Questions to Ask Before You Buy a New Truck Bed (Checklist)
Twelve questions that tell you what you're actually getting: materials, load rating, gates, bumper and camera, lighting, tool boxes, lead time, warranty, shipping and what the quote includes.
Before you buy a new truck bed, ask what it's made of, what the floor is rated for and how that compares with your truck's GVWR, which gate, bumper and tool box options you have, how lighting and your backup camera are handled, the lead time, the warranty, whether it's installed or shipped, and exactly what the quote includes. Then ask to see past builds on a truck like yours.
Below is the full checklist, why each question matters, and how we answer it at Alumbody, where we've built custom aluminum flatbeds and stake beds in Orange, California since 1978.
Before you ask: know your own answers
A builder can only quote what you describe. Have these ready:
- Your truck's year, make and model, and what's on it now: a short bed, standard bed, long bed, or a bare cab and chassis
- What you haul, and the heaviest load you carry regularly
- How you load: by hand, from the side, by forklift, or from the rear
- Whether you tow, and whether your truck has a factory backup camera
- Whether you want the bed installed or shipped
The checklist: 12 questions to ask a truck bed builder
1. What is the bed made of, and what is the hardware made of?
"Aluminum" or "steel" is a start, not a full answer. Ask for the alloy, and ask separately what the hinges, latches, pins and fasteners are made of, since those are the parts that move and wear. Our answer: high strength 6000 series aluminum, with gate frames of 6061-T6 aluminum extrusion, 304 stainless steel gate hinges, and stainless steel latches and locking pins. Stainless hardware is available for wet and cold climates. Our guide to aluminum alloys for truck beds explains the differences.
2. What is the floor rated for, and how does that compare with my truck's GVWR?
A bed's load rating tells you what the floor can carry. It does not raise what your truck can carry. Your truck's GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating, shown on the label in the driver's door jamb), payload and axle ratings set the real limit, and the bed's own weight counts against them. Our answer: an 8,000 lb distributed load rating on the floor, which in most cases is more than the truck's GVWR. The truck's own ratings always govern.
3. How is the bed mounted to the frame?
Ask what the deck sits on and how it ties into the truck's frame. Our answer: heavy-wall aluminum C-channel or I-beam crossmembers.
4. What gate options do I have?
Gates decide how you load. Fold down gates drop flat for side and forklift loading; lift out gates give you height and come off when you need them out of the way. Ask about heights and whether you can mix styles. Our answer: 22" fold down gates and 30", 38" or 41" lift out gates are the standard choices, and custom heights are possible. Mixing styles by side is common, and we've built barn doors in the rear. Compare them on our gates page.
5. Can I keep my factory bumper, and what about my backup camera?
The rear of the bed has to work with how you back up and dock, and with any camera on the truck. Our answer: you can keep the factory bumper or add a dock style bumper, and we've built two-step dock bumpers too. If your truck has a factory backup camera, tell us up front so we plan the rear of the bed around it.
6. How is lighting handled?
Ask what lights come with the bed, how they connect to the truck, and whether work lights or a reverse camera can be added. Our answer: reverse cameras and LED work lights are available as options, and lighting carries a 1-year warranty.
7. What tool boxes, racks and liftgates can be added?
Storage and add-ons are best planned with the bed, so ask about sizes and placement now. Our answer: topside and underbody aluminum tool boxes in a range of sizes, ladder racks, pipe and lumber racks, D-rings and tie-downs, and hitches. For liftgates, we offer the Tommy Gate G2-Series, our most popular, and the Maxon 66-16, with a 1,600 lb capacity.
8. What is the lead time?
Ask for a typical lead time and what could stretch it. Our answer: standard flatbeds and stake beds typically take 2–4 weeks; heavily customized builds may take longer.
9. What does the warranty cover, and is it in writing?
Length matters, but so does what's covered. Ask what each part of the warranty includes, and get it in writing. Our answer: a 3-year structural warranty and a 1-year lighting warranty.
10. Do you install it, or can you ship it?
If the builder isn't nearby, shipping may be the practical option, but then you need a plan for installation. Our answer: we install at our shop in Orange, California, or ship anywhere in the U.S., palleted, shrink-wrapped and freight insured.
11. What exactly is included in the quote?
Two quotes are only comparable if they cover the same things. Ask the builder to spell out the bed size, gates, bumper, lighting, tool boxes, racks, liftgate, and installation or freight. Our answer: tell us your setup through the quote form and we'll email or text a firm quote within 2 business days.
12. Can I see past builds on a truck like mine?
Photos of finished beds on your make and model show how a builder handles fit, gates and the rear of the truck. Our answer: we've built beds for everything from the Tacoma and Frontier to F-550s, Isuzu NPRs and Sprinter cab chassis. Browse past builds by truck.
Checklist at a glance
| Question | Alumbody's answer |
|---|---|
| Material and hardware | High strength 6000 series aluminum; 6061-T6 gate frames; 304 stainless gate hinges; stainless latches and locking pins |
| Floor rating vs. GVWR | 8,000 lb distributed load rating; the truck's own ratings always govern |
| Mounting | Heavy-wall aluminum C-channel or I-beam crossmembers |
| Gates | 22" fold down; 30", 38" or 41" lift out; custom heights possible |
| Bumper and camera | Keep the factory bumper or add a dock style bumper; rear planned around a factory camera |
| Lighting | Reverse cameras and LED work lights available; 1-year lighting warranty |
| Tool boxes and add-ons | Topside and underbody boxes, racks, tie-downs, hitches; Tommy Gate G2-Series or Maxon 66-16 liftgate |
| Lead time | Typically 2–4 weeks for standard flatbeds and stake beds |
| Warranty | 3-year structural, 1-year lighting |
| Install or ship | Install in Orange, CA, or ship anywhere in the U.S. |
| Quote | Firm quote by email or text within 2 business days |
| Past builds | Photo galleries by truck make and model |
What a good answer sounds like
Specific, consistent, and willing to go in writing. A good builder will also ask you questions back about your truck and your work, because the right bed depends on both. If an answer is vague, ask again, or ask for it to be spelled out in the quote.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask before buying a flatbed?
Ask what it's made of, the floor's load rating and how it compares with your truck's GVWR, your gate, bumper and tool box options, how lighting and a backup camera are handled, the lead time, the warranty, install or shipping, and what the quote includes.
Does a truck bed's load rating increase my truck's payload?
No. Your truck's GVWR, payload and axle ratings always govern. The bed's rating only tells you what the floor itself can carry.
What is GVWR on a truck?
Gross vehicle weight rating: the most the manufacturer says the fully loaded truck may weigh, including the truck, passengers, fuel, bed and cargo. It's shown on the label in the driver's door jamb.
How long does it take to get a new flatbed?
At Alumbody, standard flatbeds and stake beds typically take 2–4 weeks. Heavily customized builds may take longer.
What warranty does an Alumbody truck bed have?
A 3-year structural warranty and a 1-year lighting warranty.
