For the flatbed rail car in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, see Freight (flatcar).
The Flatbed is a recurring heavy truck first introduced in Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 and would go on to repeatedly appear in following titles. It is manufactured by MTL in the HD Universe.
Design[]
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969[]
In its debut appearance in Grand Theft Auto: London 1969, the Flatbed is depicted as a two-door, four-wheel cab-over lorry with a flat cab that is more alike to those seen in 1960s Britain, similar in design to a Ford D-series.
The truck features a set of marker lights and cornet horns on the roof, and an ample bed with what seems to be barrels loaded on it. The truck consistently appears in a green colour.
3D Universe[]
Between Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Flatbed's appearance remains the same, being a six-wheeled truck with a long hood/nose, a utility cab with room for two occupants and an ample bed. Although it appears to have six wheels, it can be speculated that it is a 10-wheeler truck, as it would likely have duals.
- In Grand Theft Auto III, the Flatbed is evidently based on the M939 "5-ton" truck and is identical to the Barracks OL, its military variant (albeit without the latter's bed accessories). The truck only spawns in a dark green color.
- In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Flatbed features an enclosed cab and a variety of cargo on the back (with the exception of GTA Vice City Stories), as well as a variety of primary colors on the body. In GTA Vice City, the Flatbed spawns with stacked piping, two variations of wooden crate stacks, or two variations of covered aircraft fuselages (with the tarpaulins/covers receiving the secondary color), while in GTA San Andreas, it spawns with three variations of wooden crate stacks (with one of them having a small tarpaulin/cover).
- In Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the Flatbed assumes a redesigned front fascia similar to the Linerunner, though with outer turning lights and inner headlights, as well as long exhaust stacks. The vehicle is loaded with three planks of wood resting against some covered crates, and can be seen in a variety of primary colors applied to the body/cab.
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
In Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, the Flatbed is essentially modeled on the Peterbilt 379; its appearance is thus very similar to the Phantom, a truck also based on a Peterbilt design.
The front of the vehicle features a large heavy-duty bumper with the license plate in the center, while the front of the nose is finished in silver/chrome and features a large grille with the MTL badge above. The sides of the nose have large circular fenders for the front wheels and a set of front-facing headlights and side-facing indicators, followed by large badges displaying the truck's name and air cleaners near the cabin area.
The main cabin of the truck is very elevated, featuring a set of side steps and large fuel tanks on the lower sides, as well as cab skirts with additional lights. On the middle section, the truck features the corresponding cabin doors and the silver rear-view mirrors on the doors with small marker lights on the frontal surface, while the upper area features a split windshield with a custom visor on the front and a set of marker lights with trumpet horns on the roof. Large vertical exhaust stacks can be seen behind the cabin.
The rear section of the truck consists of the large flatbed with a front wall separating the cargo area from the cabin section, featuring side access ladders and small mudguards/fenders for the rear wheels, followed by small mudflaps on the end of the rear mudguards/fenders. The rear end has square tail lights on the upper side and a central license plate on the lower side, while the MTL badge can be seen on the rear end of the flatbed/cargo area.
The truck can spawn with an empty bed, an unusable crane or with a large container, and is available in several of a fewer variety of colors, consisting of the primary one applied to the cabin and the rear fenders, and a secondary one for the crane/container extras (only one color set features a darker green primary color with a brighter green secondary). It uses industrial wheels also seen on vehicles such as the Mule, the Benson and the Yankee.
The Flatbed is equipped with a GPS system with a male voice, but only if the player leaves the "selected cars" (default) option in the audio menu.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
The Flatbed in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars resembles a 2009-present Dodge Ram 5500 and is therefore much smaller. It is consistently depicted as a flatbed truck. In other versions, the truck seems to combine elements of the Nintendo DS model and the GTA IV model.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
In Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the truck appears as the flatbed/recovery truck adaptation of the Packer (resembling a 2004 Freightliner Century Class 112).
The front section of the vehicle shares the same design as the Packer, but it appears to incorporate silver badges on the grille and beside the cabin area, while the rear section features a long chassis with fuel tanks, additional battery boxes, front mudguards/fenders and rear mudflaps. The rear end of the truck uses a similar tail light setup and rear defense as the Pounder and most of the trailers featured in the game. The rear bed is depicted with small borders on either side and steel winches inside, supposed to carry small vehicles in case of malfunctions or accidents. It's unable to transport vehicles as it is non-operational in-game. Even when using a ramp to get on the bed, the car will still slide off when in motion.
