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- - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 06-26-2008 05:48 Edited 06-26-2008 05:51
Im starting to round up materials tomorrow. Ive got some basic questions.
1. On the deck and sides are yall using 1/8th or thicker.
2. How are fenders like the ones in the pic below made
3. on the c chanel underneath about how far apart are yall spacing them and do you run any metal from front to back or only from side to side also 3 or 4" on the chanel?
4. I want locking stainless latches wheres the best place to get these and where to get hinges at or just build them.
5. On the hoosier pole what size material and where do I get the bends at?
6.How are yall mounting the bed to frame and I will be putting a gooseneck ball on there what type of extra bracing are yall doing.
7. and just in general what would be the best way of going at this build where should I start at... things of that nature?

If you can't tell this is my 1st bed Ive ever built all of yall's help is greatly appreciated. Or If anyone is around Fort Worth that has a pretty tricked out bed and wouldnt mind letting me a take a peak at it and pick your brain Im located in Saginaw.        Corey
Parent - By welderjack (*) Date 06-26-2008 12:02
i use to be a member of AVFD  and we used starters that would kick in at a push of a button to roll up some of the fire hoses and it works on welding leads also 
you can try something as small as a riding mower starter and use like a 4 wheeler atv rim and put the starter ring on it and hide your leads at the back of the truck under your bed so no ones get get to them unless you unbolt the reel and starter from the bottom so it would be out of sight
and if you want a bbq pit on it you can mount the pit on a swing arm so it dont drip on your bed when you are cooking and it can be used as a stand if you mount a vice on one side on a swing and the pit on the other side on a swing and that way you are welding over your bed
i have put receiver hitches on my buds beds and it works but 2 1/2" pipe welding in side the bed and using 2" pipe as the swing arm works better  
Parent - - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 06-26-2008 19:36
Im going to be combining these 3 designs and picking out the things I like most about these 3.
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 06-26-2008 19:50
Whos rig is the red one? It sure looks familiar. :-)

jrw159
Parent - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 06-26-2008 20:43 Edited 06-27-2008 21:12
Its a guy by the name of bullsnbets. Thats probly what it will look like more that one than the other 2.
Parent - - By bullsnbets (**) Date 06-29-2008 18:23
The red one in you pics. actually belongs to a local fella here. I've attached pics of mine which isn't much different than his since he is actually the one that built both beds. I added a hoosier pole to mine. You can't see it very well, but where the yellow ext. cord is hanging, I ran a piece of square tubing inside my back headache rack, welded some shoes on it and a piece of pipe for my umbrella, and a simple valve handle to tighten her down. First slide out pole I've seen. I am considering selling it and building a new one out of pipe. Just haven't made up my mind yet.
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Parent - By snuffman (***) Date 06-29-2008 18:30
How much?
Parent - By jrw159 (*****) Date 06-29-2008 20:40
There is a welder from NM with a red dodge that has a bed really similar to these. It is a really nice bed that is very functionable while on th ROW.

Nice looking as well.

