Best wishes on your search for a custom, ALUMINUM flatbed. Sourcing this was by far the biggest headache in my 2018 build with a Ram Chassis Cab 3500 SRW and a new FWC Grandby. (Flatbed model.) We found many companies happy to work in steel- few in aluminum. One hint- look for companies that do custom work for the "oil patch".
Probably too far for you but I (finally) found a custom fabricator 50 miles from me that did up a completely custom, impeccably built, aluminum FB and for less than 1/2 what the mainline companies quoted me. Plus they installed it for free! NOTE: Photo below is of the first flatbed this company did for me on a standard Ram frame.
Another hint- if you're not married to your 2003 Ford a cab and chassis of any brand will be infinitely easier to design and mount a FB on. The straight rails also allow a full length "shovel box" and in my case we put a "possum belly" (28" wide x 22" long x 18" deep) dropping down between the rails right behind the cab. We keep two 7 gallon water jugs there plus much of our heavy recovery gear which leads me to...
My final hint: FB mounted campers inherently have a higher center of gravity. So it is even more important to keep heavy stuff lower and if possible ahead of the rear axle. (Which is true with all campers.) Along with the "possum belly" above we also have 4 under-bed boxes where we keep tools, fuel, chainsaw, etc.
Edited by Durango1, 15 January 2024 - 09:09 PM.