The Flatbed is fitted with a CB radio, and occasional trucker chatter can be heard regardless of whether the main radio is turned on or off. The chatter will only play if playing as Trevor and in Blaine County.
The Flatbed spawns in a variety of single colors applied to the main body, front bumper and rear mudguards/fenders, and it uses a set of industrial wheels also shared with the Benson, the Mule and the Phantom.
Current Design Gallery[]
Version History Gallery[]
Performance[]
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969[]
Despite its appearance, the Flatbed weighs about the same as normal cars, suggesting that it is a light lorry similar to the Sweets Van. It is also one of the better handling lorries in the game, albeit slightly inferior to the Sweets Van, with average speed, and slightly below average acceleration and handling.
3D Universe[]
From GTA III onward, the Flatbed is slow to accelerate and hard to maneuver in tight spaces. Once it gets going, however, its top speed is decent. The Flatbed is resilient, allowing it to easily ram other vehicles aside (even being capable of surviving up to four collisions before becoming undrivable). However, it is outclassed in this by the Fire Truck and the Barracks OL, but in GTA Vice City, it outperforms the Fire Truck as far as ramming ability is concerned, as it stays in control more than the Fire Truck, whose grip is lost in almost all head-on collisions.
Also, in GTA Vice City, it is clearly the heaviest non-specialist vehicle as it is not only a heavy duty ten-wheeler, but it is also always loaded with something. The fire truck accelerates faster, but does not demonstrate the amount of momentum and density of the Flatbed.
All renditions of the Flatbed use a diesel engine, coupled to a 5-speed gearbox in a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. It also uses the typical engine sound from most industrial trucks, with the GTA San Andreas iteration using the same sound as the Enforcer and the Barracks.
3D Universe Overview[]
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 93 / 150 (GTA III & GTA Vice City)
87 / 140 (GTA San Andreas — GTA Vice City Stories) |
5 | Diesel | RWD | 8500 / 18739 |
N/A | N/A | 5 | N/A | RWD | Cannot be observed |
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
The Flatbed, despite its size and sheer weight, still manages to get a good top speed. However, it is quite slow to accelerate, but it has exceptional steering and maneuverability to make up for this. The brakes are adequate to its size and weight.
The Flatbed has an engine model, but without the manifolds, the model is hard to identify. It is coupled to a 6-speed gearbox in a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Its engine sound is shared with that of the Phantom, with a high-revving tone.
GTA IV Overview[]
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engines | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 71 / 115 | 6 | N/A | RWD | 12000 / 26455 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
N/A | N/A | 6 | FR (rear 4) | RWD | Cannot be observed |
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
The Flatbed in GTA V and GTA Online is an improvement over the last installments. Due to sharing the same engine as the Packer, the Flatbed can achieve speeds just as impressive. Handling is quite decent due to not being that lengthy and the simpler twin-axle setup (opposed to the triple-axle setup of the Packer and the Pounder). Acceleration is not bad either. Another advantage the Flatbed has is its sheer size and weight. When chased by cops, the Flatbed is a rolling battering ram, being able to plough through many roadblocks, also being quite durable.
The Flatbed has an engine model, but without the manifolds found on other trucks, such as the Scrap Truck, the model is hard to identify. Judging by the sparkplug imprints, it can be assumed that the vehicle is petrol, furthermore, eight sparkplug imprints can be seen, meaning the vehicle must have a V8 engine. Despite all this, the engine sound is somewhat similar to a diesel engine, which revs moderately high (yet still lower than other trucks, such as the Benson and Police Riot), and provides a significantly smooth engine sound, yet the roar produced from the engine can still be heard unlike the aforementioned vehicles.
