Thread: Converting a Ute to flatdeck

I'm toying with the idea of converting my Ute to a flatdeck. There seem to be a few decks on trademe but my question is how generic are they? If off a Hilux will they only fit a hilux or could I put on my Ranger as well?

Any other thoughts or issues with doing this?

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Some decks are pretty universal fit, would depend on the deck and the ute but nothing is impossible just a matter of if it is worth the effort/cost.

Considering making your own?

look at a ranger with its wellside off.....see whats there to attach a deck to...maybe another ford or mazda deck will bolt straight on as has same chassis??? fifty quid to a knob of goat shit any half decent wrecker will know what will fit or what is the same.

Yep mazda/ford will be the same for same for most years, shagger hilux have four mounts per side but new ones only 2 mounts per side....cant say I have looked at mounts on my Mitsi as I dont work on it.
Hilux deck I was working on/with fitting a crane to last week had quite a good modular deck design that would fit most anything I would think....will have a look in my phone to see if I took any pics.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Yep mazda/ford will be the same for same for most years, shagger hilux have four mounts per side but new ones only 2 mounts per side....cant say I have looked at mounts on my Mitsi as I dont work on it.
Hilux deck I was working on/with fitting a crane to last week had quite a good modular deck design that would fit most anything I would think....will have a look in my phone to see if I took any pics.

Good info thanks

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I’ve a universal fit alloy deck by Gitsham (Aussie) sitting here, took it off a Landy I imported. The main rails are channeled so you can move the mounts around to suit, and the guards will fit anywhere. I can take some overall measurements for you and a few pix if you’re interested. let me know.

This is it before I took it off.


Ray.

Originally Posted by ishoot10s

I’ve a universal fit alloy deck by Gitsham (Aussie) sitting here, took it off a Landy I imported. The main rails are channeled so you can move the mounts around to suit, and the guards will fit anywhere. I can take some overall measurements for you and a few pix if you’re interested. let me know.

This is it before I took it off.

Attachment 118295
Ray.

Great looking deck, my Ute is double cab so that one would be too long unfortunately

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@hillclima if you struggle to find something reasonable, this one can be shortened, the deck is made of panels that lock together. I have already dropped the headboard by one panel as I was thinking of making it a trailer. Take a couple deck panels out and shorten the sides and refit the end mouldings. It's all 6mm bolts. You could have it for a few hundy and some IPA.

Originally Posted by ishoot10s

I’ve a universal fit alloy deck by Gitsham (Aussie) sitting here, took it off a Landy I imported. The main rails are channeled so you can move the mounts around to suit, and the guards will fit anywhere. I can take some overall measurements for you and a few pix if you’re interested. let me know.

This is it before I took it off.

Attachment 118295
Ray.

What did you do with the Landy?
Just a different flat deck or some other conversion?

@Beetroot

Originally Posted by ishoot10s

@Beetroot

Attachment 118911

Ah that makes sense.
How do you like the Puma engine?
Did you save a small fortune importing rather than NZ new?

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Ah that makes sense.
How do you like the Puma engine?
Did you save a small fortune importing rather than NZ new?

This is a 2009, last of the Puma 2.4's, great engine and gearbox combination. It was just under 130,000km when I got it. While it was shipping, last August, a guy in Nelson put one on TardMe that I probably would have bought if I had not already bought this. I just could not find one here at the time. It was worth doing $ wise, saved about 10K which paid for the Tipper conversion. Its been nearly a year and no snakes found so I think I'm ok...

I would not have bought a 2.2 as I think they are asking too much of that engine to deliver the same power and torque figures as the 2.4.

I got good money for my old '85 110 tipper, I had run it for 16 years, good hard working old truck. If this one lasts as well I'll be stoked.

I just changed my 2013 BT50 from a well to flatdeck. The deck was from the previous generation and had two mounts whereas the newer one had three (per side) and the height was different. Took about half a day to weld new cross bars on and make up spacers to raise it a bit. Lights just plugged straight in.

Down at the budget end I found a 2nd hand flatdeck at the Toyota wrecker and got it put onto my cab plus with just adding some bars and sides
300 for the deck and 1500 to fit - the leftover bumper from when it was a wellside looks a bit silly but I'm not here to be pretty

It sits a bit high and I was going to put a toolbox under the centre but never got around to it and now she's too old so I'll just drive her into the ground

If I did it again a tipper would be great, I didn't realise how cheap they can be had for