Wood bed installation

[OregonNed]

I haven't made any careful measurements yet of my existing truck bed, but has anyone replaced theirs using board dimensions different that what came with the truck? I'm just wondering if cross rails can simply be drilled for the difference or if anything else might keep this idea from being simple.

I have some great looking wood, but I am having difficulty coming up with enough boards to meet the 7 7/16 measurement for my wider boards. My thought is to forget about the 5 5/16 (I think that's it) boards and go with something narrower than the existing wides, and more uniform across the bed.

My truck is a '68 long fleet side.

Thanks!

[jeffahart]

Are you wanting to use the wood because it's super nice, or because it's nice enough and you want to save money. I would rip one and biscuit joint it with exterior glue, gorilla or TB. Once it's bolted in and pegged down it will probably last quite awhile.

[midniteblues]

you could use just about any width board with some drilling.
but if your useing oe/aftermarket bed strips then you could up useing more or less of them.
also if your going this rout to remember that the wheel tubs have bolts that go through also you dont want them too fall on a seem.

i'm likeing the trex material lots of guys been useing.

personaly i wouldnt glue/seem boards together if the truck is gonna be out in the weather much but thats my opinion.

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

i'm likeing the trex material lots of guys been useing.

personaly i wouldnt glue/seem boards together if the truck is gonna be out in the weather much but thats my opinion.

Of course do what makes you comfortable and gives you the look you want. But you can glue and it will be fine. And if you use biscuits just saturate them good with glue and they will be stable once set. And, never let anyone talk you out of using anything but wood glue on wood. TitebondII will give superior strength over epoxy. Gluing and clamping is a way of life!

[kodiakjoey]

Just lay your boards out the way you want them.Cut some groves for the strips and drill your cross rails.

[Davidf]

Originally Posted by kodiakjoey

Just lay your boards out the way you want them.Cut some groves for the strips and drill your cross rails.Attachment 1393653

Attachment 1393654

narrow groove as indicated in photos above does not allow the boards to contract and expand with varying temperatures. The grooves/dado's in the wood should be 3/16" wide and 5/32" deep. The wood thickness between edge of board and groove/dado should be 1/16" above bottom of groove/dado. Groove is 9/16" from edge of board (to far edge of groove). Hope that makes sense. This way, the boards can move around as they need to. I used Ipe for the bed wood on my '52. Ipe is also commonly referred to as "Iron Wood". It sinks in water, and virtually impervious to rot. Will last 50+ years untreated. Atlantic City used it for their famous boardwalk. It is commonly used as a decking material.

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by kodiakjoey

Just lay your boards out the way you want them.Cut some groves for the strips and drill your cross rails.Attachment 1393653

Attachment 1393654

That looks like manufactured decking? Seems like a good rugged alternative for a truck that gets used. Does anyone offer a kit? I'm not much of a wood worker...

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by frenchy51

That looks like manufactured decking? Seems like a good rugged alternative for a truck that gets used. Does anyone offer a kit? I'm not much of a wood worker...

All kinds of kits are available. This guy is my personal favorite, a real woodworker (does more than just truck beds).

http://www.horkeyswoodandparts.com/

[OregonNed]

Thanks guys - I figured it could be done, but nice to hear some confirmation... Just wasn't sure if there were more factors involved underneath, other than the cross rails.

What I have is a fancy grade of flame / quilted Oregon myrtle wood that was cut and milled in Oregon - and I got it for literally a song.. Ten, 10-foot boards not quite 8 inches wide, over an inch think that required some major planing... The cost was about a fourth of what I have seen for most of the exotic woods..

[jeffahart]

Myrtle wood! Every time I'm out that way I stop, at I think Golds Beach, and get myself another myrtle wood bowl. I used to park my RV at Hiouchi Hamlet. And I always drive to Agness and jump in the river where the Rogue and Illinois join. I always eat nuts out of my Myrtle wood bowls, it's become a ritual over the years. How cool to have Myrtle bed wood. Please post a pic when you get it installed!

[OregonNed]

I certainly will

[OregonNed]

A couple of pics as the wood came off the planer....

[zamboni2354]

Originally Posted by OregonNed

A couple of pics as the wood came off the planer....

oh, that's nice!!

jeff in long beach

[WarMonger]

Here is a question. Please excuse my ignorance. I have never had a wood bed, but have always though of this. Can you make the wood bed out of 1 piece and just router grooves for the metal strips to lay in?

[Lanman1972]

I'm sure others will chime in, but I think it is designed to move with expansion and contraction of the wood during the seasons.

[OregonNed]

I've made enough progress on this project that I think it's time to add some update pictures. We opted not to use the myrtle because it was not properly dried and suffered some warping. Instead we got ahold of quarter sawn red oak locally and my friend has milled, stained, drilled and sanded each board using my old bed wood as a template. I apologize in advance as some of these photos have been shared
In another one or two threads. Here goes

[35boulder]

That myrtle wood is beautiful. Good luck with the installation.

[OregonNed]

Here are a couple of before pictures of the old bed. It was pretty sound but some of the boards we cracked and warped a bit.

[OregonNed]

My friend Ron cut the boards to size and milled them all. Here is the set he cut and milled

[OregonNed]

While he did this, I polished up the metal bed strips to reuse

[69short]

That looks great! Can't wait to see more progress pics

[OregonNed]

Originally Posted by 69short

That looks great! Can't wait to see more progress pics

Yes, thank you! I will absolutely post more as we go...

[OregonNed]

I also took the opportunity to have the cross sills and some other parts sandblasted while the truck is parked. I painted each cross sill with POR 15, and top coat.

[OregonNed]

Sanding and staining will be finished today. He used a mixture of two anylin dyes to create the reddish look. With the weather warming he will begin 10 or so coats of Epiphanes clear marine varnish.

[OregonNed]

First coat of finish down