Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

I just brought home a 1967 C20 parts truck and the bed has been modified. I am just wondering if anybody knows why they did this. It has 4 arches in the bed rail. There is one at each corner. The metal that was put in is a lot heavier than the original bed metal. Got any good ideas? Thanks

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

interested

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Perhaps this truck was used to haul around 5- 55/gal. barrels of something. The arches look to be about the same radius as a steel drum.

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

The peron that did the mod's probably isn't even around.

Half ton pickup's performed the worlds work duties until duallie one tons started showing up in the mid 70's. It was a different world back then. A lot of things I'd like to still be happening is this day and age. Like folks knowing how to do an honest days work...

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

My guess would be to haul o2 tanks or something similar. Are there any tie down hooks inside the bed or anything?

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

That's what I was thinking too
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Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Me too.

Do not know. That was my first thought was something to do with a camper.

I have some drums. I may need to put 5 of them in there and see how they fit. It does look like the correct diameter.

This is a C20 and it looks like it is as old as the truck is. It could have hauled anything in its day. It had a 4 speed and an Eaton rear end.

Like torch tanks or something else? There diameter is larger than the torch tanks that I have seen.

Thanks everyone.

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Maybe spare tire?

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

He11, thats an old "shine runner"....them oldboys sold it by the barrel, not the quart;) crazyL

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Dad said that could be true

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

But there is 4 of them. One in each corner.

You never know. If trucks could talk.

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Propane tanks maybe? Since theyre in all 4 corners it would had to be heavy. (weight distribution)

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Probably used to haul fat chicks in a four pack
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Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

I would go with barrels of some thing may be oil or chemicals, not fast enough for shine. Check the suspension and see if it was beefed up.

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Strange, the cutouts in the front are too close to the bed front to "complete the circle", if you catch my drift. If you were to fit something matching that radius into the cutout, it would hit the front of the box. There is also a tie down for each radius, and lots of wear on the top of the box. You've peaked my curiosity.....

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Maybe it had some kind of storage tank with bump outs

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Would guess some old propane tanks or a welders truck setup for tanks. Like was said above, the cutouts are too close to the front and back for large drums to sit in them properly. Most likely just cut oversized to hold whatever whenever.

Nate

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

old fire truck some sort

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

My thinkin also

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

I'm favoring the 55 gallon drum theory. Wiki says the drum diameter is 22-24.5". The inside bed rails measure 66" before being cut. Those notches would allow ten drums in the bed opposed to eight. Regardless the modification seems to have a specific use.

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

It could have been...Nah, it wasn't that.

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

THANKS everyone for all the great suggestions and ideas.

The swing arms have extra plating but I think that was because they were rusting out and they were trying to keep them from breaking. No other modification noticed but it is a C20 so it would have been pretty strong anyway. Thanks

Wow that is some figuring. The only way I would have figured that out would have been to put 10 barrels in the bed. Thanks

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

Old trucks are like old men we all had a past life that people can only guess at and they will more than likely be wrong.;)

Re: Anybody seen them do this to a bed before
 

They look like back rests for cheap labor.