10ft flat bed in place of 8ft long box?

[rowingdude]

There's a guy selling a steel flatbed frame with some beat up wood decking in my area for $500 http://holland.craigslist.org/pts/4131125966.html I was wondering if this would work if I still plan on hauling a 5th wheel. I currently have a CC LB dually. Thanks

 

[jrad235]

It looks to me like the bed extends forward rather than back, but I'm not sure what all chassis variations would allow for that. If it hangs farther off the back then no way will it work for the 5th wheel.

 

[jwalterus]

If it hangs farther off the back then no way will it work for the 5th wheel.

actually, when you install a fiver, you measure from the rear of the bed, so as long as you could still mount it solidly to the frame, it would work, although it would tow more like a bumper pull than a standard fiver being as it would shift the weight behind the wheels rather than over the axle

I've towed with a setup like that, but the big difference was it was a steel plate deck and the hitch was welded to the deck rather than bolted in

buy it, hack it off to 8', and call it good

 

[jrad235]

True, I wasn't really thinking about it like that. It does negate a lot of the high points of a fiver though, especially if it's a heavy one.

I like his idea. Cut to fit, call it good.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

It is a small matter to shorten a flat to the length you desire.

My steel flat was originally 12-feet long; I shortened it to 8-feet so as to easily clear goose-neck trailers.

I made a really nice welding table using the left-over piece.

No one can tell that my flat has been altered.