Just when i thought i was making progress. :(

[lyrikz]

Well, another setback. Only difference with this one was it completely caught me by suprise. I was making my wood bed and decided to test fit a few pieces and ran into this issue.






As you can see, at full drop the rear diff pops up through the bed.
Options:
1) Raise bed. Cant because i dont want messed up body lines.
2) Raise inside of bed. Inside of bed is already done and linexed and the outside is already painted. lol
3) Make one board have a hinge so when im fully laid out, it just lifts the board up.. Then when im parked and not fully aired out, you cant see it?

Im just lost. I didnt want to build a box right in the middle of the board. Anyone else ran across this problem???

[tcb-1]

that's exactly what mine will look like aired out.

raising the entire floor may be easier than you think..... especially for us stepside/wood floor guys!

first, move the side angles up by 4", redrill, and bolt to bedside as original. next, get 4 approximately 49.5" long "c" channel. mount the "c" channel to the bed rails. lay your wood on top of the "c" channel and match mark where your holes will go. then drill the channel, mount the wood, and bolt down.

this is how I plan to overcome my axle issue. your trapdoor idea is kind of cool too!

I plan to document how-to on my air ride thread. probably won't be for a month or so though

[lyrikz]

Problem with the moving the bed angle iron is they are already welded in, the bed is already linexed and painted... lol.

So, this is what i came up with, i need some help fine tuning. The middle board is going to be 11.25 inches. THe trap door will be in the middle of that. This way, i wont have to cut the bed strips either. Here is a pic, just imagine the board in the middle bigger.

For the trap door i wanted to do some fine piano hinge and then the door just sits on a little L with a magnet on it.. When i air out it pops the door up a little bit.. THats my story and im sticking to it. LOL. Any ideas on what type of hidden hinge to run?

[lyrikz]

Here is what i was thinking for the trap door.

And suggesion on hinges you CAN NOT see from the top??

[tcb-1]

I don't see a problem with your fix. be sure to post pics when you finalize your design!!

[Richard H.]

Got a Woodcrafters near you? That is where I got the hinges for the wifes sewing cabinet ,rather pricey. That is a cool idea you have.

[gcburdic]

Instead of a trap door, why not something fully enclosed that'll pop up?? When you're aired out it'll at least cover the pumpkin?? Or maybe trap door should open towards the cab??....Maybe burn your project name or bowtie into it as well??....have fun with it and add a "jack in the box" guy!!!

[Sammy]

I would try a cabinet shop. Take a few pics with you and a few measurements also. Sure they could help you with ideas. Also might think about covering the bottom of that door to prevent damage to it. I too think you are on the right track for your bed.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by gcburdic

Instead of a trap door, why not something fully enclosed that'll pop up?? When you're aired out it'll at least cover the pumpkin?? Or maybe trap door should open towards the cab??....Maybe burn your project name or bowtie into it as well??....have fun with it and add a "jack in the box" guy!!!

I really like the idea of having th etrap door open towards the cab. Good idea. I was going to put something under there. ahah Jack in the box is funny.

Originally Posted by Sammy

I would try a cabinet shop. Take a few pics with you and a few measurements also. Sure they could help you with ideas. Also might think about covering the bottom of that door to prevent damage to it. I too think you are on the right track for your bed.

My wife said i should epoxy on a little 16 guage metal to the bottom of the door incase i drop it hard its not going to hurt the wood much. I just need to find the right hiddin hinge...

[DPowers]

http://www.rockler.com/index.cfm

May be able to help you out.

[chas350]

Not sure if your truck will ever see any weather or even moisture, but I would make sure any hinge I used would not rust or corrode.ar
Also, an 11" board is much more likely to cup/warp, especially a short peice that is not bolted down. Personally I would try to come up with an alternative. After all the money and time you have invested, make a sound choice!

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by chas350

Not sure if your truck will ever see any weather or even moisture, but I would make sure any hinge I used would not rust or corrode.ar
Also, an 11" board is much more likely to cup/warp, especially a short peice that is not bolted down. Personally I would try to come up with an alternative. After all the money and time you have invested, make a sound choice!

