Truck Bed


Last Changed 5/8/2011
Original Plans Headache Rack Cabinet Hitch Location Temporary Bumper The Bed Bumper Add-on Bed Wiring Hitch Cover	We had a bed made for *Red Rover* so that he qualified as a truck instead of a tractor in Maryland. By definition a truck with a bed can carry a load while a tractor can only pull a load. The fuel tanks for our VNL 770 are mounted back, almost to the rear wheels. This helps the weight distribution when we are bob-tailing. But the tanks do block an area that is normally used for storage boxes. We have storage boxes installed behind the wheel and a storage locker mounted behind the cab.
Original Plans
	For the bed, we wanted to have something like we have seen. Just two storage boxes behind the wheels and a flat panel covering the wheels.

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We eventually had to have a more substantial platform bed to satisfy the State of Maryland for truck licensing.
Headache Rack Cabinet
	In the picture above, you will note that Volvo has twin exhaust stacks and a locker between them. *Red Rover* has only one stack.
	We found a deal on the Pro-Tech cab closet, and bought it. We had to figure how to fit it in. We had to mount it behind the stack since the clearance was too small to have the two side-by-side.
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	Here is the headache rack cabinet installed.
	To clear the exhaust stack, the cabinet is just up to the fairings.
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Hitch Location
	Bob Speckman set his hitch between the frame rails for a lower height.
	We placed our hitch behind the crossmember so we did not have to cut it.
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Temporary Bumper
	We had 42" of frame rails sticking out from behind the wheels. In the mirrors, we could only see the rear fenders. We added a temporary bumper to help in defining where the end of the truck is. The bumper is made from a 2x4. some slotted steel and a set of trailer taillights. The bumper is not suited for bumper protection but it does show where the end of the truck is.
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The Bed
	It was a challenge to find a truck body fabricator in the Maryland area. Many of the old truck body shops have turned into prefabricated bed and body installers. We finally found Intercon Truck Equipment who still does fabrication.
	The headache rack cabinet was taken off so that it can be remounted to the new bed rails.
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	The strips of wood will provide elastic tension to the U-bolts that will attach the bed to the frame.
	The bed is being welded up in the upside down position to allow better welds between the cross members and the long sills.
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	Note the gap where the headache rack cabinet will be placed.

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	There are strips on the outside of the stake pockets which will provide for tie-down points.
	The surface of the bed is a little higher than I would have preferred, but it is a compromise between wheel clearances and the surface of the hitch plate.
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	The light panel is shaping up.
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	It is hard to see but the back plate is 1/2" steel for strength and weight.

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	The ICC bumper and bumper hitch.
	The completed ICC bumper and hitch assembly.
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	The storage boxes are mounted. I would have preferred to mount the cabinets a couple of inches higher for ground clearance but there were bed rail gussets in the way and that relates to bed strength.

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	Here are the brackets made from extruded channel that Intercon fabricated to support the storage boxes.

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	The headache rack cabinet back in place. A better end view. It is mounted so that it's step is flush with the bed.

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	The bed is done.
	The wood sides are just to push the point that *Red Rover* should be considered a truck, not tractor, by the state.
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	A close-up of the ASL (American SuperLite) clear LED lamps. They are really bright with Red LEDs for the Tail/Stop lamps and ICC width marker Lamps and Amber LEDs for the turn signals.
	We put the same lights in the headache rack cabinet.
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	There are a pair of 24"x24"x36" storage boxes under the bed.
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Bumper Add-on
	The ICC bumper the bed fabricator made was okay but we wanted a little more. We added a 3"x3" square tube to the underside of the ICC bumper and put beehive marker lights on the ends. This addition protects the bottom edge of the storage boxes. This addition also gives an indication of the back corners of the truck that had been hidden by the fender flares.
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Bed Wiring see Bed Wiring
Hitch Cover
	Most of the time we would not care about covering *Red Rover's* hitch when we are doing overnight stops. But we wanted a cover for the times we spend several weeks idle. The cover is a little for protection of the hitch and a lot for looks.
	Our friend, Ron Knight (Sibernut) made a cover for us. The installation was a little hard because of the bed construction. *Red Rover's* bed is made out of 3/16" and 1/2" steel. Some of the holes I tried to drill to fasten snaps were too close to the weld seams and the welds are a lot harder than the steel. Once I understood that problem, I positioned the snaps farther away.
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