[stllookn]

I just replaced a board in my Longhorn that the PO drilled. It is clean and original...like new. It was painted with, what appears to be, black enamel or black lacquer...very thin...which was top-coated, after assembly, with Anniversary Gold inside the bed. The underside is still black enamel with some undercoating sprayed over that. If it is going to be a working truck bed...I would use a hardwood rather than a softwood. Most of these that I have seen deteriorate from the end grain where dirt and moisture collect. I would make sure that I soak the ends of the boards for a few days in the finish you are going to use and allow the finish to penetrate the wood as much as possible. Just some thoughts.

I will have a VERY PRETTY working truck bed...I will use one of those cheesy plastic bed liners since it will keep most of the abrasive damage off my wood. People give them away for free around here and they really do protect the bed pretty well.