Its going to be less then that.. I only need 7 inch opening. So, board only needs to be around 8.5 inches to clear the bed strips.

I also found the hinge im going to use, i just need to find a place i can pick them up locally.

[dan42]

...Just how much of a drop does your truck have??

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by dan42

...Just how much of a drop does your truck have??

Bags in the back with just a c-notch.

[Classic Heartbeat]

I realy think that you may have a problem with warpage with the changes of humidity. Especialy with pine. The trap door idea is a good one though. However if it were me I would make one from pollished stainless steel, and maybe paint something in the center of it like your initials in script. There isn't going to be anything that you can do to keep from seeing the trap door when you are not aired out, so you want to draw the eye to it and make it look like it belongs there. Anyway that's what I would do. Good luck with it. WES

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

I realy think that you may have a problem with warpage with the changes of humidity. Especialy with pine. The trap door idea is a good one though. However if it were me I would make one from pollished stainless steel, and maybe paint something in the center of it like your initials in script. There isn't going to be anything that you can do to keep from seeing the trap door when you are not aired out, so you want to draw the eye to it and make it look like it belongs there. Anyway that's what I would do. Good luck with it. WES

Warpage because of the 12 inch board? I am going to go with just over an 8 inch piece...WHatever it takes to clear the hump and the bed sills.

That was my idea to make something cool, but the wife thinks that hidden is best.. And to be honest, the fact she is out there helping me do this and giving me good ideas, i think im going to take it. lol...

[Classic Heartbeat]

I guess that I should have said cupped. (The shorter the board the more it will want to cup.) Once it cups the lines will get wider and the surface will not be the same. All of the rest of the boards have support from the cross sills, so they will not cup mutch. However the trap door does not have that kind of support. Other than a couple of hinges on one end it is kind of left on it's own to do what wood naturaly wants to do whith the changes in climate. That would make it stick out, if you know what I mean. Just the oppisate of what your wife want to accomplish. We haven't even addressed swelling yet..lol However in your place I would probably go along with my wife also and hope for the best. Spousel input is extreemy important to those of us restoring trucks. At least if we want to continue to do so. WES

[lyrikz]

Ok, talked to the wife. We are using your idea wes. ahaha...

Bruce is going to let me use his brake and bend up some metal. Id like it nice and polished with maybe a GMC logo in the middle...


Woot, awesome ideas.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Sweeeeeeet.. It will be great to see some pictures. WES

[Smallz72project]

Just a suggestion, take Wes's idea and then have it painted with a wood grain finish. That way it doesnt look so out of place but you can retain the durability of having a metal trap door. Which ever way you go Im sure its going to be awesome! Just keep us posted and take lots of pics, im sure alot of us will run into the same problem at some point or another.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Ok, talked to the wife. We are using your idea wes. ahaha...

Bruce is going to let me use his brake and bend up some metal. Id like it nice and polished with maybe a GMC logo in the middle...


Woot, awesome ideas.

Found some stainless steel...We are good to go.

[DPowers]

Cool

[Bruce88]

After the phone call we had I thought you might like to see one possibility that can be made out of stainless steel and where some of the raw material might be obtained

There will defiantly need to take some close measurements before making it

[rodstored-72]

what if you "make" a bolt on cover (metal piece), kind of a "bubble" area that surounds the diff cover when fully deflated? i have seen a picture just not sure where. it would look like a small bubble in the bed... just an idea.....

good luck!!

[CTENTA1]

Originally Posted by rodstored-72

what if you "make" a bolt on cover (metal piece), kind of a "bubble" area that surounds the diff cover when fully deflated? i have seen a picture just not sure where. it would look like a small bubble in the bed... just an idea.....

good luck!!

I agree with rodstored-72. I know ive seen a truck with that bolt on cover. I remember it was square but smooth round edges. Stainless steel bolts. Painted to match color of truck. It looked really nice made. You can even get it air brushed or something.