jrw159
Parent - - By F-Superduty (*) Date 06-30-2008 00:51
I'm curious as to why all of these welding beds that are used for pipelining have a piece of angle iron upside down, welded flush with the deck of the bed.
Parent - By snuffman (***) Date 06-30-2008 00:55
You can use it to line pipe up.
Parent - - By texwelder (***) Date 06-30-2008 23:13
Do you know the fella that drives that black dodge, where was that pic takin?
Parent - By bullsnbets (**) Date 07-01-2008 00:57
The fella that drives the black Dodge is Justin Olive. His username on here is Justin O. It is a pretty slick bed. The same fella that built mine also built that one. The pic was taken at the Oneok Gas Plant in Bushton KS.
Parent - - By 52lincoln (***) Date 06-27-2008 01:44
are you saying that is the bed your building?
Parent - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 06-27-2008 04:45
Im probly going to take the basic shape of that one yes but there are a few things about the others that I like.
Parent - - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 06-27-2008 15:03
hey 52 your in the DFW area right? If you are would you mind showing me a few tips and tricks I can come over and help out with whatever you may be working on at the time in exchange
Parent - - By 52lincoln (***) Date 06-28-2008 03:51
yea i'm probably fixin to start on one.i'm in seagoville
Parent - - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 06-28-2008 05:25
Alright well let me know 817-675-9259 Corey
Parent - By pipelinetrash23 (**) Date 07-01-2008 03:47 Edited 07-01-2008 03:53
hey corey one thing for the fenders if im not mistaken you take two 12" 45's and cut them in half and weld em up hope that helps oh and the hoosier pole is all how you want it i have seen square tubing and round but usually you do 2" inside of 2 1/2 (dont quote me on the second size) and then you use 90 degree fittings if you have access to them. they are expensive if you buy em though. but if you plan of going out to verns he can set you in the right direction he is pretty good at building stuff i hear... Good luck man  joey
Parent - - By texwelder (***) Date 07-02-2008 21:46
I found these pics of some rigs to give you some more ideas!!! Both are sharp rigs
Parent - - By JHarlos (**) Date 07-02-2008 23:02
That ford is sharp.  I would have left a little room on the end for a vise, but I guess that guy didnt need one.
Parent - - By texwelder (***) Date 07-02-2008 23:53 Edited 07-02-2008 23:57
You wouldn't believe what that ford sold for on e-bay, 13000, it was an 03 4x4 with 160,000 miles seems cheap to me
Parent - - By old school pipe (**) Date 07-03-2008 00:41
It really was not that good a deal I drove it for two days bad injectors all u joints were gone transfer case shot and 183,000.miles both trucks belonged to a personal friend I offerd him 10,000 for the ford if it did not sell on ebay he does get some very nice trucks though
Parent - - By texwelder (***) Date 07-03-2008 02:15
They don't bother to tell you that do they, I thought it seemed cheap, to good to be true I guess. Both are very nice beds though
Parent - - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 07-03-2008 04:34
I picked up some steel today for a pretty good deal considering prices these days. I found a guy who got out of the fab business and is selling all his stocked up materials.  I got 2- 5x10 3/16" 1- 4x8 3/16 am 8ft piece of 3x3 1/4" angle and 20 ft of 7" chanel for $500. At the local steel yard it would have been $750 just for the 2- 5x10's
Parent - - By Metarinka (****) Date 07-03-2008 15:36
I've been drawing up plans for awhile now to turn an old school bus into a nice rig, It would be one of the few machines with a long enough bed to carry a full drop of pipe or sheet which is 20' long. Don't laugh but right now my "rig" is a geo prism  tucked a lil OA "rig" in the back seat and I can fit a full length of small schedule pipe if I push it all the way up to the dash board, I carried around a grinder and a cut off saw, enough for me to fab up some projects for friends and family on site.

you can pick up a used school bus really cheap, the mileage may be high but I could drop a new motor or tranny in if needed.
am I out of my mind? Seemed a superior (cheaper) way to make an interesting rig that could carry half a fab shop and then some
Parent - - By texwelder (***) Date 07-03-2008 16:02
a little to much i think, if you need to carry a long peice of material use a trailer. Needless to say the ability to get around in it
Parent - - By Metarinka (****) Date 07-03-2008 16:27
I dunno I'm mighty tempted, you can pick up a 90's school bus in decent condition for 2-5K, I'm budgeting roughly 2-3K for repair  and another 3-4k for modifications (not including welders and the like)   and for 10K you have a long flat bed with no need for a trailer. Basically it's hard to find a motor and frame in good condition for as cheap as you can find em on school busses. I agree that a pickup is better suited for a rig welder but a similar condition frame and motor would be much more.
The DOT has released a good survey on bus length, turning radius etc http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/MBTC1054-1.htm  I wouldn't go for a full size (84 passenger) a 66 passenger bus would be plenty long enough
I guess I should mention that I'm not trying to make a "rig" welder, welding engineering is my field and my work vehicle is a motorcycle, but I used to do a lot of metal work all over for all sorts of things and I just thought a bus would be a fun project and platform to work on and give me much usuable area than a pick up frame.

