Wood Bed vs. Metal Bed - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 10-20-2004, 09:43 AM

Solver put me up to starting this threadâ€¦good idea. What do you like better, a metal floor bed or a wood floor bed?

djracer · 10-20-2004, 10:03 AM

I'd prefer wood for a show truck or metal for a work truck!

Solver · 10-20-2004, 10:10 AM

Since I got you started I'll jump in
I have wood in most of my trucks
I prefer it to metal because it can be easily replaced with new.
Here in Iowa the metal floors don''t last long and I think the wood is better looking.

Mudder · 10-20-2004, 10:29 AM

What they said...................

Bamm · 10-20-2004, 10:35 AM

Wood.....

Jerry

GMC AMI · 10-20-2004, 10:52 AM

Too bad to beat up a nice wood bed if you really have to work your truck!
What the DJ said all the way.

Hook'em · 10-20-2004, 11:32 AM

I agree. Wood for show, metal for work. I have a metal bed with a spray in liner, but it is not a show truck.

**Canadian694x4** · 10-20-2004, 01:02 PM

I have yet to build a show truck but I like my Steel bed...but for a showy type truck wood should prolly be used...only exception being your doing a 100% resto and you want to keep a steel bed that came with your truck I suppose...

Broken_down? · 10-20-2004, 03:45 PM

wood all the way..

mocwon · 10-20-2004, 03:51 PM

Wood to show, metal to go.

TugOwar · 10-20-2004, 04:16 PM

Wood for work or play. Had a wood bed in a '66 1/2 ton once. Hauled fire wood, rubish, gravel, you name it, never had a complaint. Wood won't sag between the bed cross supports like steel does after time.

When money allows I'll be switching my 68 GMC to wood.

Harold Shepard · 10-20-2004, 08:00 PM

I have a wood floor in my 71 Super, but I would have rather had the steel. But who can find a steel floor that will not take endless hours to straighten? Around here they don't exist, but when I see a truck with a straight steel floor, as wierd as this may seem, I get all excited, because everyone who shows it seems goes with the wood and there is only so much you can do with oak or ash or pine or what ever....

*Gee_Emm* · 10-20-2004, 08:06 PM

Wood, you have to baby metal too much.

shortymac83 · 10-20-2004, 08:47 PM

Wood. With all the stuff I've done with my rotted wood bed, the metal bed would have fallen through by now. Besides, if you want hold down straps, drill some holes and put a couple eye screws with backing nuts on it. Perfect. I'd take wood for both. Also, wood is cheap, and when it rots, replace it. When metal rots, good luck finding a new floor.

c-1072 · 10-20-2004, 08:59 PM

has anyone changed a bed from steel to wood ? i want to do my short bed but i am not sure if its doable and fairly cost affective . I know the front panel is different but not sure what else .

68w/sbc406 · 10-20-2004, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c-1072

has anyone changed a bed from steel to wood ? i want to do my short bed but i am not sure if its doable and fairly cost affective . I know the front panel is different but not sure what else .

i was told that the front are different and the back are dirrerent, but the bed sides and wheel wells where the same. you would need the cross supports for the wood too

dwaite72lnghrn · 10-20-2004, 09:11 PM

Wood both ways, A nice oak for show and PT for work nothing slips around, when you bang the wood to much or nail into it to much just bolt in new PT and go.

Dean23 · 10-20-2004, 09:34 PM

i like the looks of a wood bed they look great.When it comes time to do the floor on my 68 resto. IM going to go with a nice sheet of brushed aluminum

john@thepier · 10-20-2004, 09:00 PM

I have 2 with wood and 4 with steel, I seem to prefer steel as long as there strait.and since we're on the subject of steel beds ,I just purchased one more truck ,I'll post pics next week when I get it home. it's a 67

