to go, save some weight and more room undernieth.
I made a few Aluminum decks. They are a bobtail with retractable sides.
I would say it weighs under 300#
It is built well, and I have no signs of cracks anywhere after 4 years.
8 feet wide is a good width. If they are mountain sleds, then you are ok.
Anything over 8 feet wide, you need a rear marker light.
Having an Aluminum deck puts me on the limit for weight wise... so I am sure a steel one, unless you have a dooley, will be too much.
I would say it weighs under 300#
It is built well, and I have no signs of cracks anywhere after 4 years.
8 feet wide is a good width. If they are mountain sleds, then you are ok.
Anything over 8 feet wide, you need a rear marker light.
Having an Aluminum deck puts me on the limit for weight wise... so I am sure a steel one, unless you have a dooley, will be too much.
I built one back in '05 out of HSS 1-1/2" x .100" square tubing. It weighs just over 700lbs with the ramp and plywood. Next time around, if it where steel, I would use a mix of 1" and 1 1/4" square tubing to lighten it up a bit. The 1 1/2" is a bit overkill.
I load this deck by myself. No, I'm not a musclebound dude, just a dude with a beer belly.
At the same time, I built a stand for it so I could push it off the back of the truck onto the stand that is the same height as the bed of my truck. Works slick when there are no friends around. With a friend, it makes it even easier.
Matt
I load this deck by myself. No, I'm not a musclebound dude, just a dude with a beer belly.
At the same time, I built a stand for it so I could push it off the back of the truck onto the stand that is the same height as the bed of my truck. Works slick when there are no friends around. With a friend, it makes it even easier.
Matt
Lots of steel decks around this part of the country (South eastern BC), and they're pretty much all home made. Trick is to NOT overbuild. Thin wall box tubing is amazingly strong. The deck frame on mine was 1" x 2" .080 wall on edge with the support frame to the floor of the box being 2" x 2" .080 wall. Been going strong for ten years now and it's nothing 2 guys can't handle. I wouldn't put it on a half ton truck though....but you'd be close to overloaded with an aluminum deck on one anyway. If you can get free steel and weld it yourself you can make a pretty nice deck for next to nothing. Go fo it.
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