C10 | DIY Bolt-On Raised Bed Floor for Air Ride Suspension
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- čas přidán 29. 12. 2021
- In this video, I go step-by-step through how to install a fully bolt-on raised bed floor for your 60-66 C10. This is perfect for those who have a monster notch and want a clean and finished look. Check out my website for merch and other links: www.simplec10.co.
Parts mentioned in the video:
Rivnut Tool: amzn.to/3KEBAbJ
Rivnuts: amzn.to/3UHr3kQ
Connector Bolts (Buy 5 Packs): amzn.to/3t9B2Du
Premium Pine 1x10x8: www.lowes.com/pd/Common-1-in-...
Flat Bar for strips (3/16x1.5x8ft): Purchase at local metal shop
Metal Tubing for cross bars (3/16 steel 2x1): Purchase at local metal shop
Here are a few things that the new website offers (www.simplec10.co)
→ Exclusive Parts for your C10.
→ DIY Tutorials, including my step-by-step "Air Ride Guide".
→ Links to all my favorite C10 parts with reviews!
→ Build Profiles for all my past builds.
→ Simple.C10 Merchandise.
Thank you for your support and encouragement!
→ Become a Simple.C10 Subscriber!
→ Website: www.simplec10.co
→ Instagram: / simple.c10
→ Facebook: / simplec10
→ My Channel Home Page: @simple.c10
→ As an eBay/Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
If the video was helpful, remember to give it a "thumbs up" and consider subscribing.
Finally Loaded !!!!! Appreciate it Travis !!
Thanks for sharing your build great steps on recording the video.
Thank you for watching!
You did a great job. Thx for recording and posting your work. Thx
Thank you!
Looks great ! Can't wait to do this on my C10.
Thank you! Tag me on your Instagram or Facebook with progress pics! @simple.c10s
My son and I are getting ready to start building his first truck 72 chevy short bed love your videos
Thanks so much for watching! Good luck on your build. Reach out if you need anything.
Awesome videos! Keep them coming 🤘🏼
Thank you!
Great job man. Definitely like the way you thought it out. Mounting the tubs and cross bars 😍.
Thanks buddy!
Good job! Looks awesome! Good job on the video. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you
Grain in the wood you bought is incredible and the dye knocks it out of the park! Excellent job and Happy New Year!
Thank you. Happy new year.
Espectacular trabajo Amigo. Aguante Chevrolet, saludos desde Argentina 🤜🤛
Thanks
Great job! Very well thought out. Hope the front corner repair goes well. Good job standing in front of the area in the vid. We have all had it happen on one rig or another. Thank you for the documentation and helping the community!
Thanks! I didn’t even plan that out lol. I’ve got a buddy that owns a body shop. He is gonna fix it up for me.
You've been great help to me towards my builds
Thanks for watching and the encouragement.
Hello, excellent work and excellent video, I live in Uruguay, South America, I have a C10 Stepside 1965, with a 350 engine, your videos have been of great help to me so that little by little I can get close to your truck. I still have a long way to go like the wooden box and paint, but less to go, thanks and keep uploading videos.
Thanks for the encouragement! I hope your build turns out awesome.
Great JoB!!!!! THanks for YOUR time!!!! GReat detail, Man!!!! Happy New year!!!!!
Thanks! I hope it can help some people build their trucks.
Looks awesome man. I'll definitely be using some of these ideas on my truck 👊
Sweet
I Found this Channel Searching for a DIY wood Floor drop in For my 76 short/wide C10. Great video Bud. floor looks Killer Too, C10 Nation to the Front. 🤙
Thank you sir!
Nice work. Very informative, great video. I’m gonna most definitely build a bolt on raise bed floor for my 65 step side c10.
Awesome. The step side is way easier!
Great video ! You make it look easy !!!
Thanks man. It’s not bad at all.
This is something that has always had me wondering and worrying about how to do. You just answered every question and gave me the confidence to do it. Thanks!