Harold Shepard · 10-20-2004, 10:13 PM

Mine was originally a steel floor. The swap is easy enough but you have to change headgates $150, crossmembers $30 or so each x 5 and bed bolts, strips and wood. It is as stated easy and very do-able I used a MAR-k kit with red oak but I think I would use Bruce Horkey kit next time. The MAR-K kit was good but I think Horkey does a good job putting his stuff together plus he is a nice guy. Just my .01 worth

roj2323 · 10-20-2004, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harold Shepard

Mine was originally a steel floor. The swap is easy enough but you have to change headgates $150, crossmembers $30 or so each x 5 and bed bolts, strips and wood. It is as stated easy and very do-able I used a MAR-k kit with red oak but I think I would use Bruce Horkey kit next time. The MAR-K kit was good but I think Horkey does a good job putting his stuff together plus he is a nice guy. Just my .01 worth

what is a headgate ? also do you have web sites for the kits your talking about?

thanks,
ondrew

glock35ipsc · 10-20-2004, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roj2323

what is a headgate ? also do you have web sites for the kits your talking about?

thanks,
ondrew

www.mar-k.com

By headgate,he means the front panel. You can replace it if it is beat up, or there is an angled strip that you can install to your existing front panel.

Besides the wood and strips, you need a new rear cross sill, a reinforcing strip, and cross sills (3 for SWB, 5 for LWB). Sides and wheel tubs are the same.

Oh yeah, my 68 LWB in my avatar pic will be a SWB Yellow Pine wood floor when completed.

longhorn71 · 10-20-2004, 11:29 PM

wood it is easier to repair and looks better

71gmcfanatic · 10-21-2004, 12:06 AM

Werent some of the people on here replacing their rusted steel beds with aluminum diamond plate? Thats somthing I would like to see pics of if anyone has done it.

djracer · 10-20-2004, 10:42 PM

All 4 of mine are steel but I'd like a nice wood one!

10-20-2004, 09:43 AM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Wood Bed vs. Metal Bed Solver put me up to starting this threadâ€¦good idea. What do you like better, a metal floor bed or a wood floor bed? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

10-20-2004, 10:03 AM	#2
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	I'd prefer wood for a show truck or metal for a work truck! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

10-20-2004, 10:10 AM	#3
Solver Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Storm Lake, Ia Posts: 1,449	Since I got you started I'll jump in I have wood in most of my trucks I prefer it to metal because it can be easily replaced with new. Here in Iowa the metal floors don''t last long and I think the wood is better looking. Attached Images __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Super 20 LWB-Blue 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-Black 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-Red 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-green 1972 GMC 4x4 LWB-White 1971 Cheyenne 10 LWB-Ochre 1971 Cheyenne 20 Longhorn-Copper 1971 Cheyenne 20 Longhorn-Black 1969 Custom 10 LWB-lt blue 1968 GMC 3/4 ton-green 1968 1/2 ton swb stepside-silver 1967 Chevrolet CST 10 LWB-green 1967 Chevrolet custom 20 LWB-Maroon

10-20-2004, 10:35 AM	#5
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	Wood..... Jerry __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

10-20-2004, 10:52 AM	#6
GMC AMI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Other Maine! Posts: 2,236	Too bad to beat up a nice wood bed if you really have to work your truck! What the DJ said all the way. __________________ 1968 Chevy 4x4 307 4 speed

10-20-2004, 10:29 AM	#4
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	What they said...................

10-20-2004, 11:32 AM	#7
Hook'em Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Round Rock, Texas Posts: 858	I agree. Wood for show, metal for work. I have a metal bed with a spray in liner, but it is not a show truck. __________________ Hook'em

10-20-2004, 01:02 PM	#8
Canadian694x4 Born To Lose Club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North Posts: 13,308	I have yet to build a show truck but I like my Steel bed...but for a showy type truck wood should prolly be used...only exception being your doing a 100% resto and you want to keep a steel bed that came with your truck I suppose... __________________ Brian Smith - "Born To Lose" 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 22 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada!- 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 3 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 17 Yrs- 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 8 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154.

10-20-2004, 03:51 PM	#10
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	Wood to show, metal to go. __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....

