Semi Truck Fitted With Handy “Convertible” Flatbed
Dan Batdorf has the best of both worlds with his modified T300 Kenworth. The former FedEx semi tractor has a 10-ft. long, 8 1/2-ft. wide aluminum deck with 1-ft. tall sides for hauling equipment and supplies. When a 5th wheel is needed, the deck drops down to reveal it.
“We had been using an F-550 to pull our catering trailer, but it wasn’t big enough,” explains Batdorf. “I picked up the old FedEx truck for around $13,000. It had a 9-speed transmission and the 5th wheel, but I also needed a flatbed to use around the farm.”
To serve both purposes, Batdorf worked with a local welder to fabricate a deck that fits over the 5th wheel. He also added a gooseneck ball behind the 5th wheel.
To mount the bed, they bolted three 14-in. lengths of 3 1/2-in. square tubing to each side of the frame. A 6-in. wide plate welded to tubing runs the length of the deck on the underside. Two holes in the plate and single holes in each upright make bed adjustment possible with bolts connecting the bed to the frame.
When the fifth wheel is needed, bolts are removed from the lower holes in the plate, the deck lowered, and the bolts replaced through the upper holes. This lowers the deck enough to clear the fifth wheel and the gooseneck hitch.
When the deck is needed the process is reversed. Portable jacks are used to raise the bed level, just clearing the fifth wheel and the goosneck ball. A solid plate fits over both.
To make the unit even more versatile, he added a heavy-duty bumper. “The bumper hitch lets me pull trailers and farm equipment,” he adds.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dan Batdorf, 9291 N. St. Rt. 48, Covington, Ohio 45318 (ph 937 418-2532; dtbatdorf@yahoo.com).
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Semi Truck Fitted With Handy “Convertible” Flatbed TRUCKS Accessories Dan Batdorf has the best of both worlds with his modified T300 Kenworth The former FedEx semi tractor has a 10-ft long 8 1/2-ft wide aluminum deck with 1-ft tall sides for hauling equipment and supplies When a 5th wheel is needed the deck drops down to reveal it “We had been using an F-550 to pull our catering trailer but it wasn’t big enough ” explains Batdorf “I picked up the old FedEx truck for around $13 000 It had a 9-speed transmission and the 5th wheel but I also needed a flatbed to use around the farm ” To serve both purposes Batdorf worked with a local welder to fabricate a deck that fits over the 5th wheel He also added a gooseneck ball behind the 5th wheel To mount the bed they bolted three 14-in lengths of 3 1/2-in square tubing to each side of the frame A 6-in wide plate welded to tubing runs the length of the deck on the underside Two holes in the plate and single holes in each upright make bed adjustment possible with bolts connecting the bed to the frame When the fifth wheel is needed bolts are removed from the lower holes in the plate the deck lowered and the bolts replaced through the upper holes This lowers the deck enough to clear the fifth wheel and the gooseneck hitch When the deck is needed the process is reversed Portable jacks are used to raise the bed level just clearing the fifth wheel and the goosneck ball A solid plate fits over both To make the unit even more versatile he added a heavy-duty bumper “The bumper hitch lets me pull trailers and farm equipment ” he adds Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dan Batdorf 9291 N St Rt 48 Covington Ohio 45318 ph 937 418-2532; dtbatdorf@yahoo com
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