Started My Flatbed Build

[Bucksaw]

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Got it all washed today and got two coats of primer and some color on the bottom, a coat of primer on most of the top of it, and a coat of primer on the trailer we've been building. Gotta do some sanding and then a second coat of primer. I was worried that it was going to take forever to dry, but this new stuff we are using is amazing. We usually use Rustoleum, and it takes overnight to dry the primer and then weeks for the topcoat to dry completely, which means we usually take stuff to show that is still soft. Not tacky, sticky, or wet, but soft enough to scratch easily. This stuff dries rock hard in 2 hours. It's called Sher-Kem paint and Kem-Chromic primer from Sherwin Williams. Good stuff, and only slightly more than the Rustoleum.

Pics to come when Photobucket decides to cooperate.

[MySRT8U]

Can't wait to see it man!


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[Bucksaw]

Lets just hope I don't screw up the paint. I tried spraying the underside according to what the manufacturer says, 8:1:1, paint:hardener:reducer, but that was WAAAAYYYYYY to thin. Gonna try again tomorrow without the reducer and see if that sprays better. Thinking the hardener will act somewhat like a reducer because its thin as water.

[Bucksaw]

Best I can do right now because photobucket on my iPad is contrary.

[MySRT8U]

I'm a fan man! Wanna build one for a dually?


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[bobc]

I like this thing a lot. Cool project.

[Skinny]

Awesome thread! Following along for the finish!


Skinny

[BBReezen]

Looks great! That feed mill just down the road from you towards 259 has a truck scale if they would let you weigh down there. Would get you within 20 lbs. We don't service their scales so I can't guarantee their accuracy

[Bucksaw]

Originally Posted by MySRT8U

I'm a fan man! Wanna build one for a dually?


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I just told a coworker yesterday that it was a cool project, but I don't know if I ever want to do another. At least not with a tight schedule. If we did another one it would have to be after the kids all build theirs. Had three kids ask already.

[Bucksaw]

Originally Posted by BBReezen

Looks great! That feed mill just down the road from you towards 259 has a truck scale if they would let you weigh down there. Would get you within 20 lbs. We don't service their scales so I can't guarantee their accuracy

Which mill you talking about? Wasnt aware of one nearby.

[Brett C]

Excellent!!

[BBReezen]

Originally Posted by Bucksaw

Which mill you talking about? Wasnt aware of one nearby.

There's one in about halfway between Cushing and 259, think the little community is called Trawick? It's kinda hard to see behind the trees, south side of the road.

[Bucksaw]

Oh!!! I completely forgot about them. Didn't think about them having a scale.

[Texas Tracker]

You might cut a trap door in your bed so you can get to your fuel pump when it goes out/ That will some you a lot of time and aggravation.

[Bucksaw]

Well, it's official. Im definitely not a painter. Thinking I should have gone satin instead of gloss, but it has gotten a lot of attention at school for sure. Set the locks and light in on one side to see what it would look like. Picture is kinda dark but if you squint you can make it out.

[Rubi513]

Excellent job!
Just curious. How much would it cost to powder coat something that size?

[Bucksaw]

A lot more than I put in paint. I got quoted between $600 and $1200 just for a pair of bumpers and a set of steps. Was afraid to ask for the bed. I have a little under $200 in paint and primer. I definitely understand why the powder coat though. Lots of nooks and crannies that are almost impossible to paint without runs. I may have it powder coated later at some point, but as hard as this paint is, I think it will hold up almost as good for what Im gonna use it for. Plus, given my track record, I may or may not have this truck long enough to really wear out the paint on the bed. I don't foresee selling or trading, but you never know what the future holds.

[Steve_243]

Can't wait to see it at the fair


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[MySRT8U]

Originally Posted by Bucksaw

I just told a coworker yesterday that it was a cool project, but I don't know if I ever want to do another. At least not with a tight schedule. If we did another one it would have to be after the kids all build theirs. Had three kids ask already.

Understandable man. If you ever decide you want to build one let me know. I'm not in any hurry


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[Bucksaw]

Originally Posted by Steve_243

Can't wait to see it at the fair


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Just don't be too disappointed by the paint job.

