Posted by Willy-N [108.162.216.23] on Friday, January 22, 2016 at 20:35:39 :
There just about done now. Got the gussets done for the hoist under where it bolts on. Stake pockets all laid out to be welded on the outside. So I ordered a 3 red light bar for the back end it put me a little wider then 80" due to them.
Solved the problem with the give near the back since metal won't go across the tailgate end. Between the two rear axles I have room to put a 2x4x3/16" Box steel 45 degree angle with the ends cut to line up on the 2x4 frame rail under the bed. Cut to flush with the furthest edge of the 12" flat side bottom. On the ends I will weld 2- 2 1/2" x 1/4" strap steel plates that bolt into the frame and the bottom of the sides. This will be about 2/3rds back from the front of the bed between the two axles. The only way to move the sides now will be to bend the 2x4 box brace or bend the frame rail. There is a cross member near that area to keep that from happening.
So it looks like all the problems are solved now. The cab end will bolt on the sides I have angle iron welded in place for this. It will also bolt to the bottom the same way. Then I will bolt a 2 1/2" x 3/16" steel angle iron shaped to fit the cab above it that I can fill in with nice 2x6 wood and a place to look thru for the window covered in expanded steel. That will match the stake bed sides made out of 2x6 wood. Going to look good soon!
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