Cheap sled bed question

[Wheel House Motorsports]

my question is would it be safe to rest a deck straight on the bed edges, my buddies chevy longbox seems plenty strong and we wouldnt be using it that much maybe 5 times and not very long trips on nice roads. just thinking of making a wooden frame and sticking it on top of the bed. cuz i got a bunch of leftover wood and it would cost me next to nothing to make. my question is do you guys think the edges of the bed would hold up to say 1200 pounds total? thats all 3 edges. it would not be that much.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

thoughts, anyone?

 

[Ultra]

Your 1200# is actually closer to 1600-1800# with two sleds and a rack. Use to do that all the time. Over a few seasons it WILL break down the box welds. Thats why most all new racks are supported off the box bottom.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

the two sled getting hauled on it are like 550 and 600 wet, theres 1150, the deck will weight MAYBE 200 pounds, max, its a simple, light design. maybe a brace down the center to help bare load, and its not gonna see much use. mostly highway, bringing our sleds from college to the base camp with the trailer.

 

[Ultra]

You have it figured at about 1350 total. The 200# might be a little light but still even at 1350 you will still have the same problem. You have 1350#s elevated 2 feet which is quite a bit of leverage. Even going down the highway that set up works the hell out of a box.

Like I say we use to do that back in the 70's & 80's, back when sleds were shorter, lighter and they held less fuel and pickup boxes were tougher. Seen several boxes break apart at the bottom of the sides toward the rear, all brands.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

fair enough, at least you have some legit knowledge of boxes not being strong enough

may fork up a few extra bucks and just weld up a good sled bed out of steel

 

[Ultra]

Sorry to rain on your parade. The good news is you could get by with that arrangement for a while, but you will start seeing the stressed fatuige points by the end of one season.
Just take a look at some pickups with contractor racks that have been on a while and get used, you will see the same thing after a while.

 

[Boontang]

If your building the deck, why not add a couple 2X's on each side going down to a board that runs the length of the bed? Never did it, just suggesting.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

i think thats gonna be the plan, just make a small 2x4 box for it to rest on. as a few short 2x4 legs attached to the base would be more then enough strength.

 

[Blu Du]

we have one made out of wood. on the chevy box you have 4 pockets on each side half way up the box. we just put a 2x6 from side to side in each pocket , cut 8 - 1' vertical risers and then 4 2x6 8' on top. put down 2 sheets of ply wood, and a 2x4 around edge. works slick. less then $50 in material.

 

[travydog]

someone should put some pictures up of a wooden one i would be interested in maken one to. Is the frame made of 2x4 or 2x6? How do you guys think a 04 short box ford would hold up to one or is that box way to short for it? We dont see any around here so not to smart on them.

 

[boosted metal]

if you care about your truck dont rest it on truck,saw a chev about 5 years ago up in braum ridge. the rough logging road w weight punched the truck box sides out,nasty,goodluck

 

[Ultra]

if you care about your truck dont rest it on truck,saw a chev about 5 years ago up in braum ridge. the rough logging road w weight punched the truck box sides out,nasty,goodluck

In a nutshell, that pretty much sums it up!

 

[duallymanca]

First deck we made was out of 2X4's and plywood. Even made the ramp with 2X4's on edge.Worked great but heavy, probably because it was wet all the time. Needed a pair of Brophy jacks to put it on the truck but it was cheap. Don't use the box sides for support!

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

i think i will make one with a 2x4 frame, and then just paint and seal the whole thing to keep it all from soaking up water. got any pics of that wone dually?

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

ttt for wooden sled bed ideas

 

[Headrush]

Seems kinda risky to me. I never want to compromise my sleds on a sh!tty trailer. I would rather rent or spend some more money and get something of quality. It always amazes me to see guys running down the freeway with $40,000 worth of sleds on a homemade trailer....

Just my .02

 

[mobsled]

I just bought a 2place aluminum trailor I was gonna make that into a sled deck. $500 gets you a pretty dam nice 2 place trailor. sounds like you dont wanna spend much but im sure you can find one for less than $500.