The cost of a flatbed depends on many factors, you will need plenty of tools and equipment and labor to get the flatbed installed on your truck.
The best thing about installing a flatbed is that you can do it yourself without professional help.
If you want to save money without wasting it on the installation charge, then DIY is the way to go.
This article will provide you with all the information related to flatbeds and how you can install them without any issue.
How Much Does It Cost To Build a Flatbed? The cost of building a flatbed will wind you up with $450 to $500. It all depends on the source of the purchase and the quality of the material you want to have on your flatbed.
These two will be the biggest influencers on the money or the cost of the purchase.
The trailer lights will cost around $70, the hardware or paint will swing around $30 to $40, lumbers can be bought for $90, and finally the stock metal for $250 or more.
Table of Contents
Can you build it by yourself?
These are all the materials you will be needing to build a perfect flatbed for your vehicle.
To install the bed you have to follow simple steps to get it done without any issue. If you do not like the idea of doing it by yourself, then you can take it to a professional to carry out the operation.
They will charge money for the labor work, increasing the overall cost of building a flatbed.
If You are okay with spending a few hundred dollars more on top of the material cost, then you can go with the route of professional servicing.
Steps for installation Flatbed
But if you are looking to save money, then you can do the installation by yourself without spending more money in return.
● First, you will need to remove the taillights. Some of the trucks might not have the taillights, if that is the case, then you can skip this step.
● If you have any old bed installed, then you need to remove it with 6 bolts attached to the bed. You can use various tools to remove the bolts. If time is the issue here, then you can cut off the bed.
● Remove the plastic bed liner, then perform some maintenance on the frame.
● Now comes the craft part, here you will need to cut all the metals to their desired dimensions.
● Level the new bed in place over the frame, then check the distance between the rubber stop. It is important to know that the bottom of the flatbed should be greater than the distance between the stop and axle. This will stop the tires from rubbing on the new flatbed.
This is a short version of what needs to be done when installing a flatbed.
You can easily find a more complete guide on the installation on many different websites or videos online.
You will find a more extensive guide on what needs to be done first and the measurement that will help you create more accurate handiwork for our flatbed installation.
In short, the flatbed installation completely falls down to the user.
They take the complicated approach for flatbed insulation if they are looking to save money in the long run.
On the other side, you have a professional look over, as they will carry out all the heavy lifting of installation but you will get left with a heavy bill at the end. If you are planning to build it, then it might take you over a week to do it.
Buying a flatbed or building it?
If you’re confused about buying a flatbed or building it, then you need to look at this subject based on your preferences.
People who have to build the flatbed ended up spending over $1000, as they switch from decent material to high-end.
The price of the flatbed building can be done pretty cheaply if they switch on different inexpensive materials.
Many people like the idea of building one, as the cost will depend on the choices you make during the building process.
The entire building process can take a lot of time and effort. If it is your first time building a flatbed, you can spend more as the process continues for a long time.
For many people the price gets the highest priority over quality, when you look at pricing, building a flatbed will cost under $500.
The material that you choose for the flatbed will greatly affect the price.
As the price of steel will have either a negative or positive effect on the overall cost.
Is There Any Alternative Method Of Buying a Flatbed?
The decision comes down to the user. If the price of steel is higher on your location.
Then you can expect the overall price to touch the higher ground.
The cost of building a flatbed will be at a much higher level if the material is expensive.
Here it is a better solution would be to look for a flatbed on craigslist or any other used eCommerce website.
Here, you will find plenty of products for a lower price than the building cost. You will see listings under homemade and manufactured categories.
Both of them will provide you with a collection of flatbeds that will suit your budget and requirement. If the material price is lower, you can opt out of building one by yourself.
Conclusion
The price of building a flatbed will depend on the user. If you have decent welding skills and the fabrication room, you will be able to build one at a cheaper price than switching to a commercial model. The stock model will be a far cheaper opinion if you decide to pay someone to weld it for you. If you value your time and don’t want to go through the work yourself, you need to hire a professional to carry out the task.