GTA V and Online Overview[]
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
Fuel Tank Size (litres) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 81 / 130 | 5 | N/A | AWD 50% FWD 50% RWD |
6500 / 14330 | 80 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | 24-Valve Supercharged (Badging) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
N/A | N/A | 5 | F4 SOHC V8 (Spark-Plug Textures) | AWD | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
Rockstar Games Social Club[]
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
Gallery[]
Special Variants[]
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
- A Flatbed rigged with explosives appears in the mission Rigged to Blow, which is used to blow a garage under Mikhail Faustin orders. This one has a device placed on the back similar to a Car Bomb provided by Packie. It cannot be obtained, as it is destroyed as part of the mission.
- A Flatbed with logs appears in the mission Search and Delete and Meltdown. In the first one, it only appears at the part where Lyle Rivas is escaping. This version can be obtained by killing Rivas just on the Dukes Bay Bridge and before his car disrupts the truck. If done correctly, the truck can be entered as a normal vehicle. However, the logs becomes unsolid and the truck loses its cargo when stored on a parking spot.
The Ballad of Gay Tony[]
- A unique red/pink colored Flatbed can be seen during some Base Jumps, specifically on "Vehicle Jumps". After the jump is completed, the driver flees the area for no reason, leaving the truck completely open. The driver will flee even if the player fails the base jump.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
- A Flatbed transporting a dragon costume appears during the mission Dragon Haul Z. The dragon costume is used to lose the heat.
Prominent Appearances in Missions[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
- Import/Export - The Flatbed is one of the 23 vehicles wanted for the Portland Island portion of the Import/Export side mission.
- The Exchange - Two Flatbeds spawn at the Cochrane Dam, one of which is stationary and the other occupied by a member of the Colombian Cartel
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- The Exchange - The Flatbed appeared during the mission The Exchange, where Victor and Diaz' men come to the deal in Downtown, with the DEA, to exchange the drugs for the weapons. This Flatbed is navy blue.
- Farewell To Arms - The same blue Flatbed is driven by Gonzalez to transport the shipment to Escobar International Airport; it needs to be protected from the Sharks.
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
- On chase missions, Flatbeds are often scripted to increase the difficulty of such missions, usually by disrupting the target's/player's car or blocking the path. The vehicle in Search and Delete is scripted to appear with logs on it.
- Rigged to Blow - A Flatbed rigged with explosives is used by Niko to blow up a garage, under Mikhail's orders.
The Ballad of Gay Tony[]
- Dropping In - A Flatbed is used by Timur to allow Luis to land safely on the back, after Luis kills Marki Ashvilli and jumps from the MeTV Building.
- The Flatbed appears in four of the 15 Base Jumps. It appears on "vehicle jumps" as the landing zone for Luis, with the fifth vehicle jump ending on a Marquis rather than a Flatbed. This version always appears in a bright red/pink color.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
- In the ending cutscene of the mission Bomb Disposal.
- The Flatbed with the dragon costume appears during the mission Dragon Haul Z.
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- Father/Son - A Flatbed always appears during the chase scene with a Gauntlet on the back platform. The vehicle is again used to increase the difficulty of the mission, as it will lose control and the car on the back will fall from it.
- The Merryweather Heist (Freight method) - A Flatbed appears at the end of the mission, being loaded with the stolen experimental "super weapon". It is later occupied by Floyd Hebert and Lester Crest after discussing with the main Protagonists the consequences of the score if the device is not retrieved back.
- Targeted Risk - Franklin Clinton and Dom Beasley parachute from the Maze Bank Tower onto the bed of a Flatbed truck.
- The Big Score (Subtle) - A scripted red Flatbed always appears entering the Del Perro Freeway as the crew escape towards the tunnel during the police chase, placed in a location designed to slow down the crew.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
Air Freight Cargo[]
- Appears parked at the drop site in Air Freight Cargo Sell Missions, in a particular mission where the player must drop small containers at drop sites using the Cargobob. The container will be lowered onto the truck in a cutscene once near the Flatbed.
The Doomsday Heist[]
- May appear as targets to retrieve during the preparation mission "Strombergs", carrying the Stromberg needed for the operation. Six Flatbeds may spawn at once, with only four of them valid for the preparation.
The Diamond Casino Heist[]
- A Flatbed carrying Arcade equipment appears in the setup "Equipment", which the player must retrieve as the first step to set up the business.
