Stake Bed vs. Flatbed: Which Truck Bed Do You Need?
A stake bed is a flatbed with stake pockets and removable sides. Here's how the two compare, which trades pick which, and how to mix gates side by side.
A flatbed is a flat, open deck that replaces your truck's factory box. A stake bed is a flatbed with stake pockets around the edge and removable side panels, called stakes or lift out gates, that drop into those pockets. Pull the stakes and a stake bed works like a flatbed; leave them in and you have tall sides for bulky or loose loads.
Which one you need comes down to what you haul and how you load it. If your loads get strapped down or loaded from the side with a forklift, a flatbed with low fold down gates is usually the better fit. If you haul brush, bulky material or anything that needs walls around it, choose a stake bed. Many beds mix the two: lift out stakes on some sides and fold down gates on others.
What is a stake bed truck?
A stake bed truck has a flat deck with aluminum stake pockets built into its edges. Each side panel drops into those pockets, stands on its own, and pulls straight up and out when you want it off. Our standard lift out gates are 30", 38" and 41" tall. We've also built custom heights, such as 33" and 46" stakes, and permanent 48" sides.
You'll also hear stake beds called stake bodies or stakebeds. Take the stakes off and what's left is a full flatbed deck, which is why a stake bed is the answer for anyone who needs tall sides some days and an open deck on others.
What is a flatbed?
A flatbed is a flat aluminum deck mounted to the truck's frame on crossmembers, with a headboard at the front to protect the cab. Ours mount on heavy-wall aluminum C-channel or I-beam crossmembers, with an aluminum mesh window guard headboard. Some flatbeds have no sides at all. Many get fold down gates: low side panels hinged at the bottom that fold flat against the side of the truck, so you can load from the side by hand or with a forklift. Our standard fold down gate is 22", and we've built low custom gates at 9", 12", 14", 15" and 16".
Stake bed vs. flatbed: pros and cons
| Bed type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Open flatbed (no sides) | Simplest setup; load from any side; nothing in the way of wide or long items | Nothing holds cargo in, so every load has to be strapped down |
| Flatbed with fold down gates | Gates fold flat for side or forklift loading; low sides keep tools and material on the deck | Low sides limit how high you can pile loose or bulky material |
| Stake bed (lift out gates) | Tall 30"–41" sides hold bulky and loose loads; stakes come off for an open deck | Stakes have to come out before you can load from that side; tall panels are more to lift on and off |
Either way, the deck is the same: high strength 6000 series aluminum with an 8,000 lb distributed load floor rating. The truck's own payload, GVWR and axle ratings always govern what you can carry, whichever sides you choose.
Which trades usually pick which
These are common setups by trade, the same ones we list on our gate guide. Treat them as starting points; the right setup depends on your truck and your loads.
| Trade | Typical setup | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping & tree work | Stake bed with 38" lift out gates all the way around and a 2-step dock bumper | Tall sides on every edge hold brush and bulky loads |
| General contracting | 22" fold down gates, 30" lift out gates in the rear, underbody tool boxes | Sides fold down for forklift loading; tools ride under the deck |
| Delivery fleets | Tommy Gate G2 liftgate with 22" fold down gates | Curbside access from the sides; the liftgate handles heavy items at the rear |
| Plumbing & pipe | 38" lift out gates with a ladder rack overhead | Tall sides for long stock; ladders and pipe ride on the rack |
| Pool service | Pool truck bed with 9" or 12" solid fold down gates and stainless steel hardware | Techs reach equipment from the side of the truck |
For tool storage, either bed type can take aluminum tool boxes: underbody boxes that keep the deck clear, or topside boxes along the sides.
“The new gates are light, operate smoothly, and stay cool to the touch no matter how hot it gets outside. The lift-gate gave us the extra foot we needed to safely maneuver full pallet loads.”
— Armando, on a Tommy Gate G2 retrofit with new Alumbody gates on a 1997 Ford Super Duty
Mixing gates on one bed
You don't have to pick one style for the whole bed. The front, driver side, passenger side and rear can each use a different gate, and mixing styles per side is common. Real combinations we've built include:
- 38" lift out sides with a 22" fold down rear gate (Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, Tundra)
- 30" lift out sides with a 22" fold down rear gate (Tacoma, Frontier)
- 22" fold down gates on the front of each side, with 14" fold downs behind them and at the rear (F-150)
- 38" lift out sides with barn doors in the rear (Tundra)
- 22" fold down sides with a liftgate in the rear (Colorado, Frontier)
Gate frames are 6061-T6 aluminum extrusion, hinges are 304 stainless steel, and latches and locking pins are stainless steel. See every gate style and height on our choose your gate page.
Flatbed with removable sides: is that a stake bed?
Yes. If you've been searching for a flatbed with removable sides or flatbed side gates, a stake bed with lift out gates is what you're describing. The sides lift off by hand, and the deck underneath is a full flatbed. If you'd rather not lift panels off, fold down gates are the other route: they're hinged at the bottom and fold down out of the way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a stake bed and a flatbed?
A stake bed is a flatbed with stake pockets and removable side panels. Pull the stakes and it works like an open flatbed; drop them in and you have tall sides for bulky or loose loads.
Can you get a flatbed with removable sides?
Yes, that's a stake bed. Lift out gates sit in stake pockets and pull straight up; ours come in 30", 38" and 41" heights, and custom heights are possible.
Can I have fold down gates on one side and lift out stakes on another?
Yes. Mixing gate styles per side is common, for example 38" lift out sides with a 22" fold down rear gate.
What are Alumbody stake bed gates made of?
Gate frames are 6061-T6 aluminum extrusion, with 304 stainless steel hinges and stainless steel latches and locking pins.
Is a stake bed or flatbed better for landscaping?
A stake bed. The common landscaping and tree work setup is 38" lift out gates all the way around with a 2-step dock bumper, so tall sides hold brush and bulky loads.
