2024 F-350 aluminum bed

[Oyster9]

Looks great - I am jealous of your craftsmanship skills. I am in the long-term planning stages for an aluminum subframe on a Super Duty, topped with a composite camper. A few questions:
- What is the deck height versus the original truck bed? It looks like you kept it very close to the stock height.
- The Super Duty does not have much upward rear suspension travel. How did you determine how high your wheel arches needed to be? I am curious if the wheel arches were eliminated, how much higher would the deck height need to be?

Looking forward yo your continued progress.

Thanks carterd,
very close to stock height.
Ford has publications for wheel travel and other up fitter guidelines.
I made these arches couple inches taller than recommended for tire chain clearance and suspension or tire size changes.
I would think the deck height would be at least 6" taller without arches

 

[Oyster9]

Worked on rear rack design and a rear skirt today.

 

[Oyster9]

Offset the rear skirt to gain some toe space for climbing up on the back

 

[Oyster9]

Small details
Trailer connector and spare tire winch cover let in.
Cut a couple windows for back up lights and mounted them.
Need to find something for a license plate light.

 

[rruff]

Looks great. How are you attaching it to the frame of the truck? Any pivots?

Shouldn't need pivots on a newer F350.

 

[Oyster9]

After a couple days of thought, I have an idea for the rear rack.
I am wanting a fast, easy, no tool for installing or removing design.
To start I cut a taper on 2 sides of the uprights then welded them back together.
Next up, making tapered sleeves that match the uprights, that will be let in and welded to the rear tool boxes.
In theory the tapers should make zero lash and be non-binding going in or out.

 

[Oyster9]

Welded up the tapered pockets for the rear rack and cut channels for the endgate.
Also laid out the mortises in the side boxes for recessing the pockets and channels.

 

[Oyster9]

Made a drill guide for cutting the latch mortises today

 

[Oyster9]

Welded up two more door frames

 

[rruff]

Worked on rear rack design and a rear skirt today.

I thought you were going to make this to accept a standard camper, but the rear rack would preclude that unless it's removable. Do you have a diagram of the final result... or prefer the slow reveal... or are you just deciding as you go?

Looks awesome, BTW!

 

[Oyster9]

I thought you were going to make this to accept a standard camper, but the rear rack would preclude that unless it's removable. Do you have a diagram of the final result... or prefer the slow reveal... or are you just deciding as you go?

Looks awesome, BTW!

Thanks rruff,
The rear rack is removable.
Sorry, diagram is in my mind.
It is a simple u shape.

 

[Oyster9]

Got the tapered rack pocket and endgate channel welded today.
Also, cut and drilled clips for cable stops on the doors.
Last, remounted left upper box, that gives a good idea of the overall look.

 

[rruff]

Sorry, diagram is in my mind.

That's how I usually do it too...

 

[Oyster9]

Started on the end gate today.
Yellow cedar with red cedar cleats

 

[Oyster9]

Finished up the end gate and mocked up the rear rack today