Wood Bed Options???
 

71 Fleetside LB

I live in Alaska so shipping to here is usually very expensive. I need to replace the stock wood bed in my truck. I got a quote for a pine board complete kit with SS hardware for $475 but the shipping is $271 which is actually discount they gave to me for a total of $746.

I'm looking for advice/options that others have done that would be much cheaper. How about just bolting in some marine grade plywood sheets cut to fit? Ugly, I know, but should last awhile. I guess I could try to clean up the original steel strips but they are very rusted and got pretty beat up when I took out the bed. The original wood isn't in very good shape either.

Any suggestions?

Re: Wood Bed Options???
 

Heres some wood info from gmc pauls. Probably cheaper to get the wood cut local.
http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

Re: Wood Bed Options???
 

I've known people to use marine plywood that was very funcional & looked good too. I've seen it used in strips & also out of 2 4x8 sheets contoured to fit. It doesn't make sense to me to spend that kinda money if your going to use it like a truck anyway. A boardmember from nevada used two sheets of oak plywood & it looked pretty darn nice. John

Re: Wood Bed Options???
 

Someone on here made the permanent decking into their bed wood strips. It looks nice and can really take a beating.