10-20-2004, 04:16 PM	#11
TugOwar Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pleasanton, TX Posts: 1,723	Wood for work or play. Had a wood bed in a '66 1/2 ton once. Hauled fire wood, rubish, gravel, you name it, never had a complaint. Wood won't sag between the bed cross supports like steel does after time. When money allows I'll be switching my 68 GMC to wood.

10-20-2004, 08:00 PM	#12
Harold Shepard Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canton North Carolina Posts: 466	I have a wood floor in my 71 Super, but I would have rather had the steel. But who can find a steel floor that will not take endless hours to straighten? Around here they don't exist, but when I see a truck with a straight steel floor, as wierd as this may seem, I get all excited, because everyone who shows it seems goes with the wood and there is only so much you can do with oak or ash or pine or what ever....

10-20-2004, 08:06 PM	#13
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	Wood, you have to baby metal too much.

10-20-2004, 08:47 PM	#14
shortymac83 hmm... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Culver, Indiana Posts: 1,631	Wood. With all the stuff I've done with my rotted wood bed, the metal bed would have fallen through by now. Besides, if you want hold down straps, drill some holes and put a couple eye screws with backing nuts on it. Perfect. I'd take wood for both. Also, wood is cheap, and when it rots, replace it. When metal rots, good luck finding a new floor. __________________ 1983 Oldsmobile Delta 88 1967 Chevy C-10 stripper www.fcrperformance.com - wanna go...faster? talk to FCR.

10-20-2004, 08:59 PM	#15
c-1072 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: rochester NY Posts: 777	Converting steel to wood has anyone changed a bed from steel to wood ? i want to do my short bed but i am not sure if its doable and fairly cost affective . I know the front panel is different but not sure what else .

10-20-2004, 09:11 PM	#17
dwaite72lnghrn Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: central pa Posts: 1,525	Wood both ways, A nice oak for show and PT for work nothing slips around, when you bang the wood to much or nail into it to much just bolt in new PT and go. __________________ 72 longhorn c30 502BB/th400/fact air/4.11rear/ custom camper 72 bug(the better half's) under reconstruction 2009 HHR aqua blue 71 GMC k20 350/sm465 2009 Chevy hd3500 6.6 Victory Red crew cab dually Dave & Jeanne



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10-20-2004, 09:34 PM	#18
Dean23 68cst_ss490 Join Date: May 2001 Location: edmonton,canada Posts: 1,363	i like the looks of a wood bed they look great.When it comes time to do the floor on my 68 resto. IM going to go with a nice sheet of brushed aluminum __________________ Dean edmonton,canada a winter wonderland 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche LT cold air intake, performance exhaust, Comp cams cam, jba shorty ceramic headers. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3090973

10-20-2004, 09:00 PM	#19
john@thepier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lake Geneva, WI 53147 Posts: 970	I have 2 with wood and 4 with steel, I seem to prefer steel as long as there strait.and since we're on the subject of steel beds ,I just purchased one more truck ,I'll post pics next week when I get it home. it's a 67

10-20-2004, 10:13 PM	#20
Harold Shepard Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canton North Carolina Posts: 466	Mine was originally a steel floor. The swap is easy enough but you have to change headgates $150, crossmembers $30 or so each x 5 and bed bolts, strips and wood. It is as stated easy and very do-able I used a MAR-k kit with red oak but I think I would use Bruce Horkey kit next time. The MAR-K kit was good but I think Horkey does a good job putting his stuff together plus he is a nice guy. Just my .01 worth

10-20-2004, 11:29 PM	#23
longhorn71 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: CANADA Posts: 1,681	wood it is easier to repair and looks better

10-21-2004, 12:06 AM	#24
71gmcfanatic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, WA Posts: 101	Werent some of the people on here replacing their rusted steel beds with aluminum diamond plate? Thats somthing I would like to see pics of if anyone has done it. __________________ 1971 gmc 3/4 ton, 350, t350

10-20-2004, 10:42 PM	#25
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	All 4 of mine are steel but I'd like a nice wood one! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

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