Awesome!!!!
Man every video gets better. Love it bro keep it up 👍
Thanks! I appreciate it.
My wife and I watched this video last night ! She said it was awesome and liked the way you created a bed floor for your truck she stated I want something similar for our short bed great videos keep it up looking forward to view all of them !
Awesome. Thanks for the feedback.
After watching the whole video you sparked an idea for our truck. It’s a working truck that will need the bed replaced periodically. I can’t wait to tackle it and show it!!! It’a totally a driveway level project!!! thank you!
Awesome!
Dang. That turned out really nice. Thanks for the tutorial. New Subscriber.
Thanks!
Great video brother, doing my bed floor this weekend I hope!
Awesome. Let me know if I can help.
I dont even own a c10, however its a pleasure watching you work. Great explanation of details with an excellent finished product. Thanks for taking the time to make it.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate that.
That’s a bad ass truck love what you did 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thank you
I loved this video, and ready to do my own, as well!
Awesome! Tag me on Instagram @simple.c10s so I can see your progress.
Great job my man I had some idea how to do this to my truck but with your video really help a bunch thanks and amazing truck 🥵
Thanks man
Getting ready to start a very similar project on my 71. I want to make the center section between the wheels lift, for easy access and a bit of built in safe storage. Similar to how a tonneau cover does, gas struts or some other means. Yet make it still plenty sturdy enough that a few bikini models could dance around on. Not that it will ever happen but I like to be prepared. Still in the mental design process so I was cruising YT for inspiration and ideas. Thanks so much for all your effort to make the vid. I have to agree, yours came out great. Beautiful truck.
Awesome! Good luck with it and thanks for the encouragement.
Absolutely awesome man!!! I’m your newest SUB!!!! Keep it up
Thank you so much
Great job! You thought that out very well. I'm building a 68c10 lay frame setup and will use the same approach, thanks to you.
Thank you!
Excellent work.
Thank you so much 😀
This is absolutely priceless. I feel like my channel is very similar but I’m building Harley’s. You have got me excited to start a truck next! I’m looking at a ‘48 3100. Keep up the great work man. You are inspiring many people.
Wow thanks a lot. That’s really awesome and encouraging to read. I appreciate it. Good luck with your build!
Sick!! Great work bud
Thank you
I am really enjoying your channel man! Great for us DIY'ers! I was hoping t make my raised floor lift in the back for easy access to the air system... not sure if I will or not lol. keep it up
I like the lift system but it would have required a bit more work. If I need to access my air ride stuff I just have to unbolt four bolts from the top and take the wood out. Hopefully I only have to do that in an emergency.
Great job, very informative. I plan on raising the bed floor on my 65 step side C10. It should be easier since I don’t have to deal with wheel tubs!
Yes! You can mount an L bracket on each side and place the steel tubes on them and use 5 1x10s and it works perfect.
Heard you on c10talk, had no idea about the channel I subscribed and am highly upset i got rid of my 66 c10 now i need to find another. This truck is nice. Great easy video keep it up.
Awesome man. Good luck on the search. Thanks for the support.
Awesome job!
Thanks
Very nice Sir!
An oscillating spindle sander would help to sand those curved areas around the wheel wells.
Hope to have an old C10 project soon!
Thanks for the tip! Good luck on the c10 search. I appreciate the support.
New sub, love the content. Not a fan of the raised floors but I'll still watch it
Thanks! Unfortunately with air ride you have to do it. I prefer it over a hump in the middle. Especially in the wood bed trucks.
Great video I need to do the same to my 67. I’m going to try and do what you did. Thanks. If you saved the part that you trimmed off the bottom of the wheel tub you could use that for a template to cut around the tub.
Good idea. Thank you
Well now I know that my bed wood can be installed solo if I use riv-nuts and I don't have to climb under my truck with fasteners!! Great tips, I may just lower my 69C10 a bit more& raise my bed floor up
Awesome!
