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Taking the twist out of a flatbed?

dave_dj1

dave_dj1

Red Skull Member
Joined
May 23, 2020
Member Number
1290
Messages
1,084
Loc
Jackson NY
I picked up a used steel flatbed that has been sitting on a pile of dirt for a few years and it has a twist to it like a cheap cookie sheet. Right now I have pass side blocked between the sub frame and dumpbed with a ratchet strap pulling down on the drivers side, if I release the strap it will spring up a good 6"
Will it ever come back? I am in the process of building a head board which will have 14 gauge sheet on the lower 11" to match the double 2x6 sides that I am going to make for it.
I am going to weld the headboard to the bed and use some pieces as gussets to secure it.
Will the headboard be enough to keep it flat or will it come back in time? Or is it scrap? The top part of the headboard will be #4 rebar in the shape of spider webs.
Thanks in advance.

ETA: Pics
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It's metal so yeah anything can be fixed. Easy enough to mount one end and use a binder on the high corner and block on the low to pull it passed the flat point so it springs back flat.

If it pulls flat easily I'd just bolt it down flat and build the headboard to keep it from diamonding again.
 
I don't understand. Weld or bolt it to that frame, done. :confused:
 
Now that I looked enough to realize it's a dump bed I'd just mount the thing and use the power of the dump to twist it back. Chain the high corner to the frame and hit the switch. Then weld the headache rack back on.
 
DWT said:
Now that I looked enough to realize it's a dump bed I'd just mount the thing and use the power of the dump to twist it back. Chain the high corner to the frame and hit the switch. Then weld the headache rack back on.
Click to expand...

As i said, I have it blocked and pushed down the opposite side with my tractor, it just springs back. I have it about perfect right now with the ratchet strap and block to weld the headache rack on.
 
dave_dj1 said:
As i said, I have it blocked and pushed down the opposite side with my tractor, it just springs back. I have it about perfect right now with the ratchet strap and block to weld the headache rack on.
Click to expand...

You're dealing with spring back, like I mentioned in my first post, you need to bend passed flat to make it spring back to where you want it. Might try tacking the headache racks and header panel on to see if it holds flat, it might be ok.
 
DWT said:
You're dealing with spring back, like I mentioned in my first post, you need to bend passed flat to make it spring back to where you want it. Might try tacking the headache racks and header panel on to see if it holds flat, it might be ok.
Click to expand...


Just to be clear I pushed it down well past level, almost touching the frame as it sits. I haven't released the ratchet today but I may try tomorrow if it warms up any. It's only 15 right now...bbbbrrrrrrrrr
 
dave_dj1 said:
As i said, I have it blocked and pushed down the opposite side with my tractor, it just springs back. I have it about perfect right now with the ratchet strap and block to weld the headache rack on.
Click to expand...

What does the bottom look like. Someone may be able to to give better advice on what to cut and re weld with pictures of that.

Do you know if it was ever flat to begin with?
 
dave_dj1 said:
Just to be clear I pushed it down well past level, almost touching the frame as it sits. I haven't released the ratchet today but I may try tomorrow if it warms up any. It's only 15 right now...bbbbrrrrrrrrr
Click to expand...

15*? Yea fuck that, it can wait. :laughing:
 
Do you have space to weld a cross piece underneath like a torsion box?
 
It's built like any other flat bed. Two rails running front to back with 3" channel cross pieces and a 3.5" flat stock on the outer edge.
I don't think I can add anything underneath as the cylinder will be in the way.
I don't know if it was in fact ever flat to begin with. It is quite old. They guy I got it from took it off to put a mason dump on, he still has the truck. Looks to be a late 80's body style.
At least it doesn't take a lot of force to tweak it back so I'm hopeful the head board will help.
I want removable sides but I suppose that's not etched in stone yet...lol
 
another vote for "you're gonna have to pull it past flat by probably more than it was bent in order to get it to sit flat"
also, the headache rack will not hold very much twist without it being tied into the sides of the box

ETA: do one fixed side and one folding so you can still fork pallets onto it from the one side, but it's still got a good bit of rigidity from the one fixed side tied into all the c-channel crossmembers
 
Secure it as desired, cut, heat, weld, brace. Beer, bacon, weld again, don’t build a cheesy head rack.
 
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