Wood bed help

[dave666693]

I am ready to start on my '67 wood bed. My original idea was to replace the boards and have a liner sprayed in. (not a show truck). Looking at the price of wood kits and then a bed liner I am around $1,000 or more. Is there less quality wood kits out there like treated Fir or something? I could cut my own but looks like a ton of work. I have seen trucks with the sprayed in liner and like the look. Any ideas on what I should put in the bed would be great. Thanks!

[farside847]

You can get wood for $200-$300 from venders (chevy duty comes to mind.)

And you could reuse the old metal strips. If its just a driver they would look nice with a quick sanding and new paint. Only replace the ones that are mangled....

Kinda need new bolts though, trying to reuse them would be a PITA.

Post pics when your done!

[spencra]

Originally Posted by dave666693

My original idea was to replace the boards and have a liner sprayed in.

Oh my goodness. Why would you do all of that hard work (but mostly why spend all of that money) to replace your wood bed just to put spray liner in it. Just stick with the wood bed, it looks great when it's redone.
If you want to go the spray liner route just get some sheet metal (or some heavy duty pressure treated wood) and cut it to specs then get that spray lined. I think that this way would be much cheaper then buying reproduction wood product, especially if you are not worried about show quality.
Just another idea for you. I was going to buy some Dima-plate (hope I spelled that right) cut it to fit properly and then get it lined. I kind of went back to the wood bed idea, but who knows, I might change my mind again.

[dave666693]

I have been kicking around the idea of just putting down plywood or diamond plate and having that sprayed also.

[spencra]

Originally Posted by dave666693

I have been kicking around the idea of just putting down plywood or diamond plate and having that sprayed also.

If you are going to do plywood I would suggest you get the underside sprayed too (unless they do that anyway, of course), or that stuff will just turn to spongeboard after a couple of years and help rot out your bed supports.

[1971LT1SWBPOSI373]

I would think spray in liner and wood would = lots of headaches. If the wood ever gets wet the liner will seperate.
And I think the liner may not adhere to wood all that well. Before you go that route I'd call the bedliner company your going to use and get their input. You might be better off getting an all metal bed, or using the plastic insert bedliner.

[lilred67]

i replaced the wood floor in mine with a sheet of 3/16" plate.i used 3/4" square tubing in the place of the wood floor to shim up the plate and used 1x1x3/16" angle iron on the sides to replicate the thin angle iron strips on the bed sides.the other reason for the angle iron on the bed sides is a 4'x8' sheet of plate is not wide enough to cover the floor from side to side,since the inside of my step bed is 50". you didn't say if your was a fleetside or step,but would work out the same except for more material.i had around $200.00 in material,now i'm going to get a bed liner sprayed in it. hope this helps!

[dave666693]

That's some great info guys! Thanks a ton.

[1971LT1SWBPOSI373]

lilred
that sounds like one rock solid bed!!!