Flatbed Kit Frequently Asked Questions
General Flatbed Kit Questions
Standard Bed Cost List
Flatbed Kit -$799 (SRW), $929 (DRW) (Free Shipping)
Generic Steel you will need purchase from a local steel dealer* – ~$700-$1500 Download the Steel List.
Lights/Wiring/Decking – ~$600
Finish (Powdercoat/Paint)* – $35 – $1000
Total Cost of build: $2000- $3500
*Prices are subject to local supplier and serve as an estimate only.
Optional Add-Ons
Underbody Tool Boxes: ~$500
Fender Kit: $209-$299
Our Kits are unconventional in that we don’t send you everything, only the machine made parts that you can’t purchase locally. Why? Because it would be what’s known as a rip-off to charge you for mark up and exorbitant amounts of shipping cost to sell you generic steel that you can buy locally without a middle man. That being said, you’ll be responsible in purchasing the generic steel to make the process as affordable as possible. Download the free material list so you can get an exact cost for everything you’ll need. We’ll still send you the machine made parts and provide you with the blueprints to make the build seamless.
This kit gives you everything you need to seamlessly complete the base model bed. It is designed to be a cheap alternative to pre-made flatbeds.
Our kit comes with 3 components:
- Model Specific Blueprint – this will be emailed to you upon purchase. This is an easy to understand document that has the material list, cut sheets, and build diagrams specific to your model.
- Machine Made Parts shipped to you – we send you all the laser cut parts (tail assembly, fuel plates, etc.). It is your responsibility to source all the generic steel listed in the blueprints, you can also download the list of the steel you’ll need here. These parts ship free in the lower 48 states.
- Start to Finish Video Tutorial – this completely exhaustive step by step video tutorial is over 5 hours long, and gives a step by step guide to build, wire, and install your flatbed.
Experince Needed
Moderate to advanced welding experience is needed to complete this project as well as experience using all shop tools described below.
Tools and Equipment Needed
- Ear Plugs
- Safety Glasses
- Welding Helmet
- Welding Gloves
- Welding Coat or protective outer layer
- Welder – needs to adequately weld 3/16” thick plate
- Bandsaw/chop saw/cold saw – capable of handling 2.5” square tube and cutting angles.
- Angle Grinder
- Tape Measure
- Vice grips OR C-clamps – 6 total
- Square
- Drill Press OR Hand Drill
- (2) 7/32” Drill Bit
- ¾” Drill bit (only if installing marker lights)
- 1″ drill bit or hole saw
- Type 27 Flapper disk grinding wheel(s)
- Slitter disk(s) OR Plasma Cutter
- Metal Pencil or Sharpie Marker
- Forklift OR Shop Crane OR 4 Strong people (for installation)
An experienced fabricator can build this project in 30 hours and install in 8 – 10 hours.
Gooseneck Ball
Our Kits are designed to fit with your existing frame mounted gooseneck ball. If you don’t currently have one installed, you will need to add a frame mounted gooseneck ball.
Bumper Pull Hitch
Our kits fit seamlessly with your factory bumper pull hitch. Why? Because it’s far superior to have your hitch tied directly to your frame and the engineered from the the factory setup.
We only offer .dxf cut files in our dealer program, for businesses interested in building and selling our fully built flatbed designs in their area. Learn More >
Flatbed Design FAQs
Gooseneck Ball
Our Kits are designed to fit with your existing pickup frame mounted gooseneck ball. This includes turnover balls such as B+W and others. Our bed will simply install over the top of your gooseneck ball and be accessed by a hole in the top deck. If you don’t currently have one installed, you will need to add a frame mounted gooseneck ball. NEVER weld hitches of any kind into the bed, always install directly to your pickup frame.
Bumper Pull Hitch
Our kits fit seamlessly with your factory bumper pull hitch. Why? Because it’s far superior to have your hitch tied directly to your frame and the engineered from the the factory setup. If you have a cab and chassis, order a factory designed bolt on bumper pull hitch prior to installing the bed.
SRW beds: 7 ft wide.
Dually Beds: 8 ft wide at back, 7 ft wide at front.
1st Gen Tacoma Beds: 6 ft wide
2nd/3rd Gen Tacoma Beds: 6″ 8″ wide
If you want more detailed dimensions including length, you’ll have to first purchase a flatbed kit.
Wood/Trex deck Design:
- Full size longbed base model: 805 lbs (longbed) 750 lbs (shortbed) If you have a dually add 60 lbs. Add-ons will add incremental weight increases.
- Tacoma Models: 475 lbs
Steel Decks:
- Full size longbed base model: 900 lbs (longbed) 825 lbs (shortbed) If you have a dually add 80 lbs. Add-ons will add incremental weight increases.
- Tacoma Models: 525 lbs
Weight Difference from Stock Beds: For full size beds generally you will only be net ahead about 325 lbs. from your stock bed weight for wood/trex decks, and 400 lbs. heavier for steel deck models. For Tacoma models, it will be about 200 lbs. more for a wood deck, and 250 lbs. more for a steel deck than your stock bed weight.
Our flatbeds are designed to be extremely durable and withstand the hardest use. A safe payload is around 4000 lbs, but in most cases the suspension on your pickup will fail before the bed becomes overloaded. Due to construction being primarily from tubing rather than formed sheet metal, our beds are significantly more durable than most factory built beds.
Our bed rails are not something you can purchase from us in kit format; they are something we instruct you to build if you want to add them. There is a module of the video tutorial that provides step by step instructions to build the bed rails as well as the additional material you’ll need to purchase. Since the bed rails are built entirely from generic steel, you can make them any height you’d like and choose between the drop in or fold down design. (you must purchase a flatbed kit to access the video tutorial).
Shipping and Returns
Free shipping in the lower 48 states!
AK and HI – $150 flat rate (make sure and order the kit and all add-ons in one shipment and you’ll only be charged and extra $150 for everything.
Canada – $150 USD Flat rate. You will be responsible for any taxes/duties/or extra shipping charges incurred upon delivery.
We almost always send order 1-3 business days after they are ordered, and then there will usually be a 2-5 business day transit time. You will receive and shipment notification and tracking number to your email when your package ships. If we are behind for any reason, we are good about letting customers know about the status of their order.
You can return new, unused parts as long as the package is shipped back to us within 30 days of the order date. You will, however, be responsible for return shipping costs and will be charged a 25% restocking fee.
Your refund will be issued upon the parts being returned in good condition. Used or badly damaged parts will not be issued a refund for the order or return shipping costs.
How to request a return: Send us an email (support@ddfab.co) with your name and order number and we will confirm that you are eligible for a refund and give you return instructions.
You can cancel your order if the order has not yet been packaged for shipment. You will be charged a 10% transaction fee of your order total that will be deducted from your refund.
Orders cannot be cancelled after they are packaged for shipment. You can return the order, but will be charged a 25% restocking fee and return shipping costs.