Sponsored

Australian Style Flatbed and Canopy Build

OP
OP
TopoRanger

TopoRanger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
423
Reaction score
1,390
Location
Missoula, Montana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
Mechanic
Saw you post this on Facebook. Can’t wait to see how this turns out.
I can’t contain my excitement haha! I’m so ready to get this thing done.
 
OP
OP
TopoRanger

TopoRanger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
423
Reaction score
1,390
Location
Missoula, Montana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
Mechanic
Spent some time this morning after I got off work to throw a swing down tire carrier drawing into the computer. It’s totally no where close to final but it’s something have documented. Probably will go to the CAD, cardboard aided drawing, later on this week. This should hold a 37” BFG KM3 snug. I do plan to run a strap over the tire so it won’t roll off when swinging down and of course while driving.
I need to make the baseplate for it next.

06C00A30-90BD-43AB-A351-B39A97E0C861.webp
 

Trigganometry

Well-Known Member
First Name
Rick
Joined
Dec 4, 2020
Threads
153
Messages
5,833
Reaction score
25,359
Location
Massachusetts
Vehicle(s)
20 XLT scab 301A/tow 4X4 magnetic w/sport blackout
Occupation
Engineering
my goal for this project is to have the most “Made in the USA” products and supplies. So if I can find some anti vibration pads that are made in the states I’m all for it!
Use Buna-N rubber sheet material. My last Ranger all the bed cross supports rusted away. I fabbed up new ones and use that sheet at 1/4” thick to go between frame and tubular square steel. Worked like a charm and lasted until I got this truck. Should easily get 15 to 20 years in an outdoor environment with the stuff. Great damping of vibrations too as a bonus
 
OP
OP
TopoRanger

TopoRanger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
423
Reaction score
1,390
Location
Missoula, Montana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
Mechanic
Use Buna-N rubber sheet material. My last Ranger all the bed cross supports rusted away. I fabbed up new ones and use that sheet at 1/4” thick to go between frame and tubular square steel. Worked like a charm and lasted until I got this truck. Should easily get 15 to 20 years in an outdoor environment with the stuff. Great damping of vibrations too as a bonus
Thanks for that! I’ll start to look for some of that!
 


OP
OP
TopoRanger

TopoRanger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
423
Reaction score
1,390
Location
Missoula, Montana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
Mechanic

Rhino

Well-Known Member
First Name
jacob
Joined
May 26, 2022
Threads
7
Messages
1,619
Reaction score
3,582
Location
idk help!
Vehicle(s)
2017f150 scarb? 4x4, 24 xr150L , 2023 klx300r, 24 tenere 700
Occupation
professional anime watcher!
Vehicle Showcase
1
OP
OP
TopoRanger

TopoRanger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
423
Reaction score
1,390
Location
Missoula, Montana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
Mechanic
ye i always wanted a flatbed on my old tacoma but never got around to it because of cost to just buy one lol
Yeah that’s where I drew the line. I was given an opportunity to buy one and one hell of a deal compared to retail cost but it was still $10k for just the tray! I couldn’t justify honestly. So I decided to build one and honestly that was perfect for me. I enjoy it and I’ve been really needing something to get my brain gears spinning. I just wish I had a larger version of the tools I have. I’d be able to build even more things for the tray myself vs searching to outsource the larger bending and forming jobs.
 
OP
OP
TopoRanger

TopoRanger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
423
Reaction score
1,390
Location
Missoula, Montana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
Mechanic
Did that sketchup file I send you help out?
I haven’t been able to upload it just yet. I meant to try it this morning but I had a squirrel moment with the drop down tire carrier! Haha. I’ll try it in the morning when I get off work.
 

Rhino

Well-Known Member
First Name
jacob
Joined
May 26, 2022
Threads
7
Messages
1,619
Reaction score
3,582
Location
idk help!
Vehicle(s)
2017f150 scarb? 4x4, 24 xr150L , 2023 klx300r, 24 tenere 700
Occupation
professional anime watcher!
Vehicle Showcase
1
Yeah that’s where I drew the line. I was given an opportunity to buy one and one hell of a deal compared to retail cost but it was still $10k for just the tray! I couldn’t justify honestly. So I decided to build one and honestly that was perfect for me. I enjoy it and I’ve been really needing something to get my brain gears spinning. I just wish I had a larger version of the tools I have. I’d be able to build even more things for the tray myself vs searching to outsource the larger bending and forming jobs.
ya its nuts on cost... i think the cheapest one i saw for the tacoma was 5k? but it wasnt one that had all the drawers it was just a tray basically the rest was up to you to build which is nuts.... i always thought of working with a friend and building one but i got sick of the truck after awhile and decided to get rid of it so no more flatbed idea lol. man we all wish we had bigger and better tools but then we buy those tools and have no moneys for the project haha
 
OP
OP
TopoRanger

TopoRanger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brad
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
423
Reaction score
1,390
Location
Missoula, Montana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger XLT FX4
Occupation
Mechanic
ya its nuts on cost... i think the cheapest one i saw for the tacoma was 5k? but it wasnt one that had all the drawers it was just a tray basically the rest was up to you to build which is nuts.... i always thought of working with a friend and building one but i got sick of the truck after awhile and decided to get rid of it so no more flatbed idea lol. man we all wish we had bigger and better tools but then we buy those tools and have no moneys for the project haha
Haha yeah that’s so true about the tools and project money. I never lost interest in my Jeep I just lost focus because I got the truck as a planned daily driver. No customizing it or anything while I fixed the Jeep and brought it back to life. Well we all see how that plan went to the crapper incredibly fast.

my gf was asking me the other week what part of the truck have you not customized yet. I said well I haven’t really messed with the hood or roof lol. YET! Haha. I do plan to design my own Prinsu Style rack for the cab and then I wouldn’t mind changing up the hood but everything I find I like half of the hood. There’s a fiberglass Gen2 style raptor hood but they slapped a ram air vent in front of it. Just not a huge fan of that front vent. Then I’ll be modifying the passenger side ADV front fender with the custom stainless steel snorkel I’ve got in the works. John from ADV was a little scared when I told him about it haha.
Sponsored

 
 








Top