Tie downs on wood flatbed

Question

I have a wood flatbed with a 1/8" steel that covers it. The edges of the flatbed are 2 layers of steel (edge layer steel and the steel that covers the entire bed). So it's about 1/4" thick, but maybe 2" wide. Is this where i should put my eye bolts? I'm just wondering if the approx 1/4" of steel is better than the mounting it to the flatbed, which would be about 1/8"steel, 2" wood and a giant washer underneath about 1/4"x5"x5". I have long and short eyebolts for both scenarios, I just don't know enough about how flatbeds are made to know where the strongest point would be. My camper is less than 3000 lbs fully loaded.

truckcamperbob · Answer

I will try to get some pictures of it. It is a very well made, factory/custom made bed. I say factory/custom because it is not homemade but also not something you just order online. It is 11 ft long and was made with a lift on the side. Truck is 2011 F450 200"wb

It is like a regular wood platform and steel framed flatbed with a steel headache rack. but it has a 1/8" sheet of steel that covers the entire top so the wood is protected. the wood is in really good shape. The steel also covers stake bed pockets but i'm not going to use those because they are not in a good position for the turnbuckles.

I know it doesn't mean much without the pictures so I will get them asap.

grit_dog · Answer

Bob, unlike you, we can’t even see your flatbed so we would have NO idea what is best/safest.
Sounds like it’s an old/home made/modified/maybe decrepit flatbed if it has solid plate over a wooden deck. Never seen one made like that. And it makes zero sense unless a wood deck was modified.

grit_dog · Answer

It matters mostly that whatever you’re anchoring to is well anchored to the truck. Wood decks aren’t designed for uplift which is what the tiedowns are doing when they keep the camper from bouncing up off the bed. So consider that. &nbsp;Unless you can anchor the tie downs to a substantial frame member or near enough to so that you’re not just relying on the strength of a 2x6 and &nbsp;thin steel that is presumably just welded around the perimeter, it feels like just drilling thru and using an **bleep** plate on the bottom would be insufficient when you may need the tiedowns the most.&nbsp;

morsnow · Answer

If you took a look at the backing for the anchors on your camper, any anchor point on your flatbed is going to be stronger than the camper.&nbsp; However, I'd recommend the flatbed perimeter steel as the anchor point.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Tie downs on wood flatbed

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