bed wood Q...

[Longhorn Man]

heh heh heh...he said bed and wood together... heh heh heh ...


Anyways...
I am looking at putting wood in the bed of the Longhorn.
I'm too cheap (read broke) to buy the stupid $400 kits for $50 worth of wood.
I want my bed to be pretty
I know me... I'll throw junk in there.
I DO have a cheesey plastic drop in bed liner that I'll be using when i know I'll be needing it. Scrap runs, pretending to be a mover, what ever. But for the best part, the wood will be exposed.

I know normal varnish is way out of the question.
Automotive clear coat is out of reach financially at the moment too.

Is there some sort of finish i can use that'll help hold up to the weather and mild useage?

Looking at lumber yard style lumber, what is the best kind of wod to get that is still at a lower cost?

or am i draming again and should stay with my freeway exit sign with plastic bedliner on top?