Who is running flatbeds instead of sled decks. I have been thinking of making a few sled decks to try and sell. I'm on the east coast so I'm not sure how well they will catch on. Then I thought about just building myself a nice flatbed for my truck. That way it would keep the sleds down low, shouldnt be a big deal for gas mileage etc. What are you thoughts?
Flatbed instead of a sled deck?
- Thread starter 13below0
- Start date
I just got a sweet aluminum flatdeck on my Toyota.
www.oztray.com
These guys make them for full size trucks as well. Amazingly well built and the fullsize units can accomodate 2 sleds, just like a deck.
The locking tool box that is 7' feet long under the deck is what sold me, along with the built in rollbar/rack. Also has a removable rear ladder rack.
www.oztray.com
These guys make them for full size trucks as well. Amazingly well built and the fullsize units can accomodate 2 sleds, just like a deck.
The locking tool box that is 7' feet long under the deck is what sold me, along with the built in rollbar/rack. Also has a removable rear ladder rack.
Flat beds hands down are better. It's nice not having the sleds so high. This makes it better for the corners up to revy haha. Better fuel to because they aren't ten feet in the air.
That oztray is pretty neat. Especially like the slide out storeage. I was thinking of something that had sides that would fold down for use with 1 or 2 sleds.
Both have pros and cons. A deck has ramp storage and gear storage. You can remove it when needed and have a truck bed to use. But sleds are higher and harder to load. A flat bed losses storage. Ramp storage is an issue. But sleds sit lower. For me a deck is the way to go.
04 Dodge pu with Layton Brothers Flatbed! Works great. 2 up 4 in the trailer.
I have a flat deck sitting in my parents back yard... got it for free. I was going to try to do something with it. It's a flat deck that fits in the hitch of a big rig. I was thinking it would fit on a 5th wheel hitch but not sure
im making a flatbed for my truck so i can run 2 sleds, the lifed old chevy of mine would be really sketchy with two sleds up that high, i would be really affraid to drive it honestly, getting the center of gravity down 2 feet is esential for me. as for loading and unloading, im making the deck pivot like a dumpbed so its like loading a tilt 2 place trailer.
and also my truck is a half ton, so the weight of removing the bed and adding the lighter flatbed, would keep me withing saftey margins.
also who wants to load their sled 8 feet up in the air. on my truck with a deck, the floor of the deck would be almost exactly 6 feet of the ground. on the flatbed, its like 3' 6"
and also my truck is a half ton, so the weight of removing the bed and adding the lighter flatbed, would keep me withing saftey margins.
also who wants to load their sled 8 feet up in the air. on my truck with a deck, the floor of the deck would be almost exactly 6 feet of the ground. on the flatbed, its like 3' 6"
I had a chev crew with a 9ft long flatbed. I had sides the popped off and were my ramps. I drove close to snowbanks and rode off the sides when possible.
I would love another flatbed. I would design slide out sides though to keep it narrower.
BTW, I found the flatbed much more versatile than a regular box. I had sides and a back gate. The only issue was secured storage.
I would love another flatbed. I would design slide out sides though to keep it narrower.
BTW, I found the flatbed much more versatile than a regular box. I had sides and a back gate. The only issue was secured storage.
About 15 yrs ago I had a '69 Ford F-100 4x4 that came from a sawmill and had huge rear overload springs on it for hauling mill parts. I tore off the rusted out stepside box and mounted a sled deck to the frame rails. Best sleddin' truck I ever had!! The ramp was so easy to use since the deck sat so low.
2 guys i ride with have flatbeds, extensions that sit in the stack pocket and both back up to the snow pile at the parkin lot and don't even bring a ramp, pull em sideways to unload and back the pickup up to drive on
02 dodge with a flat bed just for that reason. use ramps when there isnt a snow bank. sure is nice for longer trips and having no trailer.
'06 dodge 3500, have a flatbed, love it. I had a sleddeck before and it was just too high. It's nice having them down low. I just had some ramps built that sit in the stake pockets. The flatbed is very versitile, I haul my quads in the summer with it and when I need security, I tow the trailer.
Thanks for the replies. We have a full fab shop so I would try to design some kind of pull out ramp into the flatbed. My thoughts were to make a sled deck so people in this area can see them and try to sell a few and make some extra money. But then thought that I would use the flatbed more. Hell we have a forklift at work so I could take the truck bed off for the winter and throw on the flatbed, and reverse for the summer as I dont have a four wheeler of dirtbike so I dont really need to put anything in it for the warmer months.
I had thought about making the headache rack part the ramp, so you could pull it out and use it... just a thought.
actually, i bet you could make a ramp that slid between the fram rails pretty easy seeing as they are just about the same width... just thinking aloud. i like the idea of the flatbed edges that make a ramp, good thinking.
actually, i bet you could make a ramp that slid between the fram rails pretty easy seeing as they are just about the same width... just thinking aloud. i like the idea of the flatbed edges that make a ramp, good thinking.
gas company has flatbeds with a home built bifold that goes in between the frame rails
G
Gimpster
Guest
Late 80s early 90's we used an 81 dodge club cab with a flat bed. I believe it was a Diamond brand. made extention wings that slipped into the stake pockets so 2 sleds would fit side by side. Pulled a 4 place trailer behind it. We would use the ramp from the trailer to load sleds from the trailer to the flatbed. If we could get next to a parking area's plowed piles, we would loas and unload from the side using the ramp.
Can't forget how cramped 6 people crammed in a club cab was...
----- gimpster -----
Can't forget how cramped 6 people crammed in a club cab was...
----- gimpster -----
X
Xrider
Well-known member
I had a sled deck a few years ago, worked good. However I put a flatbed on my Dodge since then and I wouldn't own another truck without one. Sled deck messed up the truck when not using it and it's a pain to keep taking it off and putting it on. I love the flatbed for hauling our dirtbikes and especially the 4 wheelers, drive on sideways and drive off.
when I had my field welding truck I had a slide in burn table/ramp that slid in under the deck. it was handy as a shirt pocket. I would build it with flip down/quick release sides that you can lock up, 90* and 180*. add your stake pockets under the sides.
