Enthusiast III
Hi all, I am at a point in my build where I am deciding which way I want to go. What do you think is the best for the trail a flat bed with a bunch of Tie Down spots or a Medium sized truck bed?
Truck Bed or Flat Bed - whats better for the trail?
- Thread starter stark-in-the-wild
- Start date
I have no experience with a flat bed but I would like to take advantage of my chance to say "It depends!" 
What kind of trips, trails and equipment do you take with you?
What kind of trips, trails and equipment do you take with you?
Enthusiast III
Yeah thats what I figure. So was trying to gauge what peoples thoughts are on the pros and cons of a flat bed mostly since Ive never had a flat bed myself.I have no experience with a flat bed but I would like to take advantage of my chance to say "It depends!"
What kind of trips, trails and equipment do you take with you?
I keep my gear in big plastic tubs usually. I figure I could strap down to a flat bed and have extra space to work with if i needed anything else along the way. I also have a RTT, hi-lift jack, and the basic essentials. But I'm leaning towards a bed just because for day to day it seems more practical.
Truck bed, maybe with a bed topper/shell would offer some security and weather protection but make things harder to access. I can see the appeal of a flat bed for general utility/access but I'd be concerned about leaving my loaded rig unattended.
That being said, having a flat bed with a serious drop on cabinet or a whole expedition box like those Australian exped rigs would be pretty amazing. Sorry, now I'm daydreaming at your expense.
That being said, having a flat bed with a serious drop on cabinet or a whole expedition box like those Australian exped rigs would be pretty amazing. Sorry, now I'm daydreaming at your expense.
Enthusiast III
Oh yeah a set up like that would be awesome! Ive definitely tried to find ways of making that work but im afraid my welding skills arent good enough to do that myself.
Funny enough whenever I think of going on trips I always forget about the inevitable grocery story or walmart run on the way out so the security point is one i always overlook. That just sealed the deal for the truck bed
Funny enough whenever I think of going on trips I always forget about the inevitable grocery story or walmart run on the way out so the security point is one i always overlook. That just sealed the deal for the truck bed
Advocate III
If you’re going to be using it as a daily driver I’d probably go with a truck bed for that added security and maneuverability, assuming you’d be going for a full size full width flat bed.
I do love the utilization of the flat bed with a conex box or “camper rig” that you could take on and off and the modularity it’d give you. Could even have someone fab on a rail system for your boxes for better tie die and a removable platform that would sit over them for the RTT.
Regressing from that dream, either will be fantastic and I love overlanding in my full-size. Cheers!
I do love the utilization of the flat bed with a conex box or “camper rig” that you could take on and off and the modularity it’d give you. Could even have someone fab on a rail system for your boxes for better tie die and a removable platform that would sit over them for the RTT.
Regressing from that dream, either will be fantastic and I love overlanding in my full-size. Cheers!
Member III
Also going with it depends. If you have the payload headroom, I think a flatbed with fuel and water tanks in that no-man's land under the platform between frame and wheels with cabinets fore and aft of the wheels is the ideal setup but they typically come in the 500-600lb range.
Pickup box and a cap will give you more storage space while a flatbed will give you better clearances. My preference is a truck bed for my trail/overland rig and I plan on doing a flatbed single cab pickup for more difficult, short trip stuff.
Pickup box and a cap will give you more storage space while a flatbed will give you better clearances. My preference is a truck bed for my trail/overland rig and I plan on doing a flatbed single cab pickup for more difficult, short trip stuff.
Givemethewillys
Rank I
Contributor III
My truck has a flatbed, and it has its tradeoffs. While it is wider than a normal truck bed, and will be a great roomy platform for the eventual camper I build, it's not the most convenient for storing your gear.
With a flatbed, you have to tie down EVERYTHING. And when you tie things down, it comes loose. My last trip out, my buddy and I had to backtrack over a mile up a steep and bumpy trail, picking up firewood rounds every 30 yards. Apparently it's hard to tie down a stack of firewood tightly.
I now ride with sideboards on the truck, so even if things come loose, they won't slide off the side. I love my flatbed, especially for unloading from the side, but there are tradeoffs.
A regular bed is easy to just throw stuff in the back, and with a topper it's secure.
With a flatbed, you have to tie down EVERYTHING. And when you tie things down, it comes loose. My last trip out, my buddy and I had to backtrack over a mile up a steep and bumpy trail, picking up firewood rounds every 30 yards. Apparently it's hard to tie down a stack of firewood tightly.
I now ride with sideboards on the truck, so even if things come loose, they won't slide off the side. I love my flatbed, especially for unloading from the side, but there are tradeoffs.
A regular bed is easy to just throw stuff in the back, and with a topper it's secure.
I've had lots of pickups, I'd rate a flat deck as waay more useful, definitely more adaptable, and way tougher.
Side, like a stake body make a flat deck more easy to secure a load.
Side, like a stake body make a flat deck more easy to secure a load.
Im thinking about swapping out to a flat bed style and build a rack for the RTT also. Thats when the bed gets all beat up from the trails and rocks. All my gear is stored in bins when i go out on the regular i haul my my bikes and since my trucks lifted having open sides would make it easy.
