Topic: Flatbed Conversion: 03 Z71

[ml01180]

Hey everyone,
I had to create a new account, I guess my old one got deleted. Anyways, I've been looking into getting a new truck but I just love my 03 Avy so much that I've decided to keep it. I own a landscaping business and want to remove the truck's bed and turn it into a flatbed. I've never seen a flatbed Avalanche so I was going to see what everyone thought. I also own a sign company and we do custom fabrication (welding, etc.) so it would not be a problem to do on my own. Anyone have any cool ideas? Thanks.
P.S. I would post pictures but apparently mine are too big. How do you make them smaller?

[project black out]

Hmm Idk how that would affect the trucks structural integrity it is a unibody truck and any modifactions to the body or chassis affect the whole thing.... I don't suggest it but that's my ... Maybe somebody else knows something I don't and can shine more light on the subject...

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[oHIobellboy]

Welcome back. What is your old account name? You might have missed a space or a capitol letter while trying to sign in.

Also about the bed. There's a few pix of mine on here without the cladding on it that might give you some insight on the body structure. They're in the" overspray on my cladding" thread.

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[Alaska_AV]

Um. Ya      Don't do it ! Just find an old crew cab and pull the bed.....
If you find a wrecked one, cut that up. Or screw used cladding on a trailer like a skirt.

Look in my rebuild threads. There's alot of shit to the rear of an avalanche

[bluedevil]

I agree.

[moosc]

and the Av is not a unibody truck its a solid frame and derived from the full size suburbans

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[maverick1974]

Can't just take the back off like a regular pickup truck.

[project black out]

and the Av is not a unibody truck its a solid frame and derived from the full size suburbans

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I stand corrected.. thank you I've been thinking its a unibody this whole time
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[oHIobellboy]

I stand corrected.. thank you I've been thinking its a unibody this whole time
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the unibody referral talks about the body and frame integrated together (think Ford Pinto). The body of the Avy is one whole unit as opposed to a pick up that has a separate bed and cab.

[Zora Arkus-Duntov]

Seems cutting grass has become lost in equipment reality.

[R3D DR4G0N]

I figured this out when I asked about making a mock Avalanche from an old suburban (1973-91): The avy's sail panels are derived from the roof supports on the suburban.  without them, from what I understand, the body will literally twist throughout, resulting what many call, an ugly mess, :P  If you really wanted to go flatbed, find a way to reincorporate those supports.  IMO, dont do it, it will look ugly as sin, lol...just my $.02

If you want a fun idea for a project, check this out:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3879490/1989-chevrolet-3500-crew-cab

It will totally blow my socks off when its done!

Thank you!


Jon