[Bucksaw]

Originally Posted by MySRT8U

Understandable man. If you ever decide you want to build one let me know. I'm not in any hurry


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That was really the biggest hassle; time. It was an immense undertaking to get from an idea to completion in the time we had, especially since none of us had done one before. Building the bed isn't the problem. Its making all the little things work right like the toolbox lids, the hinges, the fuel filler neck, etc. Its the details that are the killer.

Maybe when things slow down we can talk more about getting one done for you. Might not be as bad if we have a few months to get it done.

[MySRT8U]

Originally Posted by Bucksaw

That was really the biggest hassle; time. It was an immense undertaking to get from an idea to completion in the time we had, especially since none of us had done one before. Building the bed isn't the problem. Its making all the little things work right like the toolbox lids, the hinges, the fuel filler neck, etc. Its the details that are the killer.



Maybe when things slow down we can talk more about getting one done for you. Might not be as bad if we have a few months to get it done.

Sounds good brotha. I don't need any of the tool boxes or storage. Just the bed.


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[Bucksaw]

Oh, well that makes it much easier.

[Bucksaw]

[Buckwheat]

DUUUUUUDE

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[MySRT8U]

Looks awesome man!! Can't wait to see it on the truck!


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[Steve_243]

Looking good


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[GOODEN]

Been following this from the beginning. You and your students have done a heck of a job!! Biggest project we tackled in ag was building barbecue pits and smokers which my father-n-law still has one to this day.

[Bucksaw]

We built on heck of a behemoth smoker that took us 3 years to do, so we decided we weren't doing any more smokers for a while. It was 16' long made of 36" pipe (what the buyer wanted). Yeah, the truck bed was a nice change.

[Brute Killer]

Very nice work!

[Bucksaw]

Its done. Got it all mounted on the truck but you will have to wait until I get all the light wired in and working for pics

[fullsizeaggie]

Ready to see it. I think it looks pretty slick.

[twosixteens]

How does your gooseneck ball mount the factory mounts? I saw one today CM makes for the coil spring 2500's they don't attach to the frame mounted crossmember for the gooseneck ball. It is just attached to the bed and the bed is bolted in 6 locations.

[Bucksaw]

Mine is just a box built from 1/4" plate that attaches to the crossmember with 4 bolts and a regular gooseneck hitch for a 2500 sandwiches the frame between it and the bed.

You can see the box in post 104

[Bucksaw]

Got it done! Im not too crazy about the gloss black paint, mainly because Im NOT a painter and the gloss shows all the flaws. Im thinking about scuffing it up and shooting the sides and the top with some satin or semi-gloss. Ive also heard of some people rolling this stuff on with good results, so I may try that just to hide some flaws. But, its on and its functional. Taking it to the fair tomorrow. If anyone local wants to pick it apart up close, come on down to the Nacogdoches Expo Center between tomorrow and Saturday evening.

[160class]

Looks awesome man! Your kids and you did a heck of a job!!

[Bowtech38]

Looks really nice

[Trailerman3]

That turned out great y'all did a great job.

[MySRT8U]

That looks fantastic man!!


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[Steve_243]

That's a good looking bed


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[Dushon]

Looks good!


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[tigerscowboy]

That is a really cool and custom effort. I can't conceive what it weighed out at, but I'm curious.

Only one detail catches my eye. The wheel wells and flares don't match. Otherwise I give this a 9.9! Impressive!!!

[SoTXAg06]

Looks great! Also, it's great to see there are still Ag programs teaching kids how to build things. It was many years ago now, but we built a dump trailer when I was in high school and showed it at the San Antonio and Houston Ag. Mech. shows. It was crazy to see what some of these schools can make. Kudos to you and your students.


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[CabezaBlanca]

I think it looks great!

[Krutch]

Originally Posted by Bowtech38

Following along sounds like i great project

Nice avatar former 19kilo myself!!

[8mpg]

Looks **** good!!

[Denton]

Heck of a job! Well done! Looks awesome!

[EarleyBird]

None too shabby! Did you ever get an idea what it weighs?

[Bucksaw]

Originally Posted by EarleyBird

None too shabby! Did you ever get an idea what it weighs?

Not yet. Its a lot though.

[Bucksaw]

Boom baby!!! Division champion, and even beat out another flatbed that showed up from Nacogdoches. Here are the little rednecks that made this possible in this time frame. Great group of kids.