Increasing Payload by swapping out my Truck Bed

[anutami]

I am wondering if anyone knows (or can guestimate) the difference in weight of the old steel truck bed of the Ford Superduty compared to the new aluminum truck bed. I know on craigslist companies sell used truck bed bodies when they swap out with flatbeds/service bodies and you can get them for about $1500. Sounds like a nice mod one can do to increase their payload depending on the difference in weight. I contacted a guy on craigslist who ordered a bunch 2017 F250's and will be installing service beds on them and said he would sell me one. Is it enough to fuss about?

[Kayteg1]

cleary wrote:
I would be concerned about the stress applied to the bed hauling a camper. My 06 F350 Dually has stress cracks around the bolts that hold the bed to the frame. The rear opening has spread enough that the tail gate won't latch without using a ratchet strap to pull it together. The only significant weight this rig has hauled is the camper.

Chuck

I have the same problem (and more) with Dodge dually bed.
I don't think it is the load stress and about 70 percent of spot welds have circular crack around.
From my metallurgy classes I remember that something like that comes with weld getting internal stress at the factory, combined with vibration. Load would bend the weld, but would not crack it.
Than my friend using his Cheby for construction had whole bed developing long cracks around tail lights. Cheby denied warranty claim, because he put contractor tool boxes on contractor's truck.
So the tail light are hold by duct tape.

[Vinsil]

anutami wrote:
I am wondering if anyone knows (or can guestimate) the difference in weight of the old steel truck bed of the Ford Superduty compared to the new aluminum truck bed. I know on craigslist companies sell used truck bed bodies when they swap out with flatbeds/service bodies and you can get them for about $1500. Sounds like a nice mod one can do to increase their payload depending on the difference in weight. I contacted a guy on craigslist who ordered a bunch 2017 F250's and will be installing service beds on them and said he would sell me one. Is it enough to fuss about?

Why? Are you over your tire weight or concerned? You've been all over....unless your unhappy with the handling....why?

[cleary]

I would be concerned about the stress applied to the bed hauling a camper. My 06 F350 Dually has stress cracks around the bolts that hold the bed to the frame. The rear opening has spread enough that the tail gate won't latch without using a ratchet strap to pull it together. The only significant weight this rig has hauled is the camper.

Chuck

[jimh406]

With my SRW, I could easily save over 200 lbs by carrying 25-30 gallons of water instead of 60 gallons of water and making sure I didn't run around with full grey and black tanks. That and not carrying a lot of extra stuff probably saved me 500 or more. I no longer have those issues with my F450, but I made it just fine for 8 years at my lower "wet" weight. 🙂

[Reality_Check]

This reminds me of sledding topics... guys spend literally hundreds or even thousands of dollars shaving weight.. ounces here, a pound there. Instead of just getting in better shape and losing 5 or 10 lbs.

Cracks me up and makes good conversation.

[burningman]

I agree. That kind of extreme effort for microscopic gain is race car stuff.

[Bedlam]

I think the only way you can save weight is to replace the bed with a minimal tray that holds the TC and plastic fender splash guards.

You could probably save additional weight by removing the rear truck bumper...

[Kayteg1]

I don't think we are talking more than 100lb.
Aluminium is much lighter than steel, but to gain the same strength it has to be thicker.
I install Dodge bed on my F350 and for me welding new brackets was not a big deal, but for some might.

[Grit_dog]

^ What he said. Plus I wouldn't think you could save more than a couple hundred pounds...maybe.
And personal opinion, nice trucks with mis matched beds are up there on the vehicle fail list.

[mkirsch]

Not only that but you'd be trying to mount a 2017 bed on a 2001 truck. The bolt holes certainly won't line up. The body lines will be different. The colors won't match. Plus it's aluminum, so you can't just cut and weld and paint on it like an old steel bed to make it fit.

[Ivylog]

I understand not wanting to change trucks... I have much the same except long bed extended cab and SRW too. I would spend the money on 19.5 tires and maybe airbags.
With the 6 spd tranny have you tricked the warm up butterfly into being an exhaust brake?

[jimh406]

From what I've been able to find out, best estimate using numbers from fleet.ford.com for an entire bed is 475 lbs. http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/869554-how-much-does-the-bed-weigh-frame-rust.html

I think you probably can't save over half that at most or 238 lbs. I doubt that's going to be worth it. I think it would make more sense to upgrade the tires/wheels if you are worried about weight capacity.