[AKweldshop]

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[AKweldshop]

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[AKweldshop]

What a pitiful turnout....
Jonathan's right, its a hobbyist forum....

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[weldin mike 27]

What does that leave for a payload on the ute? Not too many car in AUS that could have a tray that big. Would need to step up to a 3 or 4 tonne light truck.

[AKweldshop]

What does that leave for a payload on the ute? Not too many car in AUS that could have a tray that big. Would need to step up to a 3 or 4 tonne light truck.

The truck has a 24,500lb gross vehicle capacity.

Bed will weigh around 1,700 fully equipped.

[Otto Nobedder]

John,

I'm not sure what you were expecting, but there's not going to be a lot of "ooh"s and "ahh"s on the individual steps of an unfinished project, particularly when you post all pictures and almost no narrative.

The "topic views" show you're getting plenty of attention.

I, personally, think it's great work and well executed. The end result will be very nice, and of high quality. However, I can't usually think of a comment to add. You're not asking questions, not having problems, not needing advice on how to continue, so what are we going to say? I'll throw out the occasional "Nice Work!" but if you're not asking questions or opinions, there's little to discuss and passing out compliments to a skilled and able welder gets repetitive.

Steve S

[Superiorwelding]

John,
If you are going I quote me, quote me right. I have told you that MOST here are hobbiest and might not appreciate a build like this. I told you that SOME might not have the skill to tackle a project like this and SOME might not have a interest in it. I agree, you have good views in your topics. We are not Welding Web where you have 30,000 views on this topic. We also don't have 54,000 members. Keep it in perspective. I have told you before, we don't so this for the honor and glory!! Share projects to help others out and a little bragging, not trying to see how many "WOWS" you can get. Humble John.

Also, I would have to agree with Steve on why I don't post. While I appreciate the thorough pictures what am I supposed to say everyone you post? Good job would get old. Remember I told you earlier that this build shows your skill level in that you had no prints and have not done this before.
-Jonathan

[AKweldshop]

John,

I'm not sure what you were expecting, but there's not going to be a lot of "ooh"s and "ahh"s on the individual steps of an unfinished project, particularly when you post all pictures and almost no narrative.

The "topic views" show you're getting plenty of attention.

I, personally, think it's great work and well executed. The end result will be very nice, and of high quality. However, I can't usually think of a comment to add. You're not asking questions, not having problems, not needing advice on how to continue, so what are we going to say? I'll throw out the occasional "Nice Work!" but if you're not asking questions or opinions, there's little to discuss and passing out compliments to a skilled and able welder gets repetitive.

Steve S

Well said!
Sorry I got pushy, and realize there's little to add.

I just like discussion on technique, design, and style of build.
Fabricators sharing their methods on designing bed, etc etc.
That's all.

I realize that you shouldn't compliment on consistent, quality work.....
Only beginners figuring what amperage to set their 1/8" 6013 at.
They deserve the the praise when "it clicks" for them.


Ok,
Ease up....

I'm just a squirrely dude who just tries to up his post count cheap...

Don't mind me.

~John

[AKweldshop]

John,
If you are going I quote me, quote me right. I have told you that MOST here are hobbiest and might not appreciate a build like this. I told you that SOME might not have the skill to tackle a project like this and SOME might not have a interest in it. I agree, you have good views in your topics. We are not Welding Web where you have 30,000 views on this topic. We also don't have 54,000 members. Keep it in perspective. I have told you before, we don't so this for the honor and glory!! Share projects to help others out and a little bragging, not trying to see how many "WOWS" you can get. Humble John.

Also, I would have to agree with Steve on why I don't post. While I appreciate the thorough pictures what am I supposed to say everyone you post? Good job would get old. Remember I told you earlier that this build shows your skill level in that you had no prints and have not done this before.
-Jonathan

"Big Bad John"

[Otto Nobedder]

"Big Bad John"

"Ever' mornin' at the mine you could see him arrive,
He stood six-foot-six and weighed 245.
Kinda broad at the shoulder, and narrow at the hip,
and everybody knew, you didn't give no lip, to Big John..."

Steve S

[AKweldshop]

Splicing in the trailer plug.

This truck did not have thew towing package.
No dedicated trailer plug harness

[AKweldshop]

And it works, friends!
All wired up!

[mcoe]

John everything is looking good.

[AKweldshop]

John everything is looking good.

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[mcoe]

This is where you lost me. I would have put a hinge or some other form of latch on the cover. I see the rubber straps wearing out and in cold weather and repeated use breaking. That is my 2 cents.

[AKweldshop]

This is where you lost me. I would have put a hinge or some other form of latch on the cover. I see the rubber straps wearing out and in cold weather and repeated use breaking. That is my 2 cents.

We've had them on our truck for 3 years now.
Still working...

We've ripped a lot of hinges off btw....

[mcoe]

That is what I wanted to check because I have never heard of anyone doing this so I wanted to see what kind of response others had on that.

[Bugel]

I been following this thread in another site..i must say you did a great job AK
Your stick welding skills are excellent!

[AKweldshop]

I been following this thread in another site..i must say you did a great job AK
Your stick welding skills are excellent!

Thank you for your kind works...

The truck is done, and performs great....so far...
Looks pretty good from where I'm standing....

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[AKweldshop]

I'm gonna miss this truck.....

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[noddybrian]

Seriously - your going to miss a FORD when you are a Dodge man ? ! - and most of us let it slide but you recently said to use 6013 ! - you sure your feeling OK John ?

Nice job though - came out looking good & should put up with heavy use for years to come.

[AKweldshop]

Seriously - your going to miss a FORD when you are a Dodge man ? ! - and most of us let it slide but you recently said to use 6013 ! - you sure your feeling OK John ?

Nice job though - came out looking good & should put up with heavy use for years to come.

If you recall, that recommendation for the use of 6013 was in a cheap build-up wear down application.
I've used it on occasion on for build up on misc stuff.

But when it comes to welding plates, channels, tubing etc together, do it right. 7018

[Otto Nobedder]

I been following this thread in another site..i must say you did a great job AK
Your stick welding skills are excellent!

Thank you for your kind works...

The truck is done, and performs great....so far...
Looks pretty good from where I'm standing....

There are two moments a job looks great. The moment it arrives, and the moment it leaves. Evereything in between is WORK!

Steve S

[AKweldshop]

I even put the pic of the bed as the wall paper on my phone and computer....

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[RonMartens]

nice job on the bed!

thought id share this with you,

When I was a young man, I built trucks with platforms and buckets lifts for a living. Most had a flat deck with the other rigged parts integrated into it.

the chassis were long, and the design we used saved weight and metal. when you're building a truck, weight is a factor, as any you add takes away from the gross.

it was a rectangle with an" X " in the center sitting on top of the frame then, all the cross members were different sizes and welded to the " X " section notched into the rectangle 50/50 then welded.

this was a very ridged design and super strong. I remember, we built a mack all wheel drive truck with a 70ft bucket lift and piled 15 shop guys on the fully extended bucket & boom trying to flex the frame without the out riggers down.. just ever so slightly feeding hydraulic, just getting to tip and release pressure slowly.
truck would have flipped if the kept feeding it hydraulic pressure..

you don't want flex, flex will work the bed to death...and some of that diamond plate is funny material as it is and cracks easily when work hardened.

Also, use a thin strip of 1/4 Teflon liner or hardwood block between the truck frame and your body frame. the frame flexes like you cant imagine, with the flex and nothing in between, depending on the load and what's working at that time, the bolts can and will shear right off the frame, U - bolts are proven better choice

one can tell Lots of love went into your build... nice job!