[thechoochlyman]

Due to my recent accident, I'm stuck with either spending ~$350 on a new fender flare for my dually bed, or going with a flat bed. I'm sure I can build one to my specifications for under $500 in material.

For those of you who have converted to a steel flatbed, did your fuel mileage drop very badly? Did you have to adjust your insurance rates because of it? What about DOT licenses for towing gooseneck trailers?

I love the appearance and functionality of a flatbed, but I'm just not sure if the gains will outweigh the losses in my case.

 

[666]

I noticed no change in fuel economy. took all of a week to get used to where my corners were. I called my insurance company and changed my plan around to cover putting a flatbed on the next truck or repairing this one should someone run into it. I bought a premade used flatbed from a guy who totaled his first gen and then paid a local fab shop to set it on my frame and make some new brackets to hold it down. The flat bed is amazing for hauling stuff, so much easier to load and unload, no tailgate to worry about overloading, your visibility will be amazing when backing, infinite tie down points, you can use real ratchet straps and not bed your bedsides.

In nc a flatbed on a pickup is just a flatbed on a pickup unless your running commercial or something so no licenses requirement.

 

[thechoochlyman]

Did your auto insurance premium change any or did they just need to know?

 

[randomb0b123]

i never did anything with insurance on mine when i switched it. i never want a pickup truck bed again after having a flatbed. it did however make the truck ride 20x worse because its aluminum and dosent weigh anything. havent noticed change in mileage

 

[666]

It went up but I asked for more coverage based on the fact i had invested more in the truck, it went up like 50 bucks a year but there was a list of other stuff I had done like a new radio and headliner and stuff. The way I see it this truck will be hard to replace so I need good insurance to reduce the chances of it being totaled in a fender bender.

But I dont see why they would need to know. for all they know you bought the truck with a flatbed on it unless your agent live down the street hows he going to know whats done to the truck? You want to insure your investment unless you just run around with liability coverage only.

 

[thechoochlyman]

When I got insurance put on it, they asked if it had a pickup bed or a flat bed.

Bob, I'll be building a steel bed for it, so I think it will be held down well.

 

[93Cummins250]

The insurance depends on where you are and who you get it from some companys around here wont change the rate any but there is one that they will almost cut the rates in half because its harder to damage a flatbed then it is to wreck a regular pickup bed.

 

[thechoochlyman]

I only have liability anyway, so it may not affect it any whatsoever.

 

[mattswaggs]

I only have liability anyway, so it may not affect it any whatsoever.

Charlie, ask them how much it will be for full coverage.. for the 1st 6 months I owned the white truck I never bothered to ask. Then I did. It was a whopping 2 dollars more per month. :thumbsup:

 

[thechoochlyman]

It would be awesome if it were only that much. I doubt it would be that cheap for a young guy like me, though.

 

[ramfleet]

i never did anything with insurance on mine when i switched it. i never want a pickup truck bed again after having a flatbed. it did however make the truck ride 20x worse because its aluminum and dosent weigh anything. havent noticed change in mileage

since i was old enough to remember every truck my dad and uncle bought had the bed cut off it the first day it came home...
i guess the apple doesent fall far from the tree

 

[666]

It would be awesome if it were only that much. I doubt it would be that cheap for a young guy like me, though.

Hey Im only 21 and I have two NOT at fault accidents and my insurance isnt bad at all.

Something to think about if you build your own bed, make sure it is attached very well so if you get rear ended it doesn't come off the frame and direct all the energy from the car rear ending you into the back of the cab

 

[Sutter1stgen]

Hey Im only 21 and I have two NOT at fault accidents and my insurance isnt bad at all.

Something to think about if you build your own bed, make sure it is attached very well so if you get rear ended it doesn't come off the frame and direct all the energy from the car rear ending you into the back of the cab

Good advise right here. Ive installed a few premade flat beds on trucks before. 6 bolts all around is all they came with. Don't get me wrong the flat bed quality was great, but not secured enough for me. I started adding more brackets with more bolts, and even filling the space between the end of the frame and flatbed. I've seen some scarily blunt objects go through truck cabs before.

 

[cummins_cowboy21]

Never lost any mileage myself. One flatbed i put on a mazda (alum.) and my mileage went up. It was a really light bed. my insurance company gives me a break on insurance bc of the flatbed. And at least in my great state of MO there is no difference in licensing for havin a flatbed.

Gotta love a flatbed!

93 CCLB W250 p-pump with mild tuning, auto with transgo shiftkit & dacco tc, custom tranny cooler & temp gauge.

 

[leadfoot06]

Cost me close to $1,000 in material to build my flatbed, almost done just gotta finish welding the bumper, then paint. Some pics, to show what I did as far as material and maybe give you ideas

 

[thechoochlyman]

Cost me close to $1,000 in material to build my flatbed, almost done just gotta finish welding the bumper, then paint. Some pics, to show what I did as far as material and maybe give you ideas

That turned out really nice. I like how you put the step bumper in the back like that. I might end up leaving on my big tube bumper attached in the rear and just building a bed around it. But how did that cost you almost a grand in material? Even new steel around here isn't nearly that expensive.

 

[leadfoot06]

That turned out really nice. I like how you put the step bumper in the back like that. I might end up leaving on my big tube bumper attached in the rear and just building a bed around it. But how did that cost you almost a grand in material? Even new steel around here isn't nearly that expensive.

Thanks, I had to buy all the steel new, and it could just be that in MA, it's just that much more expensive for steel, I think for the two 4'x10'x1/8" diamond plate sheets, it was $450-$500

 

[W350_1992]

I lost about 2 mpg when I put a flat bed on my truck. The bed on my truck is somewhere around or slightly over 2000 lbs empty so I'm sure that is part of the mileage loss.
I'v read that people usually lose avg. 1 mpg when they swap to a flat bed.

 

[randomb0b123]

I lost about 2 mpg when I put a flat bed on my truck. The bed on my truck is somewhere around or slightly over 2000 lbs empty so I'm sure that is part of the mileage loss.
I'v read that people usually lose avg. 1 mpg when they swap to a flat bed.

that is an insanely heavy bed

 

[W350_1992]

Yea its a little heavy. Thats just a guestimate number. The truck weighs barely under 9k and the rear helpers stay against the bumper stops. No arch in the rear leafs, they're flat lol.

I'd think a regular flatbed would be around 800- 1,000 lbs depending how it was built. I even looked at some that 2 or 3 people could lift easily. Aerodynamics are a factor in the mpg's on a regular box vs a flat bed. The flatbed of course will be a little worse.