bed wood choice

[pdxhall]

I'm getting ready to order bed wood and I have some questions I hope you can answer. What will the best would to use in the hot and dry southern Arizona sun? What vendor have you used for quality products? Thanks. Any help is appreciated.

[vin63]

Is there a particular look or finish that you're going for? How much time will it be out in the elements? What will you be using the truck for?

i wanted to something that took to a red stain well, had some dramatic grain structure that I could highlight, and didn't weigh or cost as much as the harder woods like Oak and Ash. I ended up going with Pine from MAR-K. I used a marine SPAR satin finish. My truck is garaged and only really is out for shows or quick errands around town.

[PGSigns]

Did one for a friend of mine that has my old C20 not long ago. We used southern yellow pine and a black stain mixed with linseed oil. We put 6 or seven coats on it. Kind of and old school original look for a truck that gets used as a truck.
Jimmy

[jayoldschool]

Yes, you need to decide if you want a piece of furniture or a working truck bed. Both are nice, but different. I used TREX in my truck that sits outside (and works).

[roll_the_dice]

I have a friend milling some walnut for my truck bed. I will use mine as a truck, so I am concerned about the bed getting scars and such, but it is a truck. I am thinking of putting a rubber mat in the bed when I use it as a truck and rolling it up and storing it in the garage when I don't.

I haven't thought through it all yet though.

[AcampoDave]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

I have a friend milling some walnut for my truck bed. I will use mine as a truck, so I am concerned about the bed getting scars and such, but it is a truck. I am thinking of putting a rubber mat in the bed when I use it as a truck and rolling it up and storing it in the garage when I don't.

I haven't thought through it all yet though.

I do the "bed cover when I use it thing too" with large pieces of cardboard I get thru my work. Still got a few scars but it ads character I guess.

[pdxhall]

Thanks for the input. I want to keep the bed on the lighter side. I have a truck that I use for a truck, so this is going to be a cruiser. It will be a driver but not a worker. I am most concerned about the southern AZ heat. The truck will be inside or in the carport when I'm not driving it, but the sun can be pretty intense sometimes.

[cwcarpenter98]

I ended up using some white pine from Home Depot (ballin' on a budget) and the wood has done ok sitting outside all the time in GA, but what I didn't use was a sealer, so after about 3 years if being outside, I need to re-stain it, but this time I will be putting some sealer on it.

[Mullda]

I did the Trex install too and I am very pleased with it.

[sstock]

Originally Posted by vin63

Is there a particular look or finish that you're going for? How much time will it be out in the elements? What will you be using the truck for?

i wanted to something that took to a red stain well, had some dramatic grain structure that I could highlight, and didn't weigh or cost as much as the harder woods like Oak and Ash. I ended up going with Pine from MAR-K. I used a marine SPAR satin finish. My truck is garaged and only really is out for shows or quick errands around town.

Bad@ss mini tub, looks killer!

[dennislbrooks]

Factory used yellow pine with lamp black and linseed oil. If you want a good solid bed for about 25% of the cost of 3/4 finished yellow pine or 20 percent of a hardwood, use dimensional yellow pine. This lumber has a planed finish and can handle multiple finish.

White pine, poplar, ash, sycamore, redwood are all too soft.

If a short step or long bed use all 2x8x8's (yellow pine) which gives you a 3/4" thicker bed when finished. Allow the extra 3/4" when having sawed for width and strips and for bolt lengths.

2x6's are usually white pine.

I used a latex water base outside paint - any color- of which I brushed on all none exposed surfaces and on exposed surfaces wiped it off with a wet/damp rag like a stain. I used a gray and my strips will be semi gloss black.

You can then leave as is and fix anytime if needed.

Hot sun will warp about all boards so you need to get them fastened in the bed soon after sawing.