I am in the process of building a flatbed and not sure to either use 2 inch or 3 inch channel cross beams on it. 3 inch will be the main runners on the truck frame. Its going on a 3/4 ton diesel dodge that will probably be overloaded a few times a year.. Franz, what do ya think ?

2" crossmembers will work well if you use enough of them.

Don't forget to recess the damn marker lights so you don't smash them in the first month.

Also remember plenty of tiedown points.

You oughta see the flatbed on my s10 i made.. The Dodge is going on the similiar concept but more stout.. Full rub rails on 3 sides to secure anything that might need to be, or auction goodies.. I was thiking every 12 inches for cross members to keep the bed straight, when i weld the deck on... Something between 14 and 10 gauge... and recessed gooseneck ball will be put in before its completed. Someday i am gunna have me one of them type trailers, to deter people from wanting to borrow it..

Don't forget to install airbags before you put the deck on. It's got to be easier that way.

I find them airbags real handy when hooking up trailers, eliminates a lot of need to jack the damn trailer.

Don't forget to get Main trailer plates from Charlie either, lot cheaper than NY trailer plates, and no damn annual inspection.

If only you wanted to build a machine hauler I could set you up with some nice drive on lift tops that save a lot of fabricating & framing.

I already have a trailer made from an old drive on car ramp, with 2 mobile home axles under it. Unfortunately it has no paperwork, Can a Main plate work with a trailer with no papers ? if so How do I get a hold of "Charlie" I did snag up an old semi trailer air tank, and planned on doing air bags on this truck since it does run heavy when loaded up with its winter gear. Sometime this summer i need to get over to Thruway Spring or McDonald spring to get some extra leafs for the front end to correct the sag and to carry the #1000 pound plow on the front...

Unless you plumb the airlines like Storts would you don't need a tank. The ones I put on my Exploder have been holding for 5 weeks now with no need for additional air.

I ain't tellin on the open forum how to slide that other deal by. Yes it can be done dang easy.

If you find a 8" bag from a Pete or something similar you can use that to make that trailer tilt a hell of a lot easier than a hydraulic setup and a lot cheaper too. Since you already have it built why don't you just make a goosneck converter for the trailer and leave it so it can be used either way. You make the converter right you can build the tilt right into that.
Might as well add a 3rd axel and airbag it so it can unload in tight turns and save tires.

Don't go to Thruway unless you want to get hosed for shytty springs. McDonald is a hell of a lot better on price & quality.

Trailer is only 14 feet long, so making it any longer will be a PITA because the rails are pre formed and would look dumb trying to cobble up something.. It uses a pintle hook to drag it around. I planned on adding on board air to my truck and having that air tank be the storage. I have the Firestone ride rite kit on my 2500 Chevy, nice kit. I'm not new to the air bag thing, they are nice easy way to add capacity without all the fun of adding more springs and sacrificing ride quality too much I have had almost 3 ton on the back of the truck last time i went to get stone at the gravel pit... :ph43r:

I put the Air Lift 5000 kit on the welding truck, 2 seprate lines,so if you want to level it, I might lose 5# of air per month,if the truck is loaded,,Plastic Lines just pushed in and clicked,, they wernt cheap!!!!!!!But work Great, :D :D :D

Who you tryin to shyt Jack?
You put a leveling kit on so you'd look right goin down the road when the driver was half a bubble off.

The Machine and Tool Boxes dont set perfectily in the center,so your a little from being level.,,Not to speak of the driver being out of plum.! :D :P

Yea Jack I ran into a big problem putting bags on the back of the Explorer. There weren't any kits made for that vehicle. I checked with half a dozen supliers and they all said Nobody makes a kit.

Damn difficult situation so I nailed together some plate and put the bags in. I'm thinking of opening a company called Nobody Manufacturing. There seems to be a big market out there for tanks nobody makes so if yer interested I can sub them out to you. Of course you'll probably need a new tent to make them in. You'll just have to remember to not build the tank around the tentpole.

You put a decent coat of paint on a tent it ought to last a couple seasons.

Air Lift makes em, and

MONDAY,the start!!!!!!!!! weather is drying mud,and Monday morn,they will finish! No rain for the week! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Unless the weather man is wrong,But 60 degres tom and Sunday!!!!!!!! FINNALLLY,, Cant wait,!!!!!!! :D :P

Jack how did things go today for you?