I used to post here alll the time, and went quiet after I got busy. But I managed to take some pics along the way!

Behold!



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My once humble, factory fresh ST 6 speed...

...Has become something completely different!

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In New York : The original stake-sides were flimsy and quickly removed in favor of 4x4 rails.


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In Maine : Running flatbed style for lightness / interstate travel ops. Note CB whip (now removed). Right: Unfortunate Prius sighting.

Here's the story. It's Februrary 2011, I'm on the way to work. I slo-mo fishtail on a STUPID icy two-lane boulevard. Steering wheel oppo-locked, zero grip. I swatted the corner of a 53' box trailer at maybe 10-12 mph. Trailer didn't have a scratch. My passenger side bed was slayed. I'll update with photos of the damage.

Body repair estimate was $2500+, and I didn't feel like claiming insurance. Sometimes during this project I wished I should have!

I keed I keed, this thing is sweet, and fully roadworthy, 10,000 miles, payload proven. Solid as a rock, if a little rough around the edges. I will post later with more pics. This is from the original build revision, it's a bit different now.
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The Build:

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Damage is on other side. A friend arranged weekend usage of a commercial truck garage. Drove the truck over the pit and had the factory bed off in 15 minutes. A couple buddies, some takeout, and two Saturdays, and we had it together. Shown running stock size Firestone Winterforces all around.

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I measured the bed mounting points and drew up a design in SolidWorks. I sent drawings to the local steel shop, and had this stock cut.

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This was the mission critical factor, free usage of a nice Miller AC/DC stick welder.

I did the welding. We layed it up on the concrete floor with dimension plans, levels, clamps, shims. The floor was almost perfectly flat, which was $

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I welded the hell out of this thing, even if the welds won't pass X-ray, it's strong.

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Mounted on the chassis :

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The fuel filler was a bitch.

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I painted the frame and side panels with chassis paint, which has since been removed (more later). The brake / signals are awesome LED's, and the reverse lights, while incandescent and mismatched, are like floodlights. Backing up at night is great!

The LED taillights were a good learning experience. I had to wire resistors in parallel with the LED circuits. The truck's CANBUS needs to "feel" the resistance, or the light functionality is bizarre and useless.

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The truck in the pics is riding on cheap 265/70-16's, which were big and looked good, but ultimately caused alignment problems (pull). I went to excellent Firestone Destination AT, stock size.

My factory headlight busted a mount when I removed it once, so I installed Nightrunner headlights, one original, one Chinese clone. Monroe load leveler shocks offset the bulk of the flatbed, and add some serious hauling strength. No more squat (like this!):

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She has had all the typical 3G Dakota front end parts replaced. The drivetrains and frames of these trucks, even the 3.7, are half-ton strong, yet the model is hamstrung with an underbuilt front end.

The beast has 76,000 miles, and leaks oil like a pig out of the timing cover seal. But it's paid off and well maintained. She'll be a trusty workhorse for years. And, she has a stablemate now:

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Yes, that is a 1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata. I've heard / told all the jokes, but if you've driven one, you'll understand the perfection

That's all for now!

 

very nice! thanks for sharing.

Did removing the bed and putting the flatbed on push the rear up or down?

did you add any helper springs??

 

The stock 6.5 FT bed is only about 275#. We scaled it. I was shocked, with one person at each corner we effortlessly walked it outside.

The flatbed is closer to 450#, so the springs sagged a bit.

I installed Monroe Load Leveler shocks, which supposedly add a 1200# payload boost over the ride height range. Load Levelers are preassembled heavy duty dampers with coil load springs. They install on the rear end like factory shocks.

Unloaded, she sits high and rides stiff. Add 500-750#, and it's smooth as buttah. But there is no lift over stock.

 

that is awesome

 

You know it! I see you are in Syr, I live right around the corner in Auburn

 

i live in camillus, you ever see me driving?

 

Can't say that I have, but now I'll recognize your truck!

There are some great back roads in Camillus / Marcellus / Elbridge, I rip through there all the time in the MX-5.

 

This thing is nasty to start with and I think you should be the guinea pig to try out the 4th gen Ram tow mirrors or atleast get yourself the factory folding ones

 

My rear wheel-wells are starting to rust from the inside out, so if it costs to much to fix I was thinking of going either a Flat-deck like this or one with square tube sides and diamond plate
looks good tho