Good job...see you in Lebanon..
Awesome
Great job!! You've executed a beautiful floor for your truck
bed. I feel like the only thing I would change is the cross bars. You've left a significant weakness cutting the box out at the connection to the bed sides . I understand that You've modified this pickup to no longer haul a serious load in the bed, but it would give piece of mind to know if you wanted to you could. Either way You've designed and fabricating a beautiful truck.
Thanks. I appreciate it. The raised bed would never be used to haul anything since it’s only 9 inches deep. You could simply weld the braces to the side of the bed if you wanted the extra support.
The introduction made me stay on you're channel. How many times I've done something similar... 😆
Man. Don’t we all mess up. But the important thing is how we respond. Shake it off and stay on the grind!
Excellent 👌🏻
Cheers
Thanks
You'll make it to 1k subs in no time. Same journey here. Good quality content speaks for it self! I started mine just to help limit my typed responses on the forum and help other members haha.
That’s smart. It’s been helpful for me to refer to one of my videos for help instead of trying to type out the process. I appreciate it!
@@SIMPLE.C10 I replied on my phone but it must have not gone through. Dude 1k subs in like two months is crazy, people must love the bagged truck content! That is awesome!!! Pretty much all my vids are rust/metal repair guides on the 67-72 cabs. Looks like I need to do vids on dropping a truck haha.
Wished I lived in the hood .l could use a little help with my 68 c10 .like you’re work 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks a lot
Beautiful truck, I’m working on a 32 ford truck 🤘
Rad! Those are cool trucks.
That's sick
Thank you
Just watched your vid. Super helpful! when you cut the wheel arches out did you have to cut out one of the tub braces behind the tub wall? if so, did you find you need to brace the bottom of the guard somewhere else to reduce the flex of the bottom of the guard?
Love your truck and the work you do,I like to know what wheel and tires do you have on it..... especially your tires with a white wall
The wheels are transport wheels and it’s actually a painted on white wall. The tires are just regular tires. I have a video on how I painted the rim.
That is nice 👍
Thanks
Not sure if I can do such a project, but you do some awesome work
Did you have someone widen your wheel setup, or is this the original specs of the wheels? Can you do a vid on the wheel setup, like where to get clips, and center hubcap and so on.
You could do this for sure! Last week someone did this setup that had never used any woodworking tools. Take it slow and watch the video and you got it!
Yes that is just the regular wheel. They are 22x9s. I plan to do a transport wheel video soon and explain the thing you spoke about!
@@SIMPLE.C10 thanks, can't wait for the vid!!!
I plan to do this soon. This is the original setup.
Just found your channel today. I will have to go back and watch your build. I just 1k subs on my channel. Ive owned my 64 C10 since 1989 and really like this raised bed video.
Awesome thanks! I’ll Subscribe.
Your videos are awesome. Do you have any videos on how to raise the bed floor on a 67-72 c10?
It would basically be the same idea but would have to bolt to the side on the bed instead of the ledge.
Thanks brother
Awesome video, this is what I’ll be doing on my 64. I’m curious what you did for risers? I bought the GSI 9.5 risers but they aren’t tall enough for this so I will have to add some additional rise. I have the bed off right now so I’m wondering if I should put it back on to get this all figured out. Do you have any photos of the sub frame? Thanks for the info and great job!
Hey Wade! Thanks for the feedback. I just used my factory cross bar mounted to the frame in the front and bolted it in the rear. I bolted it in just like you would from the factory. If you follow me on Instagram Simple.c10 I have pics of the process. In the video you can see how the bed is bolted down in the front and rear as well. Send me a DM on insta and I can help.
Nice work, it looks great! I suppose a guy could also just re use the stock metal slats and do the same thing if you wanted that look?
Yes you could but you would need slots of short carriage bolts and nuts to fill the other holes in the factory slots.
Looks great. Say man what do you think of putting metal strips on the last boards. Just a thought. Great work.
