Wooden pick-up body onto van chassis?

Post by **dennis** » Mon Jun 09, 2003 11:53 pm

hi
well first you would hasve to buy, if you can get one, a metal pick up cab back, to make the cab area.
you can construct the back which ever way you want really.
i haver seen all wooden backs and all metal.
no real pitfalls i don`t think, just construct to if it looks right it will be right.

Post by **rabiddog** » Tue Jun 10, 2003 9:07 pm

Theres a cab back on ebay at the moment may be of intrest to you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... gory=27381

Craig

Post by **fweddy** » Tue Jun 10, 2003 9:47 pm

There are a few pitfalls with the wooden decks to watch for. Here in NZ there are lots of them for two reasons. 1) we had import restrictions and only cab and chassis were inported (to give NZ body fabricators work after the war). 2) Becasue flat decks are just so practical especially on a farm. (Even now they get the latest utes and make flatdecks).

Anyway about these pitfalls - if you are having a flatdeck don't make it too low. I have a friend who has one and he can hardly put a load on it as it hits the wheels - you'd think ppl would consider that but its not till its up and running with a load that you figure the stupid design you just made.

Also with the fuel filler- If you make it come up through the floor like the factory ones are it ruins the whole effect of a flatdeck. I have seen a UK one like that and it was mounted through the side too - great idea! but here in NZ we like to have dropsides (the sides fold down too like the tailgate). This way you can fit wider loads on.

Also don't make it too long, (do make it slightly longer than the wellside factory deck). This one is not a real problem but it looks silly if its too long or too short. Also if you are really after a smart look get some of those curved wheel arches to mount on - they look better than boxy ones. (don't know if they have them in UK but a run was made so they are available here!)

Apart from that its really a free for all within the bounds of the law.

Actually I have a flat deck I'll sell you! its on a vehicle I'm wrecking. But more practically - I have a selection of photos I can send you if you want! email me! Also there are a few pics on my web site.

Post by **P-J** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 9:12 pm

Post by **Gareth** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:36 am

I saw a pickup a while ago that had a bespoke back made from the rear screen panel of a saloon. There was loads of room in there, and the rear screen looked great for visibility - you could almost see where the thing ended!!

Post by **bigginger** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 12:30 am

Charlie Ware's MM centre in Bath do a f'glass cab back, which may be the easiest/cheapest way to go. More than happy to send dimensions/pics, if I could work out how to exchange email addresses!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 2:02 pm

The cab back on e-bay looked a bit short to me, from what I remember my cab back had some extra panels at the bottom, though maybe they were seperate?
Or maybe that's why the e-bay one didn't sell.
One thing to consider with the cab back - (if you carry anything heavier than feathers), the cab back should stop the load smashing you in the back if you hit something head on.
If you go for a fibreglass one, then build a really strong pick up bed wall between you and the rear, not just screwed on timber - it will need steel strengthening and supports!

Just had another thought. If you cut the van sides off at the swage line, you nearly have a steel sided pick up! (except for the cab back and tailgate)

Post by **fweddy** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 10:11 am

You are right Ray. Another benefit of having a protection between the cab and load is that it will protect your cab back from dents etc. The flat decks normally are not attached to the cab section at all (this means the bottom of the cab back needs to be extended to cover the gap wherer the van or pickup body would normally meet).

Also with your idea of the cutting the van back down that is a fairly common thing to do if you can get the capping and tail gate from a rusted out pickup. (capping is easyish to get but the tailgate is hard - or expensive, I managed to get an almost perfect one for my ute resto but it was rather costly)

Post by **mrpickup** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 7:39 pm

Hi wildunwooley,
How are you getting on with that wooden back? I made and fitted a wooden flat deck to my minor and can send pictures and dimensions if you want?.

Post by **bigginger** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:33 am

Do you still have the Van body? If so, how's the floor in the back? I'm restoring an original pickup that has lost the floor in the pickup bed at some point - on the assumption that the van and PU floors are the same or similar, I'm v. interested! Still happy to send pics/dimensions etc of wooden back - I'm a bit of a pickup collector...
email add is bigginger@@@@@@@@@.com, BTW.