Wood bed material suggestion

[400ex]

I need to replace whats left of my wood bed. I was thinking of buying some 3/4" sheets of wood from Lowes, Home Depot,etc.. Im not getting regular plywood. I was thinking something along the lines of a harder wood to withstand the weather for a few more years after coating it with something like linseed oil. Then maybe using using a router to cut some valleys for the metal strips to lay in. This is just a daily beater, nothing special.

I just dont know what type of wood to use. What do you guys suggest?

Thanks

James

[Putter]

My only concern would be that if you get "Sheets" of wood (Like Birch, maple, etc...) that if you don't get the perfect sealer on there, it will start to seperate on you. Especially where you route the grooves for the metal strips. I would buy some solid wood boards (nothing layered) and mill them to your specs. That is the route that I went and could not be happier. Mine was red oak that we cut down to size. I will try adn find the link for you and you can see how it turned out.

EDIT: Here is the link to mine...

Morning Wood

[farside847]

Just as an alternative... there is a guy on ebay selling wood kits
for $170 - already cut and grooved. I priced the wood and it
would cost me over $100 in oak to do it myself....

[da-burb]

If you went the plywood route, it should be marine grade plywood. It can take the moisture.

[400ex]

Putter- Nice looking wood strips. I thought about doing cutting my own, but the only problem is that I don't own many wood working tools - skilsaw, hammer, square thats about it.. Plus I don't have a lot of wood working experience.

farside - Never thought of ebay. I will look into it although I never bought anything over ebay.

daburb - Where would one find marine grade plywood? Have you had good luck with it weathering and not rotting?

Thanks for the great advice guys.. Always learning something.

James

[dwaite72lnghrn]

I just put 2x6 and 2x8 pressure treated wood. the only cutting would be to length and where the wheel wells are. this would make the bed sit 3/4 inch higher than normal but for a beater it works. I didn't even route the 1/4" bead for the metal strips they just sit a little above the wood after you tighten it down. just 6 2"x8"x8' and 4 2"x4"x8' for a long bed and a couple of pounds of carriage bolts and nuts/washers. reuse the 6 bolts to hold it down to the frame.

[72 CustomCamper]

I had a 79 f@&d step side that needed a new floor. I had bought a few 5/4 inch x 6 inch deck boards that I was going to use but the truck fell apart before I could install the wood...


Chuck