The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun one ton bed assembly

I don't know if this is the place to put this, but I thought others might find it helpful. If this is the wrong place feel free to move it.

Tim

Where exactly do you buy a bed to assemble? Or is this period correct? I cant seem to find a 9 foot anywhere, aftermarket, new, used, or even scrap for that matter.

It seems that no one makes reproduction sides for the one ton bed. I managed to find a good set several years back from Jim Carter. And I think that Mongo had a set llast time I was at his yard.
Other than that, the front panel, cross sills, wood, and tailgate are available from MarK, and also Jim Carter (which is where I got mine.
I guess there simply aren't enough one tons out there to make it worthwhile making reproduction sides.

Tim

Or the sheet metal cutting and forming machinery they have available can't handle 9'. I never asked but that's my guess.
They do make the other 1 ton specific bed parts as mentioned, so there is demand for 1 ton bed parts to some extent or they wouldn't even make those.

According to Mark (former owner now consultant) at Mar-K there isn’t enough demand for them to build the 9 foot bed sides.

There was a post a while back about a guy who built bed sides (don't recall what size they were) using exhaust tubing for the roll at the top. If a guy had access to a big enough brake to make bends in a 9' sheet of steel, a set could be built. I'm assuming that the stake pockets are the same as the short beds, which would be available from Mar-K or other vendors.

Well id like to find em or a complete bed if any1 runs across 1. I currently have nothing yet. Might have togo flatbed style, but dont want to invest in the time and money then find an actual bed that id rather have anyhow.

The stake pockets are the same. However, I used pockets off of parts trucks. I did what Kevin mentioned above with my one ton building my own and it worked out very well. I built the bedsides, front panel, a couple cross sills, the rear cross sill, the running boards and fender extensions. I was able to use a huge brake at the shop where I was building rigs at the time. Those 9’ long welds took a lot of metal working to get smooth!

Would I do it again?

Yep. It’s going way faster this time around...that is, when I’m able to actually have time to work on trucks! Two little ones under 2 years old make it harder to find time!

I’m almost completely done the 1/2 box. I just have to plane and router the bed wood and it’s completely “roughed out!”

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1107350/1.html

Question? Is a 9 foot bed the same, single wheel or dually, with different fenders?

Duallies didn't have boxes. They would have been a cab and chassis option, and would have come equipped with a grain box, stake bed, or flat deck from a dealer. I hand built my nine foot pickup bed with flared running boards to accommodate the extra width.
Fenders would only come on a single wheel rear box as that was the only option.

Hmm. learn something new everyday... No wonder I cant find one.....

If I'm not mistaken they did have a dually in the 30's or 40's with a 9' pickup bed.. I could be mistaken.
For sure the 48-54 9 ' pickup beds were only single wheel (from factory).

I guess nuttin in the late 50s early 60s then?

That would be so cool to see one of those 30/40 dusllies. I never knew that. Might have to do some inter web surfing here.

I think a guy has to get into the late 60’s for dually box/fender. Maybe the ‘70’s?

I once saw a late 30's dually in a yard with a box. The running board extensions flared to meet the simple wide rolled rear fenders. I assumed it was a one of custom and it's haunted me ever since. Rather than fabricate 9' sides, I thought it may be easier to purchase a third side and add on to stock length sides with the seams under stake pockets.

So a super long box? That’d be pretty neat.

Yeah, the long box is one of the neatest things on the truck. When I was still driving it (back in 1980) I needed some gravel for my road, so I drove down to the local gravel guy and asked him to load the back up for me. He dumped a full load from his front end loader, looked at it and said "you can take a little more" and dumped another half bucket in. The over load springs were nearly flat, and the rims were about 2" from the road, but it hauled it back. Of course I drove pretty slow, and the steering wheel had only a minor effect on where I was going, but...

And after living with pickups with 6' beds it will be nice to haul a 4x8 sheet and have it all inside the bed.

Here are a couple of photos of the ruck and bed.

First is the truck yesterday afternoon after the latest shakedown cruise.
Second is the bed assembled sitting in the shop on saw horses.
Third is the bed just after installation on the truck.
Last one is the support from the big bumper to the bed side.

Tim

FWIW, here's a truck we saw at Macungie (PA) a few years ago. It appears to be a 1.5-ton, but still shows how they did the bed to accommodate the duellies. I don't think the outer fenders are factory But interesting to see the inner fenders (which might be factory).

I can't tell you anything about the truck. I just saw it in the for sale corral and took the pictures.

John

More ideas for me. Thanks. Im trying to avoid getting a flatbed. Would really like a 9 ft box.

Also, here's a shot I took of Jim Carter's beautiful 1946 1-ton duallie. Looks like regular rear fedners attached to extensions. The running boards are wider at the rear to accommodate. I'll see if I can find the rest of the pictures I took on that shoot.

Another thought is to take one of those low sided towing bodies...

Seeing all these pics makes me want to built a long bed dually!

Sweet. Any pics of 60s dually beds around?? Or what ever year beds on early 60s dually trucks??

https://www.rtechfabrications.com/the-ponderosa

Check out the Ponderosa! I myself am a Duke fan. 🤤

Wow is an understatement...᠁. The custom work is utterly amazing. Not to mention the price tags. Lol I have enough trouble welding in a basic patch panel let alone coming close to even park in the same area code as any of those..

Those are very nice. I wonder how many they've actually sold?

Good question. Who has that kinda money? Especially for a truck..But they are way cool

All I can say is “WOW”!