Dodge Ram 1500 Hillsboro Flatbed Install

I was tired of looking at the rusted fenders on my farm pickup.. The bed is a Hillsboro G2.While I had the box off I added Load Lifter 5000 air bags and a new muffler. It was fun project that took 3 or 4 afternoons. I have had it set up this way for 4 months and I dig it... I don’t miss the rusty old box! Enjoy.
Music is:
Cody Jinks - Dirt
Sturgill Simpson - Long White Line

[@alsc4813]

Top Music, Top Work

[@robertlee9853]

Thanks! I Appreciate it.

[@derekmillhouse2453]

Robert Lee nice job. What 2 songs you played?

[@graycassidy7525]

Now y’all know some good music great video too

[@bertharvey3137]

i have an 05 ram 1500 daytona bed is gone rest of truck is great been looking at skirted flatbeds from c and m but too pricey but the hillsboro looks good trying to hide frame rails as much as possible. will try to find dealer tomorrow thanks for sharing and btw great music

[@dkalim6571]

like the music，like your job，been watching many times，wish one day I'll get a nice truck with nice tray same like yours，really nice job man

[@robertlee9853]

I appreciate it!

[@dkalim6571]

@@robertlee9853 👍👍👍

[@luisbravo495]

Nice truck

[@derekrandle3856]

I've been on the fence about buying one of these Hillsboro beds because they are so much less expensive than CM, Bradford...thought it might be one of those "get what you pay for" kinda deals but it sounds like you are pretty happy with yours. I'm gonna go ahead with it and do the installation myself. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@robertlee9853]

I think you’ll be happy. I am still not a bit disappointed.

[@derekrandle3856]

Thanks Robert. I actually ended up with a GR truck bed just because of availability in my area. Got it all mounted up but having an issue getting the fuel filler neck to mount up to the hole in the bed with the angles. Did you have issues with that? Thanks

[@robertlee9853]

@@derekrandle3856 I didn’t have issues. I know I purchased the stainless recessed filler neck hold from Hillsboro so that likely simplified it. Also I remember being concerned that the filler neck didn’t have enough slope to it and that is would want to splash back, but it has never bothered. So apparently it doesn’t need a whole lot of slope

[@derekrandle3856]

Right on, thanks for the speedy reply. Also noticed your plate when I watched again. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

[@davidcalvert3949]

Awsome wish I could do that

[@robertlee9853]

If I can, I suspect almost anyone can! 🤘

[@StephenSamuelsen]

On that hillsboro bed, did you bolt it to the frame of the truck and weld it? Or did you just weld straight to the steel tubing you put on there? Did you have any references you went off of? Thinking about doing the same thing to my ram. Great video! thanks

[@robertlee9853]

Hey Stephen I used 1.25x .25 flat strapping that was probably 10 inches long and welded that to the frame of the flatbed. once welded to the flatbed I drilled holes in the flat strapping to bolt it to the frame of the pickup…. What I remember reading it that you don’t want to weld it solid In the event it needs to be taken off. Which I did have to do a year later to replace the fuel pump… that made it easy to take off and put back on

[@michaelmcrae5827]

Nice!

[@robertlee9853]

Thanks!

[@Farout397]

Looks great, I have a 2005 ram 2500 with a flatbed and I’m in the progress of restoring. Do you have any info on the wiring diagram on your tail lights?

[@robertlee9853]

No not really I just used a test light and some patience and eventually figured out what made it tick... I wish I could be helpful sorry sir ! Good luck with the project

[@Farout397]

Robert Lee thank you, I was able to make mine work, just basic advanced auto parts oval tailights (NON LED) and now I have the “LAMP OUT” light on constantly. I guess I can’t have my cake and eat it too!

[@standish92k]

Looks good. Can you tell me what you did with the wiring? hard to see in that fast time lapse. You just hooking a bulb to each wire to find a function, then did you just solder them or did you have the right connector?

[@robertlee9853]

Hey. You are correct I am using a build from the taillight as a test light to determine what each wire does. Then I wired into a harness that came with the flatbed. That harness had a weather pack connector and was labeled from Hillsboro with what each wire is for. Wasn’t hard just a bit time consuming to figure out what went where. Thanks for asking! Have a good one

[@standish92k]

@@robertlee9853 Thanks for the response. I've been trying to figure out what the hell connector Ram uses on the 5th gen. I'd love to just make a short adaptor harness to go from their connector to a weather pack or Metro pack or whatever, but can't figure out what it is. Oh well. Might have to just do the same method to confirm the end of frame wires and snip it to put my own connector on. I emailed Ram body builder and got a decent pin out document, but they weren't the most helpful.

[@robertlee9853]

I’d try a salvage yard see if they would let you pull out the back end of the harness you are looking for... either way it isn’t to difficult just time consuming

[@danielpannell8472]

What size tubing did you use in the front and rear?

