Hello everyone, I have decided to put a flatbed on my '04.5 Ram 2500 along with a Fourwheel Popup flatbed Hawk model. I am very torn between aluminum or steel. I know aluminum is light and strong, but is hard to work with if I want to do customization later on down the road. Steel on the other hand is heavier, but I can work and weld steel..... Is aluminum really worth it?
Steel or aluminum flatbed
- Thread starter NoloJS
- Start date
I ♥ Taco
New member
That sounds like the conversation I have in my head all the time....
My $.02: if you do not have a clear plan for what you need to do down the road in terms of modifications, then perhaps go the Al route. It's lightweight, robust, and scores well on the "purdy" factor. There is always the fallback of getting someone else to weld the Al in the future or finding a way to learn and DIY.
I often find myself in the same predicament. I try to be real about the things I really need down the road and not fantasize about all the cool S&^% I might do if I hit the jackpot.
that's probably not worth $0.02.......
Good luck.
My $.02: if you do not have a clear plan for what you need to do down the road in terms of modifications, then perhaps go the Al route. It's lightweight, robust, and scores well on the "purdy" factor. There is always the fallback of getting someone else to weld the Al in the future or finding a way to learn and DIY.
I often find myself in the same predicament. I try to be real about the things I really need down the road and not fantasize about all the cool S&^% I might do if I hit the jackpot.
that's probably not worth $0.02.......
Good luck.
IdaSHO
IDACAMPER
There are benefits both ways.
IMO, I stayed with steel for the reasons you mentioned. Repairs, modifications, and changes are quick and easy with the tools I have. I'm not set up for aluminum.
The biggest pro=steel for me actually IS the additional weight.
My truck is a multipurpose, and gets used every day. Without the camper loaded, the heavier bed settles the suspension a bit better than a lighter bed would, as well as provides better traction in the slick stuff.
IMO, I stayed with steel for the reasons you mentioned. Repairs, modifications, and changes are quick and easy with the tools I have. I'm not set up for aluminum.
The biggest pro=steel for me actually IS the additional weight.
My truck is a multipurpose, and gets used every day. Without the camper loaded, the heavier bed settles the suspension a bit better than a lighter bed would, as well as provides better traction in the slick stuff.
What's wrong with (blind) riveting alu (and perhaps using an adhesive too, before riveting)?
It works well on aeroplanes.
Edit: And you can repair it easily in the field. Welds, pfft! ;-)
Edit 2: I see you mean the actual bed. Well, if it's some stringers or some such you think needs welds, you can do well with bolts. For thinner stuff, I still think alu and rivets will be better overall. As for "settling" the truck. That is merely newspeak for "putting more weight on the suspension, and thereby lowering my real load bearing capacity". Think about it: If you put so much weight on your suspension before you actually load you truck up that it makes use of, say, 40 percent of the capabilities of the suspension, and you'd only use, say, 30 percent by using lighter materials, that is a saving of 25%, meaning less wear, less heat, and with a load, it might mean the difference between shocks bottoming out or not.
It works well on aeroplanes.
Edit: And you can repair it easily in the field. Welds, pfft! ;-)
Edit 2: I see you mean the actual bed. Well, if it's some stringers or some such you think needs welds, you can do well with bolts. For thinner stuff, I still think alu and rivets will be better overall. As for "settling" the truck. That is merely newspeak for "putting more weight on the suspension, and thereby lowering my real load bearing capacity". Think about it: If you put so much weight on your suspension before you actually load you truck up that it makes use of, say, 40 percent of the capabilities of the suspension, and you'd only use, say, 30 percent by using lighter materials, that is a saving of 25%, meaning less wear, less heat, and with a load, it might mean the difference between shocks bottoming out or not.
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The thing to remember about aluminum. Its not if it will crack, it is when. A alum bed that has seen road miles is hard to weld. A crack collects anything thrown off the tires or road. You can spend as long as you want trying to clean that crack. I can tell you it will not be a single pass weld. You won't get it clean enough period. I have spent to many hours welding aluminum OTR dump bodys and Fruehauf blow off tankers. You use the first pass to clean the crack. Then any other passes are to tie everything back together.
If you buy the lightest built aluminum flat bed. When empty be ready to remove some leaf springs to improve the ride. The light weight beds weight less than a P/U bed does. If you have ever driven a P/U without a bed for a short distance you know what I mean.
Finding someone to do mods on a used aluminum F/B might be problem. The same problem with the not getting used aluminum clean enough for a good one pass weld. A lot of shops don't touch those type of jobs.
Don't get me wrong I do love the looks of a aluminum F/B. The maintenance and upkeep can get expensive over time. That is the reason I went with a steel F/B.
If you buy the lightest built aluminum flat bed. When empty be ready to remove some leaf springs to improve the ride. The light weight beds weight less than a P/U bed does. If you have ever driven a P/U without a bed for a short distance you know what I mean.
Finding someone to do mods on a used aluminum F/B might be problem. The same problem with the not getting used aluminum clean enough for a good one pass weld. A lot of shops don't touch those type of jobs.
Don't get me wrong I do love the looks of a aluminum F/B. The maintenance and upkeep can get expensive over time. That is the reason I went with a steel F/B.
escadventure
Adventurer
Have you looked into a UTE flatbed kit? We absolutely love ours.Easy to install, work with, repair. Super lightweight and strong. It's the standard for overlanders in some parts of the world.
