Weight of the short bed steel vs flat bed

[HarryN]

I am running the numbers on what I will carry with a ram megacab.

Still trying to lighten it up to stay within 2500 range vs 3500 SRW.

The way that I will use the truck, the normal short bed does not have any value, so I am wondering about removing that and having a flat bed or no bed.

Any idea how much the normal short bed weighs vs a flat bed ? Just the bed part, not the whole truck if anyone knows that portion, but any info helps.

Hoping to shave off 400 - 500 lbs. If the difference is just 100 lbs, does not matter.

Thanks

Harry

 

[sstoner911]

Steel Flat beds are going to be in the 900lb range. The factory beds are around the 300lbs range.

This why you see some hot shot guys running no bed at all.

 

[jsalbre]

If you don’t like your wallet there’s some really nice aluminum flat beds out there.

 

[AH64ID]

Why not just get a 3500?

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

If you are within the axle weights dont bother messing with it but nothing you do other than pulling the bed will drop weight. Aluminum decks are 500ishLBS and steel is 900ish LBS so your OEM bed at 250ish LBS on a short bed is the lightest option

 

[HarryN]

Why not just get a 3500?

Excellent question.

Right now, a 3500 SRW megacab is the path.

The main issue is that I am 65 with a bad back / significant pain from an accident 4 years ago, so the ride quality is a big deal.

The 2500s can be purchased with a substantially smoother ride suspension, but the 3500 suspensions pass it through much more harshly.

Going with the 3500 megacabs that are out there means I need to consider one of the liquid suspension setups, and those are serious money.

The standard bed is just in the way of what I am going to do anyway so it does not add any value. Basically mostly load it up with storage boxes that can be accessed from the back. I was under the impression that I needed a flat bed to do that, but maybe not.

I have not seen a 3500 megacab chassis cab setup, or even SRW of that, but I should look more into this to see if that is viable.

Without the megacab, there is no point in what I am trying to do.

If GM or Ford offered a megacab with their smoother suspensions, I would be looking there as well, but only ram has a megacab offering.

 

[AH64ID]

Excellent question.

Right now, a 3500 SRW megacab is the path.

The main issue is that I am 65 with a bad back / significant pain from an accident 4 years ago, so the ride quality is a big deal.

The 2500s can be purchased with a substantially smoother ride suspension, but the 3500 suspensions pass it through much more harshly.

Going with the 3500 megacabs that are out there means I need to consider one of the liquid suspension setups, and those are serious money.

The standard bed is just in the way of what I am going to do anyway so it does not add any value. Basically mostly load it up with storage boxes that can be accessed from the back. I was under the impression that I needed a flat bed to do that, but maybe not.

I have not seen a 3500 megacab chassis cab setup, or even SRW of that, but I should look more into this to see if that is viable.

Without the megacab, there is no point in what I am trying to do.

If GM or Ford offered a megacab with their smoother suspensions, I would be looking there as well, but only ram has a megacab offering.

I think you’re over stating the ride quality of the 3500, and certainly Ford. My brothers F-250 rides like a covered wagon compared to my 3500.

The Ram 3500 with auto-level rides better than a standard spring 2500.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

I’m a small dude and my wife and I can carry a truck bed. 300lb max plus tailgate is my guess

 

[Jsrunnlus]

Excellent question.

Right now, a 3500 SRW megacab is the path.

The main issue is that I am 65 with a bad back / significant pain from an accident 4 years ago, so the ride quality is a big deal.

The 2500s can be purchased with a substantially smoother ride suspension, but the 3500 suspensions pass it through much more harshly.

Going with the 3500 megacabs that are out there means I need to consider one of the liquid suspension setups, and those are serious money.

The standard bed is just in the way of what I am going to do anyway so it does not add any value. Basically mostly load it up with storage boxes that can be accessed from the back. I was under the impression that I needed a flat bed to do that, but maybe not.

I have not seen a 3500 megacab chassis cab setup, or even SRW of that, but I should look more into this to see if that is viable.

Without the megacab, there is no point in what I am trying to do.

If GM or Ford offered a megacab with their smoother suspensions, I would be looking there as well, but only ram has a megacab offering.

I am not familiar with any Chassis cab versions using the MegaCab, my 2019 MegaCab was SRW w/ RamBox bed option. Since the tires stayed inflated for towing it was not the best ride with no payload. Get 800 pounds tongue weight on the ball or a little more in the bed and it was completely different ride.