New wood and rails in bed

[GOPAPA]

I have a friend who has a 62 long box with a rottted out wood bed.


What is the cheapest good looking wood to put in for a daily driver? and what is a good choice for the rails ,,stainless ,chrome ,,painted ?

anyone have purple wood , if you do can you tell us what you think of it and if it's a way to go for a replacement ..

[MikeN]

Did mine with red oak, black semi-gloss exterior house paint (oil based) over an oil-based primer. Non-polished stainless strips and hardware.

[msgross]

I have a local cabinet maker that said he could make all the boards out of Oak for $330

GMC pauls website has all the specs.

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by msgross

I have a local cabinet maker that said he could make all the boards out of Oak for $330

GMC pauls website has all the specs.

I think for the bed boards he wants to do it himself ,,but for the rest he could use pauls,,thx

here is some pictures

[msgross]

I mean GMC pauls website has the detailed measurements to make your own boards.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

How "cheap" are we talkin' here? I used T1-11 board for mine. As cheap as you can get.

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

How "cheap" are we talkin' here? I used T1-11 board for mine. As cheap as you can get.

Hey for a daily driver ,why not ,,I don't know what purple wood cost ,,but he is thinking of it .. what is purple wood anyway ?

[jbgroby]

Purplewood correct name is Purple Heart and when finished is a beautiful shade of redish/brown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purpleheart

http://www.thewoodbox.com/data/wood/purpleheartinfo.htm

BUT you may want to consider Paducca (sp) which looks like Terra Cotta

[GOPAPA]

Originally Posted by jbgroby

Purplewood correct name is Purple Heart and when finished is a beautiful shade of redish/brown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purpleheart

http://www.thewoodbox.com/data/wood/purpleheartinfo.htm

BUT you may want to consider Paducca (sp) which looks like Terra Cotta

thanks for the correction on the wood ..now I can google it and maybe learn some about it.. I miscalled it as I was told purple heart ..

[JRBECK64]

Try a Company out of Tennessee named Classic Wood. The guys name is Robert Noe. Do a google search and you will find him. I think he will do a Long fleet for just over $300 (RED OAK) and Im telling you the quality of the wood is outstanding. I have misplaced his number or I would give it to you.
JRBECK64

[fleetsidelarry]

[QUOTE=GOPAPA;3592523]

What is the cheapest good looking wood to put in for a daily driver? and what is a good choice for the rails ,,stainless ,chrome ,,painted ?


be forwarned that oak is not a good choice for a daily driver/working truck that will see weather, regardless of what you seal it with. Check out Mark-K's tests, particularly the second one (http://www.mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_ii.html) . I'm using yellow pine but haven't picked my sealer type yet (I really like the look of MikeN's truck above, I was thinking of using black, also). You can stain the wood (oak, pine, or whatever) whatever color you want so there's no need to purchase an expensive wood (which I'm assuming purpleheart is and I thought cost was a factor for your friend) unless you are wanting a fine grain pattern.

Dimensions (as someone already mentioned) at GMC Pauls (http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm)

I'm using the unpolished stainless strips mainly 'cause I had them already, but I think they're functional and won't show scratches/scuffs like painted ones.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that t-111, either, I think it looks great

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

I have a friend who has a 62 long box with a rottted out wood bed.


What is the cheapest good looking wood to put in for a daily driver? and what is a good choice for the rails ,,stainless ,chrome ,,painted ?

anyone have purple wood , if you do can you tell us what you think of it and if it's a way to go for a replacement ..

Hello, do you have a saw mill close by? My buddy is going to cut my boards when I'm ready. He has an old mill left to him by his grandfather.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I have been looking for bedwood. I figure I would just get the pine for the work truck. After looking, and the vendors wanting up to and more then $300 is crazy. I am just going to go to the store and get some select pine and use that. I can do it for more then 1/2 the cost of buying it. Hell I am a carpenter so milling it the wood is not big deal. I can't wait to get my shortbed truck done. That one is going to be pretty.

[Turkey]

morning wood usually only lasts about 30 minutes

[sanford66]

Purple heart is maple i believe. A rare maple and very expensive. My dads a carpenter thats what he told me. I wouldn't spend that kind of $ for a wood floor in a driver. Anyone correct me if i'm wrong on the wood?. Joseph

[LILRED66]

Purple Heart is a species, as Maple is a species. They are not the same.

http://curiouswoods.com/wood--Purple-Heart--PH

There are so many options available, it is difficult to offer up the best choice, since it is a matter of opinion and taste.

There is good, fast & cheap...good is not fast or cheap...fast is cheap, but it's not good...cheap is not good, but it's fast.

If you want form over function, you go one direction...if you want function over form, you go another direction.

Here are a few we have done.

[sanford66]

I stand corrected. good info lilred66. I guess the choice of wood depends on what you are going to use the truck for and your budget. Joseph

[blackedoutharley]

Because I don't know squat about carpentry..... what is T1-11?

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by blackedoutharley

Because I don't know squat about carpentry..... what is T1-11?

It is the plywood siding with channels cut into them that you can find at Home Depot for about $40 a sheet. You are in Nor Cal somewhere. I do my own beds.
I used birch in this bed. It cost me at the time $175 for the wood.

[frmula505]

I used pine with color matched steel strips.

[rain_man]

is there any problems that anyone has run into with not useing the strips. i have seen a few like th eway they look any more pics
thanks