Make it your own! Thanks.
Great video and Awesome work! I got a question I noticed the that the front and rear crossmembers are bolted to the frame from the bed is that enough support? I’m assuming that the cross rails you made would be good structure..
Are you asking about the bed molting to the actual frame or the bed wood braces bolting to the bed sides?
@@SIMPLE.C10 The bed bolted to the actual Frame I only saw the front and rear bolted in the frame
Badass.. Looks great.. Working on my first C-Notched 79 C-10 with my son. Defiantly going to do this. Very clean looking. One question though. Maybe I missed a video so I’ll have to go through and look but how the heck did you mount the bed in place before you did this? What did you do with the gap that you can see with the tailgate open??
I used the factory bed cross bars to mount the bed in place. Check out my c10 nationals crunch video and you’ll see what I did in the back.
@@SIMPLE.C10 awesome.. Thanks for the info.. Great channel and vids. 🤙🏼🤘🏼
Morning. Love the channel, I have had 4 old chevy’s. All static dropped. I watched your intro to airbags one morning waiting in line at the DMVa d walked out with a full kit and an Ekstensive rear end 2 link for my 1983 gmc squarebody. I’ve got questions!!! How can I communicate a few to you?
You can message me on Facebook or instagram or email me thesimplec10@gmail.com
Good work, fellow!! actually i have to install new bed in my '70 c10, i have to figure it out how to raise mine, it's a step side bed, but the question is , what type of wood did you use? And the water base urethane is durable with the weather? Thank you and congratulations, all i have done to mine, i did it my self, the best way to go .
I use premium pine. The water base urethane works good if you make sure to get the exterior one. Not many people make an exterior water based most are interior.
Thanks for sharing like that tire and wheel combo where'd you get them, especially the tires are nice white walls right?
No. Those are painted wheels. The tires are not whitewalls
@@SIMPLE.C10 oh ok thank you very much
You’re welcome
Awesome what diff are you running I need to change mine have a very low ratio 64 gmc 3/4 ton with a v6 manual trans built it for work but now I want to cuise thanks for the tips
373
Hey Travis, can you tell (or show us) how your bed is mounted to the chassis?Is it the stock cross sil? Does it clear the driveshaft etc? Thanks.
I use the front two cross seals and cut a spot out on the second one from the front for the driveshaft. I use a 3/4 tube as a spacer between seal and bed flange to make up for the wood being gone.
I wish I would have thought about riv nuts when I built mine, I spent almost 2 days welding mine together.
Yea, I wasn’t sure about them at first but they work great and are easy to install. I just knew I wanted to be able to get to my air stuff on the side of the road or at a show if something goes wrong.
I’ve seen that done and it looks good. Not on hinges but that would look great. I’m gonna do something similar to store a small cooler and chairs for shows and maybe a small tool box with basic stuff and jumper cables.
That’s the cool thing about patina trucks is you can add all that stuff. Shiny trucks give me anxiety lol. I’m excited to hop back on the red 66 named flash that’s in the background of my pics. Lol.
could you possibly put a video up of the room under there with the tailgate down?
If you message me on Instagram I can send a pic. I haven’t decided if I want to put a filler panel on the back or make a storage area out of wood.
@simple.c10s
When all the original placement of the wood is gone, how are the bed sides and Front head panel bolted in? Are you leaving the original cross braces for the bed so you’re still able to mount the bed to the frame?
I’ve watched tons of your videos in one day and Learned a ton! Just purchased the watts links soon as that comes in I’m ready to tackle the bed. Still debating on what I want to do with the front, if I’m gonna pancake the crossmember or buy a drop member. Still have to Weld in drop cups for the Front lower control arms.
Yes. I will bolt the original cross braces back into the truck and use a 3/4 x 3/4 piece of steel tube to place between the bed lip and cross seal to make up the gap where the wood was.
Good video man! What was the thickness on the 2x1 metal?
