How Silliy is this?

mike837go · 09-09-2016, 10:48 AM

While in the process of civilizing my chore truck, I remembered that when I installed the dump body on its chassis, I included features to make it easy to remove and reinstall.

20 minutes of work will leave about 1200# of flatbed and hydraulic cylinder in the barn. The bed is also about 4" wider than the cab. Leaving us towing a TT with a cab-and-chassis only, 1-ton truck.

Would the weight and width savings be worth it?

Or is it just too damned butt-ugly to even consider?

bankr63 · 09-09-2016, 10:57 AM

We've all seen the picture in the Montblanc post. Not gonna win a beauty contest either way...

No offense intended, but that is not concourse quality yet.

Question is probably one of practicality. Will you be putting any gear on the flatbed? Bikes, genny, anything? If you're not hauling any gear, why carry the weight I guess.

wanderlust · 09-09-2016, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike837go

is it just too damned butt-ugly to even consider?

If you gotta ask then you already know it's pretty butt ugly... but who cares?

mike837go · 09-09-2016, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bankr63

We've all seen the picture in the Montblanc post. Not gonna win a beauty contest either way...

No offense intended, but that is not concourse quality yet.

Aw, c'mon. It'll take 3rd in a field of two!

TWP723 · 09-09-2016, 11:30 AM

I'd leave it on.

mike837go · 09-09-2016, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bankr63

...snip...
Question is probably one of practicality. Will you be putting any gear on the flatbed? Bikes, genny, anything? If you're not hauling any gear, why carry the weight I guess.

That was my thinking...

We generally didn't carry much in her pickup's bed.

The 1kw genny stows in the trailer. The lawn furniture we sometimes carry will stow easily in the dinette area.

----

So I've got 1 "It could be worth it" and 1 "Who give a [blank] how ugly a rig is".

mike837go · 09-09-2016, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWP723

I'd leave it on.

Any well-reasoned, thoroughly explored, and well grounded ideas on why you hold such an absolute position on the matter?

TWP723 · 09-09-2016, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike837go

Any well-reasoned, thoroughly explored, and well grounded ideas on why you hold such an absolute position on the matter?

Because it looks more "hillbilly"!!

Subaru297 · 09-09-2016, 11:52 AM

What are the benefits of taking it off? Fuel savings? You can't be payload limited with the combo in your sig.......

I'd leave it on as well. Too much hassle to remove it for a camping trip and then to not have a box on the truck. You never know when you will need to carry something in your travels.

The ride quality of the 350 will also deteriorate without any weight on the rear end.

Racinforthefinish · 09-09-2016, 11:56 AM

I would leave the bed on. I sometimes drive a stake bed and many times I need to strap something on that I had originally not planned on hauling. Too many uses to take it off. Besides, I think they look good.

Vaquero · 09-09-2016, 12:17 PM

Without "fenders" you'll sling everything on the road on to the trailer and the cab.
I'd leave it. Also gives the truck some weight to help control the trailer.
As stated previously, driving a cab and chassis with no weight on the rear axle is rough and traction is nil.

mike837go · 09-09-2016, 12:49 PM

Forgot about that

. 'Fenders' and the mud flaps are part of the bed.

Plus loosing the utility of the flatbed when at or around the campsite

Plus the added weight over the rear wheels is important.

Settled then. "Too Silly"

The bed stays on.

Thanks.

BJR · 09-09-2016, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike837go

Forgot about that

. 'Fenders' and the mud flaps are part of the bed.

Plus loosing the utility of the flatbed when at or around the campsite

Plus the added weight over the rear wheels is important.

Settled then. "Too Silly"

The bed stays on.

Thanks.

What I was thinking - fenders are required in many states.

Have you towed without the bed? I wonder if you'd lose important weight to help keep control, especially in the wet.

mike837go · 09-09-2016, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BJR

What I was thinking - fenders are required in many states.

Have you towed without the bed? I wonder if you'd lose important weight to help keep control, especially in the wet.

The truck has never been on the road without a bed. I bought it with a rusted out pickup box (paid less than 1/2 of what it would've been with an intact box). I had to torch off the bolts and sent the OEM box out for scrap.

It took a few weeks to weld on new/rebuilt parts, paint everything and put it all together. It's been on ever since. Except when got the flatbed out of the way when I had to replace the rear brake lines.

I did however operate the truck the flatbed was removed from. And yeah, it got plenty bouncy back there!

bedrck46 · 09-09-2016, 03:02 PM

I f its a butt ugly dream truck I would say its must be a nightmare.
Come on down from the cheap seats and buy yourself a new truck.

mike837go · 09-12-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedrck46

I f its a butt ugly dream truck I would say its must be a nightmare.
Come on down from the cheap seats and buy yourself a new truck.

The F-350 is NOT my dream truck! It is my chore truck. When there is heavy work to be done (hauling, pulling, snowplowing) it has been my go to vehicle since 2013! When my last daily driver was dying, I would put up with driving the F-350 to the office.

My dream truck is a 1/2 ton SUV. Like a Chevy Suburban, Ford Excursion, Toyota Highlander, etc., 4x4, manual transmission and I6 turbo-Diesel.

Right now my finances are in a bit of an uproar (last payment on my divorce is next month and my 2013 Jetta 2.0 Diesel is getting bought back by VW) so buying a new car or truck is just not in the cards for a couple of months.

So, I decided to use the 'windfall' to get rid of as much debt as possible. And then use the spring and summer to save up the cash to commission my dream truck.

In the meantime, I have bought the Explorer off my folks for some extra work on their car. I am in the process of catching up on 10 years of neglected maintenance and it will be my daily driver for the next 2-3 years with the F-350 fulfilling its role of chore truck and will be doing a much better job of being the backup vehicle when my parent's car or the Explorer is down for service or repair.

The only long-term question will be, "Should I use my Dream Truck as my daily driver?" But that is not a question that needs considering right now.

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