Advice on homemade steel bed

I'm planning on building an offroad-style bed to replace the one that rotted off my 2004 tundra, I have a ton of 2" square steel tube (1/8" sidewall) that I was planning on building it with and I was wondering if there's anything I should consider in the design before I put it together. I'm not very familiar with common recovery equipment, or methods of mounting storage or equipment. If anyone has recommendations for changes I should make or things I should accommodate for I would be super interested in hearing them.

 

Is that roll bar supposed to be functional? If so, it'll fold like a lawn chair without some triangulation. Put tubes in an X pattern behind the cab. Take the joint out of the rear bars and run them straight into the main hoop.

Those fenders and the brackets for the tail lights would get ripped off on a tree if I was driving. Or I'd snag my elbow or crack my head on the corner of that thing. Maybe bring the lights in a little and cut the bracket more at a 45 degree angle down to the bed floor. Maybe ditch the fender and get mudflaps.

I'd probably build a traditional flat deck, or atleast take the angled part out of your design to reduce the amount of work. But I'm pretty lazy. I think your design looks good.

 

this is exactly why I asked because I wouldn't have thought to brace the roll bar and I never would have thought of the rest of that. thanks so much man

 

I think this guy did a good job
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLfYwVMBLpM

 

here is a quick sketch of what I meant about the triangulation and tail lights. Maybe drop the sides down and integrate them into the fenders with mudflaps

This is a good design too with the bob tail and boat tail. Better departure angle (but shorter bed) and more clearance on the corners. Pretty simple. Definitely more offroad oriented and less utility. Angled sides and instead of flat. Not as easy to mount tool boxes or something along those lines. I guess it depends on what you will really use the bed for.

Remember steel is heavy lol.

 

Name checks out.

 

I lied. The name doesn’t check out. That’s a lot of work to help out a complete stranger. Good man! Although you’re not staying true to your ethos.


In all seriousness he’s right you are going to need some bracing and you might want cover or round off some of the sharper edges that are going to bite you.

 

Why not add some gear racks for stuff (suicide jack, traction boards etc...). Maybe add a mount for a winch, some jerry cans, the usual.
Go Rhino Accessory Gear Plate Kit | RealTruck

 

Dude thank you so much for that you really didn't have to sketch it out for me but I appreciate it so much. gonna do a little redesigning today and this was super useful.

 

that's a super good idea. ill look up a list of good gear to have and try to make room for it on the bed.