I don't have a flatbed...BUT..... want to add flatbed features

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/willeo6709/image1_zpslrwqd4vk.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/willeo6709/image2_zpsarmaxyik.jpg

we came up with this. 3/4 inch steel round bar spaced up for hook clearance, " washer plate" bridging the steel support channels and spreading the load on the wood floor. There isa piece of steel angle under the box covering 2 floor channels and 3/8 all thread holding it all together. I figure this will work. this is my first air brake vehicle I slid 10,000 lbs to the front of the box and did not do the box any favors, the plywood lower liner was smashed up pretty good but I was never able to do this in the hydraulic brake truck I just sold. I think these are a place to start.

 

While we discussed lags/ deck screws we sometimes ship just tubs of bent steel tube that are mostly air.... and adding/ removing nails every time we load will be troublesome.... I can't see the box floor standing up to that for many years.

The truck is 2006 Pete 335 so it should be worth another box at some point. I bought this truck used so I want to run the box it has for a while. If I ever buy a new box its nice to know the options available.

We ran many years with a 2000 f350 ford with an 8' flatbed but 4000 lbs on it and it squatted like a sumo wrestler. It seved us many years but loading ground level in rain and snow sucks ( nice in warm sunny weather). The f350 only let me down twice, stripped torque converter input shaft and blown front trans seal in 162 k miles