Australian Style Flatbed and Canopy Build

[TopoRanger]

What’s up y’all. I figured I’d start a new thread about this specific build of my Ranger. So as the title states, I’ll be making my own flatbed and canopy for the Ranger. I will not be modifying the frame mounts so the original bed can still be placed back on the truck if absolutely needed. I don’t have plans to put it back though. With future mods in mind I have started designing my flatbed for the truck. Here are the future mods that are planned to be on the truck or are in the works to be on the truck

RHFab Long Travel
37” BFGoodrich KM3
Tom Woods single rear driveshaft
LRA Extended Fuel Tank

The flatbed build when completed will have a Trundle Drawer, Rear Corner storage on both sides, swing down spare tire carrier, mini canopy (same footprint as the spare tire carrier), then a lift off canopy. The headboard will be flush with the height of a Prinsu Roof Rack, which I’ll build my own, then the Canopy will have one that matches on top of it.

Follow along as I get cranking away on this build!

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[TopoRanger]

This is the original 3D drawing of the project.

 

[D Fresh]

Looking forward to this. Your truck is one of my favorite builds here.

Mostly the front end but now the rear will be just as awesome!

 

[TopoRanger]

here are the beginning stages of the tray. I originally thought that 6.5’ would be the perfect total length of the tray. This was without even going to the truck and seeing if it looked like a diving board hanging off the back.

Well it totally did. Just with a tape measure it seemed extremely too long. Since the dimension changes were needed, I redrew it. So here is the next change…

I made it a little shorter and started adding 37s and the fenders just to get a better visual of the tray.

 

[TopoRanger]

Looking forward to this. Your truck is one of my favorite builds here.

Mostly the front end but now the rear will be just as awesome!

thanks man! I appreciate it so much!

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Sub'd

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Aluminum or Steel?

 

[Muddy Fenders]

I assume you're setting this up for overlanding like those crazy aussies....
What are the benefits to a flat deck over a regular bed?
Some seem obvious to me, but I am sure there are many I don't see.

 

[TopoRanger]

Aluminum or Steel?

The Tray will be steel and everything else, storage, drawers, and canopy will be aluminum. I opted for steel because I do plan to wheel it and will be still daily driving this. I don’t want the back end to be insanely light without the canopy installed and have zero traction. Plus the steel tray will act as a good slider if absolutely needed.

 

[TopoRanger]

I assume you're setting this up for overlanding like those crazy aussies....
What are the benefits to a flat deck over a regular bed?
Some seem obvious to me, but I am sure there are many I don't see.

Welleven more set up for overland adventures. My reason to do this is so I don’t have to continuously haul the tent And other added weight along all the time. It is a daily driver for now. I do also have actual truck needs too and many times the bed rack and tent alone gets in the way. So I believe the flatbed with a lift off canopy will be theperfect set up for me.

 

[TopoRanger]

laying the steel framing out to make sure it’s all like I want! Yep I stole the 37” spare from my wrangler until BFGoodrich send me some tires for the truck.

 

[TopoRanger]

More organizing of materials. Eye balling where the tire will be at along with the under tray storage. I realized how much I hate diamond plate when I saw these boxes in my hands. So these will be up for sale very soon. I’m going to build my own.

 

[TopoRanger]

I got the steel onto the saw horses and started racking everything in and consistently measuring the squareness of everything. So far everything is less than 1/16” square. I think that’s pretty dang good.

 

[TopoRanger]

It’s time to update the drawing again! I didn’t like the rear tail light section so here is the next update of the drawing.

I squared up the rear section instead of having the angled piece on the outer vertical piece of steel.
Grab some popcorn y’all. This one be the last drawing update

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Very cool Brad,

How do you like those TOUGHBUILT saw horses? I love mine and I see you’re using one of their features properly. ?

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