The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed What kind of runners for a flatbed?

So I was wondering from those who built their own flatbed, did you use a steel channel on the frame or wood beam? maybe even wood blocks at bed to frame bolting points?

My 3800 came with 6" x 8" wood beams. It was rotting away along with the rusted out metal frame of a flatbed with wood decking. I'm looking to build another from scratch.

If you want it to look more original, just use more 6x8 beams to replace the rotten ones. If it was me, I would get some steel channel to replace them. This would be much more expensive at the time of the build, but in the long run, it would be much more durable and cheaper than having to replace the boards every few years. As for the flatbed, I would try to save it because old, original beds to the truck are so hard to come by. Unless you know for %100 sure that it is far too gone, do NOT get rid of it and especially do NOT scrap it! Even if you decide to not keep the bed, or you think its too far gone, atleast put it in the for sale section here on the stovebolt forum! Why scrap that bed for just a couple of bucks when you will probably WAY more in the forum? As for making the bed, it all depends on how durable it needs to be, what its main use would be (Hauling hay, show truck, cattle hauler, all around farm truck, etc.), and what your looking to spend. Please give the fellow bolters more info on what it's prime use would be. Are you looking for cheap and easy, or overbuilt and made to last a life time?

The original bed was a special built 'cattle pen' by the farmer for shuttling cattle around. During teardown, I checked the quality of existing materials, and they weren't going to last (literally rusting and rotting away.) Also, IT WAS NOT A FACTORY BED. And having been built by a farmer, it lasted pretty well for its 60 year life!

I don't intend on moving cattle, and I am looking for something that will handle a modern Full-size pickup load (I'm in town). I am leaning towards the steel channel but wanted a second and third opinion. I got time.

I am strongly inspired by John's 49 Big Bolt Bed project. I'd like the bed width to match my truck width and utilize the full frame length. I also like the look of wood stake sides. This is what it looks like now, obviously no bed.

I agree about the wood side look. If it was me, I would keep the cattle bed on their if you want it to handle a pickup load. If you want it to look more new, just repair and repaint the cattle bed. This way with the sides and back gates, you rarely need to tie things down. Or, you could cut the sides of the bed off, and turn it into a stake bed with wood sides. But if you do not wnat it, how much would you want for it? I might be interested! Another idea would be to take off that cattle bed and use it as a stencil for the new stake bed. Same thing for the sides on it now, I would use them as a stencil.