Yes i installed the bed my self its really not that hard.

 

What did you do, put the new bed on a trailer and haul it home? I'm thinking about how I'm gonna swap beds and still keep my old one, think I could do it at home if I can get it here. Might be able to use a chain hoist or the bobcat to lift the beds.

 

Exactly what i was trying to figure out...

 

Thoughts on steel vs aluminum flatbeds? Tony @ T&G seemed to be more for the aluminum, so much that i didn't even get a chance to ask about the steel. I would think steel would hold up better (?) and well, give for a nicer ride

I did end up selling my car trailer (we'll see when the money is in my hand!) so I am just about ready to do something here.

 

Saw a Ford 3/4 the other day that had a tag axle set up behind his drive wheels. I guess it was hydralic but kind of cool looking in that once he had a load on he had this tag axle lowered to help support the weight. Wish I had had a camera.

 

I don't recommend it, but 2 people can carry a stock dually box. I've done it. My guess would be around 400#. My aluminum flat bed is slightly lighter. I put the flatbed on with the help of a engine hoist.

 

I ran a pair of those on the front for a year and they sucked. They developed bulges and irregular wear pretty quickly (front end is tight and alignment is good). I went with a set of Coopers about 8 months ago and they still look fine.

For free tires, the Goodyears were fine (mine were Zamboni take offs) but I wouldn't want to pay for them.

 

Several people that I know have aluminum flat-beds; they all, without exception, complain about how bad their trucks ride when no trailer or load is on the truck.

One advantage to aluminum is that they look fine un-painted, and they do not rust.

A big dis-advantage, to the average home welder, is they are not so easy to repair damages as a steel bed.

I don't think they would hold up as well, either.

One more point, aluminum looks real good when new and shiny; but, it looks pretty trashy, once it gets all dull and tarnished, after it is about two weeks old.

 

you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose,but you cant pickyour friends nose. (shannon carver,2006)go with the steel

 

My truck isn't pretty anyway. I definitely don't know how to weld aluminum. I kind of think an aluminum bed on a dirty old truck with grey wheels would look a little dumb. And I am sick of the rough empty ride - been riding around with no bed for a while now. Sounds like steel it is!

CM wants about $1700 for their basic RS model. I will talk to Tony @ T&G. He seemed to be pushing the alum bed but I didn't get a chance to ask about steel. Any other brand to look into ?

 

you might try to go to your local welding or truck custom shop and check with them. they can order them and install for you sometimes. For mine, luckily, they had a hand built one laying around to be put on the shop truck and got tired of it, so they sold it really cheap. Heavy duty steel, headache rack, lights etc. for $1700 on the truck. if you really need to know, I don't use mine for much yet, I just like the look mainly, but it serves its purpose from time to time. And another note, flatbeds are chick magnets trust me.

 

I totally agree with the chick magnet statement.

The hens would much rather roost on my head-rack, than on the sides of the neighbors sheet-metal factory bed.

 

I stopped in at a local truck body place, mainly do service bodies for pickups and dump bodies for big trucks, they told me $5K for a flat bed on my truck. I'll get right on that deal.

 

I called a CM dealer down in VA
@ 540-464-1006
http://www.lbstrailer.com/locations.htm

They told me its $1400 for last years "RS" model (basic) that is not powder coated. $1895 for the newer model which is powder coated. $650 for the install. This is 8.5 feet by 97" wide.

Seems reasonable. I'd like to get the $1400 one and install it myself Not sure if I have the room and resources though. Waiting for someone to pick up my car trailer then I can take some action. I am not sure the guy understands what he is getting himself into though. He keeps asking about the ball on the trailer.

Maybe we could buy 2 at the same time and try to get a deal

 

If I could install one truck bed a week for $650, I wouldn't hit a lick at anything else.

I have assisted, and worked by myself with no help, on many flat-bed installs, and it takes, at most, an hour and a half.