[@robertlee9853]

I think 1.25 square tubing across the frame for a spacer

[@ianradcliff7299]

Hey man I wanna do this to my truck cause I kinda messed my bed up and I wanted to know how to do it

[@robertlee9853]

Good luck sir... hope this helps you out... I really enjoy it... only thing I’d do different it change the fuel pump while the bed is off... fuel pump quit on me a couple months ago and I had to take it all apart to replace it... just my 2 cents... take care

[@john-anthonycastelan1108]

What were the Dimensions of the GII you used?

[@robertlee9853]

John-Anthony Castelan The bed is 80 wide x 84 long It’s 42 inches wide for a dodge frame and 36 inches cab to axle... hope this helps!

[@jonathanstewart8309]

What was the cost for the bed and what size did you go with I have the same truck and want to swap the beds thanks

[@robertlee9853]

I think it was around 2400$ maybe ?that’s including the boxes and the gas filler neck.... I would have to look back to be sure... I went with the Hillsboro because it is narrower the Bradford built and fits the pickup better... I think it is 80x80 off the top of my head.... I am real happy with it.. don’t regret it a bit

[@jonathanstewart8309]

Robert Lee awesome thanks for the response

[@praedyththelost3753]

Thinking of doing this to my own Ram 1500. What all was needed besides the flatbed? I wanna know the whole process.

[@robertlee9853]

You know it wasn’t easy but it wasn’t hard either a little common sense an angle grinder tape measure welder and a few jacks you could get it done... the biggest challenge for me was probably electrical... it want hard just tedious... I love having it on there ..

[@scottisaaks]

Oh yeah piece of cake lol

[@praedyththelost3753]

Robert Lee where did you find a bed that fit? My only guess is this was possible on a 3rd gen Ram because the bed lengths of that generation are almost identical, if not exactly the same across the line from 1500-3500.

[@robertlee9853]

Praedyth The Lost Right so I think the two measurements they are concerned with are the width of the gram and the cab to axel... and I suspect you are right on the 3rd gen dodges probably all the same

[@praedyththelost3753]

Robert Lee interesting. Did you buy the bed from a retailer?? Or did you just get it off of someone?

[@elliotcostello1708]

How long it take u to put that bed on and was it difficult wiring it to the led

[@robertlee9853]

It took a couple afternoons probably 8 hrs total... wiring wasn’t hard just had to put in time with a test light. And I had to put in line resistor otherwise the pickup thought the bulbs were burnt out... LED doesn’t draw enough apparently

[@dwitcraft]

Great work, nice bed and a wiener dog? That's the life!

[@chriswolverton5078]

Can u post how u wired it?

[@robertlee9853]

If I remember correctly it came with a harness that was pretty much plug and play... I just had to sort out which wire on the pickup did what and connect it to the harness in the right place... I also had to put in line resistors in to make the LED lights to work correctly... something about them not drawing enough amps and it makes the pickup think that the bulbs are burnt out... I would say if you are decent with a test light and a crimper, and have a little patience you should be good to go

[@DanielRamos-bq8py]

i have got to get one , i have the same truck with a banged up bed and only use it for the ranch here . i got most my ranch tools in it now and been looking for a bed just like yours ! that'd be perfect here ! how much she cost you ?

[@robertlee9853]

3-3500 I’d guess… I don’t remember for 100% sure… and I am sure they have gone up like most other things…. I sure like it I have no regrets

[@nathandsnow]

Nice Have you had any issues with over loading?

[@robertlee9853]

No I don’t feel like I have… I try not to be foolish when loading it. The brakes are probably the weakest link if you overdo it. I have had them get hot on me… something I pay close attention to now.

[@asher8116]

@@robertlee9853 what’s the most weight you’ve put on it?

[@robertlee9853]

@@asher8116 hard to say… 26 foot stock trailers with 10000 lbs of calves maybe… whatever that would be I try not to do that to often

[@miguelbernal3753]

Whats the name of the song

[@luker6766]

Cody jinks-Dirt

[@caidenthompson8686]

Have you used that Gooseneck

[@robertlee9853]

Yes

[@zhdarianable]

Who makes flatbeds for half tons trucks

[@robertlee9853]

This one is a Hillsboro… if I remember right it is not specific to 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton, it is based on cab to axel measurement and frame width measurement

[@cfraser650]

Looks like a heavy bed...?

[@robertlee9853]

I thought that would be a problem with a half ton.. it hasn’t bothered me one bit. I am sure it is a little heavier then the original box but has not caused issues. As far as durability I am real happy.. looks the same 3 years later as it did when I put it on… a few paint chips and scratches

[@arleyaguilar1657]

Is that hillsboro ohio

[@robertlee9853]

Kansas I think