Just like everything else, just got a little busy last year and couldn't get to it. Dang truck sat for 12 months patiently waiting...
Anyhow, had to start with ripping the springs out and getting the suspension system on. Pretty easy stuff, 3/4" air gun is nice for breaking the nuts.
Lay out all the parts and start drilling.
Dry fit for where to fit the air unit. Last one had it on the outside of the rail..had to remove a box, which meant cut and weld, to get to the unit. Wanted something different, so figured a way to mount it within the rails.
Start in on the flatbed build; keeping it simple, and understanding that this is not a work truck with concentrated, possibly offset loads, I was comfortable building it on the light side.
Details take waaaay longer than the big stuff. A little buck out for the hatch for the air unit.
And some indented wings..bed is only 10' long, and the wings sit lower. And I didn't think it would look bad.
New hitch. I thought about taking the one off the '07, but what a hassle. So, new it is. Dropping the tank made it easier for the drilling.
Exhaust didn't fit so well; needed a little heat and adjustment.
After;
Time for the headache rack.
Rear bumper;
And time for box brackets.
700 pounds of boxes..
Hangers for the mud flaps.
Had to work on a latch for the trap door to access the air unit.
And then we get to put on the skin; 98 holes later, for the spot welds.
And lots and lots of grinding..
First time for me; I've always sand blasted, and then used etching primer, primer and good paint. The price I got from the powder coat sub was about 3 times just my cost in paint and blast material. Add in a long day where I'm not having any fun, and it was a quick decision.
In the mean time, stuck on a new bumper and 17,500 winch:
Worked on some interior wiring. Have the camera's to install, the Air link dump system and the aux fuel tank gauge and pump wiring. I have laying on my back on concrete and feeding wires. Just plain sucks.
Painted and ready to install;
Flatbeds and fueling are always an issue. Since this was a purpose built bed, I wasn't concerned about the 'usability' of top side for anything other than my use. The boxes aren't going to be coming off. So, I stuck both fillers on top; I can use truck nozzles full speed, and she fills quick. The mounts were on before the bed went to the powder coater, but I cut and installed the piping after the bed was installed.
And then the wiring...
At the tail is the standard ******** RV plug, along with a second one wired up near the front filler neck. And then our standard 7 pin Pollack that all of our trailers have. A ton of wiring loom and electrical tape and ties. Ugh.
With boxes:
First fill up; 78 gallons, loving it!
Up near east Mt St Helens a few weeks ago:
Hoh river two weeks ago:
Have some things to work out, like always. Going to reposition the top boxes two inches just because, and I have two outfitter switches on the truck that are sporadic which I need to chase down. This air system allows me to level the truck 1/8" at a time, and then maintains that level regardless of the weight (it has 2 sensors instead of the usual single). The dump is part of the sweet part. Especially since we almost always remove the camper if we're staying more than a couple of nights. Trailer swaps are so much smoother...less cranking. Cheers...
Teanaway area:
'16 F550 CC, 4x4 with Link Ultraride air suspension, '18 AF 1150. Just so we can play with our snowmobiles, dirt bikes and fishing boat. And new 20' tag along...kayaks, bikes, mc's and extra water and food!!