3/16
Hi thanks for the great video. What width are the metal strips holding the wood down? Also anything you would change? Maybe tilt up? Thanks
In a perfect would I would have tilt but that begins to complicate things a little more than I wanted to for this build. The metal strips are 1 1/2.
@@SIMPLE.C10 thanks for the quick reply. Just bought the 1x2 today to start mine.
Nice. Send me progress pics. Simple.C10s on Instagram.
Can u make a video how u wired the air ride system , from airslamit ?
I did. Watch the airlift 3p video and the how to run my airlines video.
Airlift 3P Air Ride Management + Airmaxxx 480 Installation Tutorial
czcams.com/video/Hjj0HgMpwPY/video.html
I have a two-part question first, what made you do the wood planks instead of plywood like I see a lot of people doing, to have thought of it hinged?
Don’t give me wrong on any of it. I love the way it turns out and I’m trying to do it the same way you did just curious.
I got the idea from Nick Hester and liked the look of it. I prefer real wood over plywood but I do plan to do a plywood bed on lucky that has tilt similar to jason vanatta from vanatta fabrications.
@@SIMPLE.C10 umm hurry up with the video so I can copy you!!! And see how it came out
I'm currently building a 1980 C10. Will need to raise my bed. I'm installing a GSI backhalf kit as we speak. Where are you located? I'm in Denver
Awesome. I’m in Tennessee.
The flat bar if I have them put a 77 inches for transportation to get home is that just enough or is it more than enough lengthwise?
Should be good
Question my truck lays frame would i need the 3” or 5” drop shocks for front its on 15 “ tires cause i see cpp offers 3 and 5
Depends on where your shocks are mounted. If they are in the factory position then 3. 5 inch drop shocks usually are for the rear only. They wouldn’t allow you to get full lift on air ride.
Where'd you get the wood stands that the trucks sitting on?
I built them out of 2x4s
Question: could you have used rivnuts on the sides to hold the rails that go from side to side?
Yes you can. You need a small right angle riv nut tool. Which I used on Francis.
@@SIMPLE.C10 cool thank you
How did you get the measurements of where to place the wheel tubs and cross members?
I mounted the tubs on the bars first then moved them back and forth until I centered the wheel.
Did you do that with the wheels in the normal right Heights position?
Hey, what’s up man? Great video question for you. with the bed of the truck on, I am having problems taking my rims and tires off and on. It’s almost as if I don’t have enough room to squeeze them between the fenders and the axle. Just wondering if you had to trim that fender lip to fit rims on? I am running 22 inch Transport rims.
@@joshsbluecollarbuildsdesig7427 did you bore the back or running spacers ? I have same issue with spacers. I put longer shocks on the truck and it helped. The shocks were limiting the travel.
@@SIMPLE.C10 i’m running an air ride. It’s a Porter built frame. I have no wheel spacers. I had the rims board and they were cut also. I just didn’t know if I had to cut the lip off the truck bed. Didn’t want to cut any more off the bed then I had to.
@@joshsbluecollarbuildsdesig7427 gotcha. What rear end and what year is your truck? I didn’t trim any fender but it’s a tight fit. I’d say with the porterbuilt frame it makes it even harder.
@@SIMPLE.C10 it a 1962. I put it on a 64 frame. Nathan From Porterbuilt sent me an a rear end out of a 64. So it’s just your standard rear end out of a 64 C10.
Where did you get your metal for the bed strips? Thanks
Local metal shop
Did you clear coat the slats? And the wood after you stained them?
Yes
How long did the center boards measure once you cut to fit in the bed from front to back ?
It was close to 77. It’s going to be determined by where you mount your back brace. Measure from the front to the back brace
What is the width of the board ?
I see there 1x 10 but at Home Depot its 1inch by 10 ft long
Next time cover your back glass to prevent cutting splatter. The paint on the back of your cab too.
Thanks
What do those bed strips measure you used to hold down wood
The material list and cuts are in the video near the beginning. They are flat bar 1 1/2 wide, 70 inches long I believe, go back and watch to make sure.
