Dez' 'fleet' thread. Another bl00dy transit!

When we build beds, we like to use C-section steel along the outer edges, makes for a nice strong edge and is also a place to hide your side markers from damage.

I also detest ally beds, this one was specced by the traveller, but was soon replaced with steel due to damage. But then, these are trucks used daily dragging all manor of broken and overweight wibblepoo on.

It’s slowly working it way down as I add weight to it. I reckon it’ll be Bob on by the time I’m done 😆

Today was an odd day. After a daily major storm last night that rattled the windows (and everything else) all night, and covered all the roads in detritus on my trip in, I was driving along and I actually needed shades it was so sunny. I got to the workshop and not only was it sunny, it was fairly warm.

To top it all off my steel turned up Shortly after I did, so today was pickup bed day.
First I lobbed up the 2x1 into bits before it even made it through the door-


In some ‘looking at things and thinking’ time i’d come up with these out of some 2x2 for the rear drops for the light bar area. They’re a bit complicated but you’ll see how they work as we go on. They stick out to sort of act as little bumpers. They also consolidate the slope of the end into an upright surface for the lights, hence the funny angles.


They go here.


You can see they also cap the ends of the main rails, and should be suitably floor proof in case I bash em.


I was going to use a standard transit light bar and end caps, but it didn’t really work in either width or depth, and then I decided the ramps would need to be stored behind it, so I opted to make something up instead.
The bottom rail is just 2x1.


It’s put on so it’s flush with the end bed rail, so I can mount a flat upright panel behind to mount the lights to.




That’s something for later though. Next I arsed around removing the bit of bow out of the main rails, and straightening a bent outrigger. The bed is now flat and level though, so I can move on with the rest of it.

The next major task is some strengthening to the cantilevered rear section of the bed. This is 5 foot long so needs some additional support to tie it into the end of the chassis.
First I cut these. 6mm plate, the first proper weight stuff I’ve used.


The were marked up for the bolt holes on the end of the chassis rails. The bottom one had to be tapped as it’ll end up being blind.


They fit here. Top edge welds to the bottom of the rails to add support. Bolts are only 8mm but they’re in compression in use so actually do more or less nothing.


Square is actually being used as a measuring device for the next bit.


I rounded the corners before welding them on.


Then I marked up and cut these. They have a ridiculously long taper, but they’re going to as they’re level to the rails, so it’s going to be 7 degrees again. The cut is nearly 3 foot long.


They go here.


They’re dropped as low as they can go and still effectively bear on the chassis ends. Any lower and they won’t actually improve the situation any, only crate a weird cantilever the other way.

Lots of welds.




I only got one in before I had to do other stuff, but even one makes a HUGE difference to The bed stiffness, and Is one of the last big bits of ‘figuring out’ done.

There’s a fair bit do donkey work still to do before it goes for blasting, but it can be done in spare moments here and there rather than in big chunks.

Are you not concerned about the chassis? thats a whole lot of weight hanging off the back of something so rotten! lol

Are you not concerned about the chassis? thats a whole lot of weight hanging off the back of something so rotten! lol[/quote][/quote]




That's only on the surface when they go they bulge in all the double skinned areas (much like the rails on commycoupers LT).

It's amazing what these will take, those holes at the end of the chassis just behind the spring hanger are where the factory bolt about a metre of chassis extension on, then customers hang tail lifts etc off the end of that and these seem to survive daily use, Dez's bed may look a bit tail heavy but most of the payload weight will be at the front and when loaded the rear wheels of the car will also be a long way forward of the rear of the bed.

Thought it was getting better for this, then along comes annoyedtaxi!

Fixed. Deffo no malice, it is what it is.

You only learn from your mistakes in life



If I read this right - plot twist incoming

Been waiting a while to post this one, but today this happened-


Selling a car like this is hard work. It mostly attracts dreamers who think they’re gangstas, but have no money. Only some clapped out 5 series or similar for swaps.
The swaps and P/X list I was offered for this thing is basically a lesson in cars no one wants to buy.
Eventually It went on a P/X to a local guy who knows his yanks and was super pleased with how Straight it was.

So in a step that partially sideways a well as forwards, as well as some cash I now have this-


It’s a 1979 1/2 ton shortbed fleetside Chevy C10.
292ci straight six, th350, 10 bolt axle.
All the front end sheetmetal is brand new but for a 80-up model. It came with a full set of correct year front end panels, only needing minor work. The cab is super solid, the bed less so. Floor and one bedside are rough.
The chassis and running gear is mint. Sandblasted, powder coated, poly bush everything, stainless everything.

It has some parts missing, most notable of which is the windscreen. Nothing for these is that expensive though so if it doesn’t sell quickly I’ll buy up all the bits and put it together.
Biggest factor for taking it as a p/x is trucks are usually a much easier sell than cars, and it’s price is lower in actual monetary terms, so theoretically a wider market.
But tbh if I put it together and end up using it, I won’t be disappointed.