- A Flatbed with a Cutter prop must be stolen during the setup "Tunnel Boring Machine", in order to use the sewer tunnel as the entry point during the Aggressive Approach of the Casino Heist|Casino Heist. The setup is only available if the player took a photo of the sewer during the setup "Casino Scoping".
Los Santos Drug Wars[]
- A Flatbed is used to carry the stolen equipment for the acid lab during "Setup: Acid Lab Equipment".
Locations[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
- Rarely spawns in Chinatown.
- Spawns rarely in Fort Staunton/Aspatria, Staunton Island
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- Parked southwest of the Pay 'n' Spray in Viceport.
- Commonly found in Viceport.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
- Commonly found driving around Ocean Docks.
- Found in the main road of Fallen Tree.
- Common in Spiny Bed and LVA Freight Depot.
- Driving around Easter Basin.
- Usually found driving on the Sherman Dam.
- On the freeway just south of Hunter Quarry.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
The Flatbed is considered as one of the rarest vehicles in the game, along with Mr. Whoopee and some vehicles. In the mobile version, Flatbeds tend to spawn more frequently, though it is still difficult to find them.
- Rarely spawns in Chinatown.
- Sometimes spawns in Portland Harbor. (only in mobile versions)
- Rarely spawns in Atlantic Quays. (only in mobile versions)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- One is parked in front of the Vice City Port Authority building in Viceport.
- One is parked near the east entrance of Escobar International Airport.
- It can be found in traffic around Viceport.
- One is parked on the construction site of the Moist Palms Hotel in Downtown Vice City.
Grand Theft Auto IV[]
- Parked in a construction site adjacent to the multistory car park in Purgatory, Algonquin.
- Parked on Fulcrum Avenue in Tudor, Alderney.
- Two Flatbeds are parked in a construction site with a helicopter landing pad in Westminster, Algonquin.
- Parked on Union Drive West in Purgatory, Algonquin near a skate park.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars[]
- In the junkyard behind Chan Jaoming's garage.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
- Flatbeds are most common on the northern part of the Great Ocean Highway and eastern Highways. Spawns along with other trucks like the Phantom, Hauler and Packer.
- Flatbeds sometimes appear in the Port of Los Santos, near the Dock Handlers spawn points.
Rewards[]
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969[]
- The Flatbed has twice the value of the Sweets Van, earning the player a base payment of £800 when it is exported in mint condition.
Radio Stations[]
- In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the Flatbed plays K-DST.
- In Grand Theft Auto IV, the default radio stations are grouped by genre. The Flatbed uses the "Reggae" group which can play:
- In Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, the default radio stations are grouped by genre. The Flatbed uses the "Reggae" group which plays RamJam FM.
- In Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition, the default radio stations are grouped by genre. The Flatbed uses the "Reggae" group which can play:
- In Grand Theft Auto V, the default radio stations are grouped by genre. The Flatbed uses the "Rock" group which can play:
- In Grand Theft Auto Online, the default radio stations are grouped by genre. The Flatbed uses the "Rock" group which can play:
- Los Santos Rock Radio
- Radio Mirror Park
- Kult FM (Enhanced Editions only)
- Vinewood Boulevard Radio (May not play due to a three station limit within the group)
Trivia[]
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
- During the chase part of Father/Son, a Flatbed can be seen carrying a Gauntlet, which later falls from it. In normal gameplay, cars cannot be carried on the Flatbed, as they will simply slide off the truck when setting off.
- Strangely, the engine model for the Flatbed appears to use 8 spark plugs, suggesting it is a petrol engine, untypical for a vehicle of this kind. It also suggests the engine can only be a petrol single-cam V8. This is also the case with the Packer and Pounder.
- The Flatbed's badges incorrectly refer to the engine as a "V24", where it actually means "24 valved", which is supposed to be written as "24v". This also applies to various MTL vehicles and the Phantom.
- The current logo resembles the old-style logo used on Prevost Buses.
See Also[]
- DFT-30 - Similar purpose vehicle in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
- Biff - A truck which sports a flatbed variant in Grand Theft Auto IV.
- Packer - Semi-truck sharing the cab design with the Flatbed.
- Pounder - Ditto, curtain-side truck.
- Wastelander - Another flatbed truck featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the Import/Export update.