Thank you I appreciate it so much
Also what did the center boards measure width
Thanks so much. I actually saw it on the beginning of the video. I must’ve missed it up but thanks again from the c10 community from one c10 brother to another
Did you use all of the bolts? Was there any extra or just enough?
I have the whole bolt kit that you’ll need on my website. You will have extras
Thank you
When you drilled the holes for the 2x1 rails did you drill all the way through?
No just the top to put the rivnuts in.
Cool thank you
Do you need to have the wheel tubs before you figure out where to mount the cross bars?
@@dannysteveson6718 not necessarily but it’s very helpful.
For someone that is on a budget what would you recommend four wheel tubs. Keep in mind when I bought the truck they were missing.
How many hours did it take you to do the raised floor?
It’s a weekend project if you have all the materials available. One day to cut cross bars and slate drill holes, paint and one day to cut the wood stain/clear and install everything.
Could you have used aluminum pieces instead of steel? Or would that be too weak?
Are you asking about the cross braces or the bed strips on the wood? I would stick with steel for both.
@@SIMPLE.C10 I was just curious and I was talking about the cross braces. I was just thinking weight wise for added weight into the bed., thank you for responding and you did a bad ass job with that. I hope mine comes out when I try it.
What’s the size of your 22 inch rim kind of curious how deep I can go
22x9
How bout back spacing?
What’s the width of the 3/16 flat bar?
1 1/2
What’s the difference between premium pine and regular?
Premium pine doesn’t have the knots in it and is smooth. Regular pine usually splits and is very rough.
@@SIMPLE.C10 so that explains the price difference
Is there a reason you didn’t run the floor all the way to the tailgate
Yes, I plan to bolt in a filler panel that hides the gap under the raised bed floor. It’s just a finger gap there so it will help me have enough room and it not hit the tailgate when I close it. You could go all the way to the end, just make sure to leave a little of a gap so water doesn’t puddle or the tailgate hits.
That’s a great question though. Thanks for asking! I haven’t decided if I want a metal panel there for have a fold down wood panel with a storage area under the bed floor.
What color is that truck?
Liquid charcoal
What fenders did you use?
The factory fenders from the truck.
@@SIMPLE.C10 well poop mine did not come with any when I bought the truck
@@dannysteveson6718 you can just buy factory style and cut them down or get custom ones made.
@@SIMPLE.C10 thank you for your response I have so many questions! Like I said in previous statement great videos I’m hooked on watching them. I have so many things I want to do to my truck now.
@@dannysteveson6718 I appreciate you watching. Feel free to ask anything you’re curious about. I’m sure I had the same questions at one time.
How to wire ?
Cylinoids
I don’t have cylinders on this truck but maybe in this next one.
You could have gone with a different backspace for your wheel and you wouldn't have had to cut anything.
Thanks for the feedback. Transport wheels only come in 6 inch backspacing. I could have bored out the middle and not had to cut anything as well.
This wouldn’t work on a step side would it?
Stepside would be even easier. Bolt in one L bracket on each side of the truck then bolt your cross bars to it. You wouldn’t have to spend time cutting the wood. My green truck was a stepside and I did it on that one. 5 1x10 boards and it works out perfect.
Sweet thx for all your videos and responses it really helps….your showing everything I want to do to my 66 stepper.
Awesome!! I loved my 63 stepper!
Just watched your vid. Super helpful! when you cut the wheel arches out did you have to cut out one of the tub braces behind the tub wall? if so, did you find you need to brace the bottom of the guard somewhere else to reduce the flex of the bottom of the guard?
Great question! The front brace needs to go away. As long as you bolt the bedsides into the frame it’s super sturdy. If I would have got my transport wheels bored out instead of running inch spacer I wouldn’t have had to cut any of the bedside.
What is the width on the flat bar?
1 1/2
Thank you very much appreciated