Another M931A2 with a 923 Bed

[brakejay]

I recently finished my shortened cargo bed and got it on my truck. Truck is M931A2. Bed is M923 variety from member smittyjr355 (a great guy). Thanks to all who posted their short bed installs. Just passing along how I did it if it helps.

It is 10ft inside length. I cut the bed to length, cut the "bumper" section out of the removed piece and reweldetd it to the bed. The ends of the bed sides were also removed and rewelded onto the shortened sides. After all the grinding and cutting I'm now sure this is the HARD way to shorten the bed, but something about not having a seam makes me happy.

Just the bed was repainted, truck was not. Rapco paint matches great.

And I have a nice, not even scratched CARC, fifth wheel and ramps available.

 

[DJones]

Very nice!

 

[brakejay]

 

[Shark Bait]

Curious as to the length of the finished bed?

Dave

 

[brakejay]

Curious as to the length of the finished bed?

Dave

10ft

Outside

Inside

From end of frame

 

[dmetalmiki]

He mentioned 10 foot inside the bed. And what a fantastic stance that truck has now. Great job.

 

[Shark Bait]

He mentioned 10 foot inside the bed. And what a fantastic stance that truck has now. Great job.

I don't have an M923 to measure excess of inside to outside.

 

[izzug]

So how long did it take to cut down the bed and re-weld it. It does look really good. I'm looking at a M931A2 and this would be a nice way to go.

 

[brakejay]

Hard to say, I did it over a couple months, a few hours, every few days, as i had time. The straight cut takes 15 min. Grinding out all the welds on back took about 10hrs. It's a pain. There are some welds that are hard to get to, even with it flipped over standing on it. You get creative like it's surgury. The bed sides have a lot of cutting too. Buy LOTS of quality grinding disks.
Welding back together was fun after all the cutting. Maybe 6 hours?
Lots more time involved in planning and misc. And that 5th wheel removal is a good workout.
All worth it!

 

[Andyrv6av8r]

I probably had around a week total in figuring, cutting, fitting and welding when I did mine. A good job takes extra time.

 

[Andyrv6av8r]

You need to update your avatar picture now....

 

[brakejay]

Hey. You're right. Done.

 

[SLOrazorsedge]

That's bad to the bone! Your not putting hardened springs in the bed bolt down mounts for flex?

 

[brakejay]

That's bad to the bone! Your not putting hardened springs in the bed bolt down mounts for flex?

Not yet. Wanted to but it's really short. I'd like to see how somebody has set that up. She's mostly a pavement queen anyway.

Caution for offroaders... when this is flexed, the stock 14s can hit at the stock bed height. That's because the spacing of bed cross beams is different/shifted. I found that out the first 10 min bed was done . I need to clearance beams or limit bump stops.

 

[SLOrazorsedge]

I've got a M932A2 zero hour/mile ready reserve truck with a short bed in the future. I've got to say, Hiway Queen or not, your truck is a great inspiration!

 

[Andyrv6av8r]

I've got a M932A2 zero hour/mile ready reserve truck with a short bed in the future. I've got to say, Hiway Queen or not, your truck is a great inspiration!

That's what I have.

 

[98G]

So how long did it take to cut down the bed and re-weld it. It does look really good. I'm looking at a M931A2 and this would be a nice way to go.

2 people, 2 days, with a forklift to move things around and the 5th wheel already removed.

I really like the truck tractors with short beds. ..

 

[8madjack]

I love that look, and still 10' of bed space is very useful, now if I can find a bed for a reasonable price...

 

[ghitch75]

looks great!!!!........if i wasn't put a dump bed on mine i would do this......

 

[brakejay]

Here's the contact I had.