I probably am crazy tho, my mom tells me she dropped me as a baby :-/
Parent - By jrw159 (*****) Date 07-03-2008 16:46
Honestly I can see both the pro's and con's of this idea. It would have its place and purpose. Obviously there would be some limitations, but it appears you are well aware of them. Sounds like an interesting project, and I would love to see pic's at a later date. :-)

jrw159
Parent - - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 07-04-2008 05:05
     One of My friends got a 16' box truck from Ryder some years back. It came with full maintainance records. I think He put a rebuilt motor in it somewhere along the line, but He got a lot of service from it. It actually drove reasonably nicely. It was a Ford E 350, gas engine & auto trans. Eventually it got so beat up He just let it sit out back. this was not a welding truck, it was used in the landscape business.

     If I was to build a rig like You are describing [I have thought about it] I would use a box truck with a lift gate. The time saved setting it up would be well worth the extra expense. One of My friends did use a box truck for His welding & HVAC business, worked out OK for Him.
Parent - - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-06-2008 02:22
Do my eyes decieve me or is Dustin O's truck a MEGACAB? If so that is just BADASS!!!I want to build a mega sooo bad I can taste it.I want more pics PLEASE! My email is -armentrout4@hotmail.com - or this one - keith.armentrout@us.army.mil. I think someone should open a post to show off their rigs. Anyone with me?Let the pics flow!!!
Parent - By bullsnbets (**) Date 07-06-2008 03:43
Thats "Justin O", and yes, it'a a Mega Cab. Pretty awesome truck. He's got two chips stacked in it.
Parent - By texwelder (***) Date 07-06-2008 04:24
I agree with the pics of the rigs post!!!! I hope to finish my bed in a week or two, when I do I will post some pics,
Parent - - By texasrtp (*) Date 07-06-2008 16:16
Hey pyplynr are you the armentrout that worked at perry equipment about a decade ago?
Parent - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-06-2008 20:33 Edited 07-07-2008 15:50
Sure am.. and who might you be? Bob who? I researched your previous posts and got your first name ...
Parent - By pipelinetrash23 (**) Date 07-30-2008 15:14
does that guy still have material??
Parent - - By millerman (**) Date 07-06-2008 14:38 Edited 07-06-2008 14:44
here are a couple of mine pic are not great will try to post better
mac
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Parent - - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-06-2008 15:41 Edited 07-07-2008 15:06
My bad, your right it is Justin O. Sorry . BTW millerman ,those are some SWEEET beds. Did you build them? If so , I could send you so much work your head will spin! I have people call me out of the blue to find or build beds for them. Those are really slick! KEEP 'EM COMIN' BOYS!!! I got some of an old one with S/S stacks.I'm workin' on her and maybe she'll come out alright. I need to rework the oxy. rack and a few other things... like cuttin' those side boxes down. I think 3-4" deep would be good enough. The end boxes are deep. That hose rack on the back has got to GO! Plans to change the bumper and to add a pipe tray are in line. I do like millermans' pipejack bar, too. Might try to use that idea.
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Parent - - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-07-2008 16:35
Any feed back is welcomed and appreciated on mods for my bed. I think I will ditch the stacks,though. I don't know...What do you guys think?
Parent - By 52lincoln (***) Date 07-07-2008 21:22
i would
Parent - By snuffman (***) Date 07-07-2008 23:24
I would they are not big enough. :-)
Parent - - By millerman (**) Date 07-07-2008 23:34
Thanks pypliner
but the copper 1, steel and paint and liner i got about 1300 in matl. and about 120 hrs in it  will be putting in the led lights and have a 55 shorty frame and f162 but with 65 red face  gen and panel ,welds sweet ,and ss hood ordered .I rebuilt this machine but i need ac power for my <junk welding> tru blue . will post pics when everything is on it . oh yeah the blue rigg is mine and its got a 355 worked over  dyno at 425 horses 405 torque and will hunt with the dodges
on 3.85 a gallon gas

