Flatbed with removable bedsides?

[zerobalance]

I've spend a good amount of time on google and searching around and have not seen what I intend to do, so bouncing some ideas. I'm building a bed for this thing:

It's on an 09 super duty chassis, which is about 7" longer than a stock 79 chassis, so a regular dentside shortbed won't fit. I bought some bedsides and a tailgate for dirtcheap off marketplace, longbed, so I can cut them down to fit.

I thought about using a super duty bed and reskinning it, but clean beds are worth too damn much and i don't want to work on a rusty one. My current idea is to build a "flatbed" with wheelwells to keep the floor low, and make the bedsides removable, since I have a pretty high track record of fucking up truck beds. On google, the only thing I come up with is stuff like this, which is cool, but more than I need for this truck.

Thinking a bed like this, then build light frames for the sides to drop into a notch or something to support it. This isn't an everyday work truck, but I am putting a goose hitch on it, and it probably will se some hauling duty, so usable is important.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

Sooo you want sheetmetal or no?

 

[zerobalance]

Yes, like it says, build a flatbed style with the stock bedsides removable.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

Yes, like it says, build a flatbed style with the stock bedsides removable.

would you hang them using like stake pockets?

 

[zerobalance]

Something similar, would have to bolt them some way to stop them from rattling.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

Another idea would be like the trailer jack method of tube inside tube.

 

[Bogus One]

Call me an idiot, but WTF is this for?

 

[u2slow]

I think that's a storage rack for hitches

 

[WaterH]

How about flat bed with fold down sides.

View attachment IMG_1769.webp

Bonus points if you make it so the sides can be locked down, up or suspended straight out for a bigger flat bed. It might not be legal, but nobody going to hassle you for some trips.

 

[M92PV4U]

Call me an idiot, but WTF is this for?

You never had a trailer in a tight spot and you had to pull it sideways?

 

[M92PV4U]

I don't think that you're are going to be able to make the bed look right in either configuration.

 

[PAE]

There are military truck beds that fit that description.

 

[maveric]

Maybe look at the skins on the trophy truck /chase truck builds. They are obviously tube, but they are using a sheetmetal/fiberglass bedside. You could do something similiar.
3 pics I have randomly saved for my Tacoma build (someday) to give you an idea.