As some of you know, my truck was recently wrecked in the rear. Messed up the bed good. Since I have the choice of fixing it the way I want, I have been contemplating installing a steel flat bed with skirts. I have been dissappointed with the LACK OF SPACE on my short bed (tool box, 5th wheel hitch), and really like the idea of having storage built into the bed.

So what are some pros and cons? The truck is a crewcab shortbed.

How about a steel flat bed, removeable stake sides, and Rhino Line the bed? Maybe a couple of toolboxes under it on both sides.

Other than looks, and that is a personal opinion, I don't see any disadvantages, as long as you built some sort of stake sides that would allow you to put things "in" the bed, rather than "on" the bed.

I ran a steel flat bed on my last truck. Made by Omaha standard. It had wood bed with plate steel over the top. Good bed. I don't think you will have much room for underboxes with the short bed. You could put in boxes along the sides and have a stake end piece to box in the bed.

Should work well for fifth wheel and needed storage.

Good luck, Rob