How can I legally drive #50 without a bed in California?

[robroy]

Good day,

I'm thinking of removing #50's bed. Ultimately I'll put something else back there, which will probably be a small wood plank flatbed. But I'd like to drive it bedless for a while for the novelty of it, and for easy access to the rear end, which I'm planning to replace.

Does anybody have experience driving pickups without beds in California?

I know of several things that must be done to make it legal:

• Securely mounted tail lights, turn signals, and backup lights.
• Some kind of wheel covering.
• The license plate.

So my main question's about the wheel covering--how elaborate must that be? How can I easily rig up something to make it legal?

Thank you very much,
Robroy

[CNM67]

Calfdemon knows all about this stuff, plus if I recall he drove his crew a few miles without a bed. Just set up some tail lights and a plate.

[robroy]

Thanks very much CNM67!

I'll be curious to hear his thoughts, then!

I have in mind driving mine more than just a few miles though; it could be a year or more of occasional weekend drives before I get something else installed.

Thank you CNM67,
Robroy

[Mancar1]

Did it in the 90's for a few weeks in the San Diego area. Long as you have the proper lighting and plates u will be ok. At least that is what the CHP told me. Give them a call.

[robroy]

Thanks very much John; that's interesting!

I hadn't thought to call the CHP; that's a great idea.

Thank you again,
Robroy

[TNIceWolf]

Robroy

It might also be worth checking with a local dealership that handles Cab and Chassis sales. Units sold in that configuration are perfectly legal as far as I know. Rudimentary lighting and proper registration should be enough to satisfy requirements but containment of road debris and water from the rear wheels is something you definately want even if not reqired. Some sort of rear bumper would be definate in my opinion.

[caseyj10]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/carry-on-t ... n--0175512 you could put these on to keep rock from flying up and harming you cab and other vehicles. Then you can use this http://www.tractorsupply.com/blazer-tra ... rs-0165313 for you lighting. Then maybe this http://www.tractorsupply.com/blazer-mul ... am-0283909 for your reverse. Done

[Calfdemon]

All you need are the brake/tail/blinker lights, a rear facing license plate, and I think you might need mud flaps as well, although, when I did it, I did not put on any mud flaps and never had any problems.. You can order tow lights from Harbor Freight for under $20, or you can do what I did and go to a local pick a part and buy some old tail lights off of an flareside or stepside type of truck where the lights are all inside of a bolt on housing. Then just bolt the lights to your frame and wire them to your existing rear wiring. That will do everything you need.

Here is a picture of my crew when I bought it and you can see the pick-a-part lights I had sitting on the bumper. I just mounted them to the top of the bumper on each side and then put the plate on.

[Ranchero50]

Be gentle, you'll really miss that 500lb over the bed, especially if it's wet out.

[Kurt Combs]

In the winter you will put out a rooster tail when it is raining that will probably hit the back of the cab. I think mud flaps would be appreciated by those following you. As mentioned I think you might have a traction problem at slow to moderate speeds, unless that is what you are looking for.

[1971ford]

I drove the race truck bed-less for a quite a while. Simply ghetto-rig some tail-lights on there (I used the stock Ford taillights zip tied to the frame... keep in mind though you need to ground the lights to the frame so they work right), mount some mud flaps on there (I threw a metal rod across the frame rails and hung mudflaps off that), and hang the license plate off something. You'll be golden.. But like said... be very careful in the rain. Especially with your powerful 390

[Whateverman]

i'm not in california but whatever,heres my
i had to bolt a sheet of plywood to the frame rails spaced up with some 2x4's because officer friendly wasn't impressed by the mud and rocks that bounced off the hood of his copmobile while he followed me.....which wasn't all bad,it kept the back of the cab alot cleaner
also: there is a surprising amount of flex in the frames of these old suckers when the box is off which is a little unnerving for the first little while

[rjewkes]

Yeah they allready flex real good with bed on. i had a buddy with one in highschool first time i seen it flex the bed around i let him know i thought it was broke.

[jzjames]

#50 ??? What's that mean?
Why do you want the experience of driving a Ford truck with no bed on?
Legally it will just be a matter of what kind of law enforcement you have there in your part of California.

[corneyedtapertail]

I was told by chp as long as it has plates lights and fenders over the tires it's ok kind of like the fenders on a trailer