drop bed vs straight bed

[Lee Alessi]

pros/cons?

there has to be a con on the drop side, or they would all be drop side.

whats a drop bed worth? i think i want a drop bed for versatility. can the truck be operated with the sides down???

 

[Recovry4x4]

Here's my take! The fixed side beds are more suitable for shifting loads and maybe even hauling sand or gravel. The drop side covers everything else. You probably could move the truck about with the sides down but I wouldn't, wspecially with troop seats. If you have a few extra grunts the sides are easily removed too to make a true flatbed. makes it really easy to sideload with a forklift.

 

[Longhunter7]

Lee!

Check our sponsor, Saturn Surplus!

They have them listed as take-offs, $500.00

Great people, great stuff! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up"><img src="speech/icon_speech_yes.gif" border="0">

 

[Lee Alessi]

thats what i needed. i bought PLENTY from saturn on my m715 resto/mod/repower

so if i can get one <500 LOCAL im good

 

[Recovry4x4]

Hey Lee, ever chop down that deuce seat for the 715? Also, check with Ted Hils in Midland AL. I'll bet he has beds and is closer than Saturn. Not trying to disuade anybody from buying from Saturn, they're great. Shipping a bed could get expensive!

 

[deuce or die]

When you just fold down the sides and leave them on the truck they touch the sidewalls of the tires. But it might work if you had singles on the rear rather than duals like mine. The dueces look wicked with the sides off the bed-it looks more like a semi.

 

[Lee Alessi]

i sure did! i cant thank you enough!!!!
<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/ltalessi/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-07-10%2010.33.55%20-0700/Image-BAACD5EFD29611D8.jpg" border="0">

 

[Longhunter7]

Lee!

I took a look at you M-715 with the link!

That is is one sharp, tough, bestest looking truck that I've seen in awhile! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_thumzup.gif" alt="Thumb Up"><img src="speech/icon_speech_yes.gif" border="0">

All the hard work that you put into it really shows!

Guys, check out his ride! <img src="emoticons/icon_smile_cool.gif" alt="Cool">

 

[Dieselsmoke]

Cons on the dropside, that tailgate is heavy!!!!!!! I'm a big guy, but that tailgate weighs a ton more than the standard fixed side.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Thanks Lee! I'm so glad that kids get to sit on that seat rather than it rusting into the ground in my back 40. It looks so factory in there. I haven't been over at the 715 forum in a long time, whats going on over there?

 

[Lee Alessi]

we are trying to get a field exercises set up again (2006 camping/trailriding)

trying to decide if i want the deuce im looking at, or a 5 ton instead.....

no big changes at the zone.....

<img src="http://delta4x4club.com/forum/uploads/post-4-1102335377.jpg" border="0">

<img src="http://delta4x4club.com/forum/uploads/post-4-1102336141.jpg" border="0">

 

[Recovry4x4]

Thats a nice looking deuce it that's the one you're thinking about. I used to be all about 5 tons. Still love them but everything is too heavy to work on. At least I can lift or drag most deuce parts. I've also found that deuces fit real nice in the parking lot of the local gorcery compared to the 5 tons. Here's another way off consideration. When I had my M54A2C, seems like everybody wanted to borrow it to haul something. With the deuce nobody asks anymore when they find out it has no power steering. One friend wanted to use it so I let him test drive it. He was back in a minute complaining about the steering. I forgot that I had lowered the tires to 25PSI. Low tire pressure makes them an animal to steer. I got lucky on that one!

 

[Lee Alessi]

i think ill stick with the deuce. thats me driving in the rain!!

nothing on the truck scares me. im debating the drop bed...

how hard is it to seal the windshield frames?? looked like rubber seals to me, and boy did i get wet!

im also debating putting a soft top on it,....

 

[Recovry4x4]

Lots of folks don't but I love soft tops. Sealing the windshields can be difficult. I have a sack of rags that I keep tucking in when going down the road. I've never tried new gaskets but I've seen them on Ebay. Some guys just tape them in bad weather. Dropsides have their place but I have no preference. I never sideload with a forklift anyway so no real advantage for me. Something looks out of proportion on that truck. Does it have 11.00X20 tires?

 

[Lee Alessi]

yeah, he put those on. he said if i dont want them he will put 900's back. i like the 1100's.

any reason NOT to use 1100's? he also has 12.5x20 michelin xl's.... so super single is a thought.... i need to find some info on pros and cons of tire swaps too.....

the drop side is interesting to me from a utilitarian standpoint......

i love softops too. i drive the 715 at 75mph on the interstate with the top off and windshield DOWN.... wind in my face, sunglasses on... like a motorcycle, only MUCH safer!

if i get the deuce, ill get a pic of it tooling down the interstate like that

 

[Monster Man]

in shopping, the only con I found was price and rarity. Not sure why they all didn't come from the factory though, complexity of manufacturing maybe?

The only advantage I see is that you can side load with a forklift. I don't have one, so it's no difference to me. Either way they are a bear to load compared to a standard pickup. I've been doing a lot of hauling for work. Normally I can load the whole bed up with these cor-plas signs we use in about an hour, it usually takes double that to unload!

 

[Recovry4x4]

There are stories both ways in regards to 11.00 tires. Some say they won't fot on a deuce. We both know better. The biggest concern would be the gap between tires at the bottom. If they rub and get hot, expect tire failure.

 

[Lee Alessi]

that picture clearly shows 1100x20!