Thanks
Mac
Parent - - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 07-08-2008 02:27
Yea but your getting what like 8mpg versus my 19mpg. Im thinking that ill pay for my expensive diesel. Where you can buy twice as much gas.    Back on topic does anyone know how I should start this build. my general plan is to build the fenders first. Then measure the tires and subtract the fenders from this measurement and thats how wide my deck should be at the fenders. Now should I build the frame underneath first or start from the back and work foward on the sides and deck. then do the frame
Parent - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-08-2008 03:25
I have a '06 dodge 3/4 quadcab SWB that I plan on trading for a '05-'06 quadcab 4x4 dually to use as my foundation. My bed won't fit my SWB so ...I'm gonna rework it and make 'er my own on a 4x4 DRW. (has a 200hp programmer and hasn't been beat yet!)Even the new GTO can't hang with my six banger! I gotta cool idea of coffin style fenders for it.
Parent - - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-08-2008 03:37 Edited 07-08-2008 03:39
In my opinion , before you start measuring and stuff, you need to have a finished product vision in your head or on paper. I know you already have it started but I have seen sooo many works in progress that get reworked 3-4 times before paint is put on. I try to invision different ideas on MY truck or pick a color you plan to use. See if the design and color will jive together. I know I sound like some weirdo but it makes sense.If you want big fenders or small ones ... or have 3-D lines ... or rounded corners swooping lines... etc.What I am trying to say in short, is take your time and do it once and you will get the thumbs up EVERY place you go. Your frame of the bed will be determined by where your boxes are gonna be.
Parent - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-08-2008 15:47
BTW fordsux8269, that is a sweet shorty you got. Your bed , from what I can see, is going good. You got rolled corners and the fenders aren't too wide. The deck is stepped and you have started the gooseneck box. You just need to design your tool boxes and place them where you want them. Do you plan on staying with the red like the truck? Or are you going to a different color? Have you thought on your oxy. bottle rack ,yet? Looks like you might have enough room between your cab and the machine. Are you going to use two bottles or just one? If you use one, you would have some space for a box on top of it . Are you going to carry jack stands?Where will you put them?
Parent - By millerman (**) Date 07-08-2008 21:27
Na i get about 16 to 17 mpg  onthe front deck i used 10 ga <heavyer than 1/8>  4" rails with 3" cross on front welded flush with the rails , on the back deck i used 4" cross rails after the goose neck had them on 10" centers < for the abuse> and plated  that with 3/16  used 6"  quartered pipe conners sides are 10 ga  on the front i set the cross rails under the sa 200 for the support
Mac
Parent - - By okiewelder2 (**) Date 07-08-2008 22:55
evrything hinges on the length and width . so decide on that first. u cant build boxes for a bed if u dont know how long or wide it is. start with the frame work. then dicide where your welder will be then your bottles, these things have to be on the truck no matter where your boxes are. now you have the welder and bottles figured out, now u can look at the leads and the tool boxes. these are things that are almost limitless on what u can do but the machine and bottles are not. i agree with pyplynr before all of this u need to sit back and look at the truck and come up with and idea before u start cutting and welding.
Parent - - By pypLynr (***) Date 07-08-2008 23:36
I was under the impression that the pic at the top of this post is fordsux8269's bed he is workin' on. Am I wrong?
Parent - - By fordsux8269 (**) Date 07-09-2008 00:02
No thats not mine I was just asking how to build fenders like those. I have a 2007 4x4 3500 dodge
Parent - By rockin d (**) Date 07-09-2008 00:19
6"extra long radius 90's or 45's   will make the fenders (not long but extra long ) I think there called 3R fittings                                                                       
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