Are wooden flatbeds legal? The short answer is yes; you can build a wood flatbed for your truck.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

The longer answer is that there are a few things to remember if you plan to do so.

Yes, you can run a wooden flatbed on your truck.

A wooden flatbed is a common sight on the roads today, and for a good reason. Wooden pickup truck beds are lighter than steel ones, which means they’re easier to drive around with in mind and easier to get into your truck bed. And because wood doesn’t rust or corrode as metal does, you don’t have to worry about your things getting wet in the rain or snow (but keep them covered just in case).

But what if someone asks you if your wooden flatbed is legal? You can tell them no problem! A wooden flatbed is completely legal wherever you go. If they try anything else with you, just let us know!

The main concern around running a wooden flatbed is that it may not meet all DOT regulations.

In summary, if you are in a state that allows wood flatbeds:

• You must follow all DOT and FMCSA regulations. This includes the following:
• It would be best to have a diamond plate deck on top of your wooden flatbed. The deck should be at least 2 inches thick and less than 1/4 inch thick for every foot of distance between the outside edge of the wheels. You may not exceed 4 inches from centerline to outer edge or from top surface to bottom surface (Source).
• You may not exceed 10 feet in length for single-axle vehicles or 16 feet for tandem-axle vehicles (Source).
• Your trailer must have brakes on all four wheels that meet SAE standards (Source).

If you are in a state that does not allow wood flatbedsYou can only use steel flatbeds as they are legal nationwide.

Conclusion

As with any other vehicle modification, the main concern around running a wooden flatbed is that it may not meet all DOT regulations.

If you plan to use a wooden flatbed, it must meet all DOT and FMCSA standards.