SilverLake Manufacturing Sled Bed build and install with pictures.

[Scott]

OK, pictures last week from the front yard.

I've added some black 3M grip tape on the bumper and receiver hitch. I've also put some along the TOP edge of the laydown sides. I KNOW that I'll step on them at some point and it will be slippery. Not anymore. I hadn't added it yet when I took these pics.

I'll have some cut-out work to when I install the Super Glides.
AFTER I Rhino-line the deck. That's a must. Snow will be very slippery on that sweet powder coating.
Mike says nobody has reported back that they have sprayed their bed on top of powder coating yet. Can it be done? I'm sure it can. Can't see why.
I'll report back when that's done.

These are the ramp slots for hanging the ramp off the back.
Set up to do left side, right side and load in the middle.

The factory back-up sensors are a little wild. Some days they are silent, other days they won't shut the heck off. Not sure what's up with that.
Maybe they are mount too close to the square tubing on the receiver hitch and cross bar.

There was is a gap here and the lock latch vibrates.
I bought some weather stripping foam and sealed it right up. It's TIGHT and silent now. Will keep out road grime just a little bit more.

The receiver hitch is about 2" higher than my other one. My 10" drop hitch isn't enough anymore.
Need to go with a 12" drop.
Damn.

 

[Scott]

Final pics of the rear area.

Lined both tool boxes with the rubber mudflaps that came with the truck. I got all of my tie downs, tow straps and 4-way lug wrench in there.
SAWEET!!!!

A couple of pictures of the framing above the rear tires. Back to front and front to back.
Might put some flexible wheel well liner up there against the it. Not sure. What do you think?

The side LED lights are tiny....and BRIGHT.

Rubber mounted rears.

 

[Scott]

More bed pics.

These sides were kinda fun to snap photos of. I got carried away.

The gap between bed and cab is slightly larger than the original.

View through the louvered back windows.

 

[Scott]

Wheel chocks for dirt bikes with tie down rings for all of your needs.

Ample room up front to store gas cans too.

The hinged sides are slotted for a 2x6 or whatever you want to use for a tailgate.

 

[Scott]

The ramp must go in base first and upside down on the Superglides.

 

[Scott]

The ramp feels a little steep for the ATVs and their short wheelbase. But then again have an 8' ramp on a one-ton truck with a 6" lift and 37" tires.

It won't be a problem for the sleds though...I ran my sleds up the 10' ramp when the sled deck was on the back of my truck.

I wheelied the bike loading it for this...unintentionally.
When backed down, I could feel that the front tires were bouncing up and down and going a bit airborne on their way down.
Finding a bit of a raised spot, or dropping the truck tires in some hole will make the ramp more shallow. No big deal. Stock truck would never be an issue.

 

[Scott]

The ramp hooks are really thick and beefy.

Taking a look inside the ramp storage compartment. The ramp slides under the gooseneck.

 

[Scott]

And THESE are the flaps on it now.
Brand preference aside...I feel the width ad length of these flaps are a better fit for my truck.

 

[Scott]

I'll have to retake my gooseneck pics again. I lost them the other night when I transferred from the camera to portable hard drive.

Give me a couple days.

__________________________

So...things left to do:

• Rhino-line the deck.
• Cut out and install SuperGlides.
• Install front and rear Super Clamp hooks.
• Rubber line in wheel-wells.
• Figure out why reverse sensors are in consistent.
• Get a longer drop hitch.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

Great write up Scott!! I think it looks great and it seems like your happy with how it turned out.

One comment on the spray on bed liner. I had the Rhino lining on my last truck (2003) with it sprayed over the top of the bed rails. The truck had a roll up cover on it and the part of the bed liner that was exposed to the sun faded on the top of the bed rails after a couple years. Keeping in mind this truck was packed in the garage every night. About the same time I had that done a buddy had his line-x'd and his still looked perfect the day he sold it after about 6 years. Both were black in color. I'm not sure if Rhino has changed their formula now but I know Line-X has gotten better. I would hate to see you spray that entire bed and have it fade. Something to check on maybe.

 

[Scott]

I hear ya.
When I got my 2000 pickup Rhino'd, they gave me a bottle of this stuff...it kept it black. Really glossy shiney black.

I do notice the LineX stuff does stay shiney without as much work.

 

[Jaynelson]

Looks great!

 

[Blown Motor]

Looks great, i took pictures of it for you when we were there getting some decks, but never got a chance to send them to you Scott! Are you gonna add some stainless weight to the bottom of the flaps to keep them from whipping so bad on the freeway? Or do you foresee that as an issue?

 

[snengineer]

Looks great, I am wondering how the side rails are supported once folded down?

 

[SLDHVN]

Do you have a spot for a spare tire?

 

[Scott]

Looks great, i took pictures of it for you when we were there getting some decks, but never got a chance to send them to you Scott! Are you gonna add some stainless weight to the bottom of the flaps to keep them from whipping so bad on the freeway? Or do you foresee that as an issue?

They are old enough that they are pretty stiff. Might be a bonus, eh!!
Post those pics up if you have em.

Looks great, I am wondering how the side rails are supported once folded down?

I actually don't need to lay them down because I bought the dually width bed...don't want to put my skis or tires on those things.
They are sturdy though.
On the SRW version, they have stoppers to support them. I'll see if I can dig up a pic of that.

Do you have a spot for a spare tire?

It's under there in the stock location.

 

[Scott]

Here is how he does it. Mounts the hinge in a different spot so the deck itself acts as a stopper.

Another:
http://sledecks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Flatbed_new11.jpg

 

[LoudHandle]

I also would go Line-X, The Rhino is rubber based and will not hold up to carbides and such for very long, while the line-X will.


After welding for a career all my life (30 plus years), I look at things a bit different than most.

Someone should teach Silver Lake how to weld. Even after burying them under Powder coat they are not the quality that would leave my shop. But then I will not use a squirt gun, for that very reason.

Sorry to have called your new Baby Ugly.

Hope they gave you a deal for the sales pitch.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think you are installing Superglides so your not planning to run the carbides over the bed liner anyway. Plus it will be a smoother loading and unloading process with the slides on there. But I still think Line-X is the brand to beat when it comes to spray on liners.

 

[Scott]

Yes, I'm putting glides over the bed liner.