Posted by Clint Dixon [172.70.131.62] on Sunday, December 04, 2022 at 16:08:14 :
In Reply to: Re: Factory Flat Bed posted by Clint Dixon [172.70.131.74] on Sunday, December 04, 2022 at 15:46:13 :
Here is an image of another slightly different flat bed shown on a differnt truck that appears to be quite new and registered in the state of New York. It appears to be testing sand tires and may be a 1957 or 1958 model. This view clearly shows a "skid rail" on the outer side of the stakes. The stake pockets appear to be added to, and located on, the outside surface of the side rail of the bed rather than formed into the top surface of it, as was suggested by the image shown in my previous post.
A "skid rail" is shown attached on the very outside of these stake pockets, spanning from the front corner to rear corner. It is obvious from this image that if the skid rail were not in place that tree limbs, fence posts, dock corners, mail boxes, etc. could all be caught by the protruding stake pockets as the truck was navigated by. This rail appears to be made from simple flat stock steel, probably something like 1/4" thick and 2" wide.
The "Skid Rail" in the image above differs from that shown in Vaughn's image take from the MoPAR 1956 Parts List. In that 1956 image it appears to be heavy sheetmetal extruded, or formed into a shape that could resemble an omega or possibly the letter "D", or a combined shape that would otherwise give it strength and resistance to bending.
This latest image also does not show any radius clearance for the rear tires, nor does it show a strong radius at the front corner of the bed.
Junior
Junior
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