5 ton bed on a Deuce?

[Floridianson]

I say it looks 100% better.

 

[Jared]

Nice Job. Looking at picture #3 (side view) it looks like it was made that way. I don't think anyone except the relatively few people that know something about these trucks would even realize it wasn't stock.

 

[gringeltaube]

Question on the wood spacer between the bed and frame. The deuce ' s is 3/4" most of the way and tapers down to 1/2" near the front. Is it designed this way for movement of has it just word down over the years? Reason I'm asking is the one that came with the 5 ton bed is in better condition and has no taper. I was thinking about using it until I noticed the taper.

I don't know about the 5-tons, but the original sills on the M35 are just as you said: the last 15 inches towards the front are cut to a taper, going from little over 3/4" straight down to 1/2"; some even less than that. The M109's are 1" thick and tapered on both ends, down to about 3/8".
TM 9-2320-361-34P (JULY1993), Fig. 144, Item #13 barely indicates this.

It shouldn't have a taper. It's just worn.

Not so, take a second look.



G.

 

[munnyhendershot]

I don't know about the 5-tons, but the original sills on the M35 are just as you said: the last 15 inches towards the front are cut to a taper, going from little over 3/4" straight down to 1/2"; some even less than that. The M109's are 1" thick and tapered on both ends, down to about 3/8".
TM 9-2320-361-34P (JULY1993), Fig. 144, Item #13 barely indicates this.
Not so, take a second look.G.

I ended up shortening and drilling the wood filler strips from the 5 ton bed. Hope this doesn't create a problem because I really don't want to take this off again, although I'm starting to get pretty good at it. 

Something else I found a little interesting, is the 2 1/2 ton beds have one more pair of mounting brackets than the longer 5 ton beds.

 

[gringeltaube]

....Hope this doesn't create a problem because I really don't want to take this off again, although I'm starting to get pretty good at it.....

What is so difficult? Just loosen the bolts on one side first, jack it up about 1" on that side; pull out that sill and cut to correct shape. Reinstall and do the same on the other side.
The bed is built fairly rigid while the frame flexes more than what it seems! There is a reason for those two pair of coil springs and long bolts, on the front-most bracket.
I would not try to be smarter than the designers...


G.

 

[rustystud]

I don't know about the 5-tons, but the original sills on the M35 are just as you said: the last 15 inches towards the front are cut to a taper, going from little over 3/4" straight down to 1/2"; some even less than that. The M109's are 1" thick and tapered on both ends, down to about 3/8".
TM 9-2320-361-34P (JULY1993), Fig. 144, Item #13 barely indicates this.
Not so, take a second look.



G.

I guess mine is not stock then as there is no taper

 

[munnyhendershot]

What is so difficult? Just loosen the bolts on one side first, jack it up about 1" on that side; pull out that sill and cut to correct shape. Reinstall and do the same on the other side.
The bed is built fairly rigid while the frame flexes more than what it seems! There is a reason for those two pair of coil springs and long bolts, on the front-most bracket.
I would not try to be smarter than the designers...


G.

Will fix this weekend. I've been working nights this week and would like to blame lack of sleep lately for not thinking of how simple this really would be. Thank you!