bed wood, driving w/o fenders

[domeier]

I have my bed off to replace the wood and repair the cross supports. Old bed floor was a piece of 3/4" 4' wide plywood with the skid strips screwed on top. The whole bed was loose for many years, and busted up some of the mounting plates on the cross supports. It will take me a while to get the cross supports repaired/replaced, and in the meantime I want to keep driving it. I have the rear lights and bumper installed, but I'm wondering if I'll get a ticket for not having fenders? Anyone know Cali law on this? Would some tempy mudflaps make it legal?

I'm putting plywood back in, (because I use my truck like a truck, and because I refuse to shell out $700 for Laotian rainforest mahogany or solid gold, or whatever the hell $700 bed wood is made of,) and will cut slots in it so the skid strips sit level - but how wide should the plywood be? 4' seems about an inch or two short.

Also, while rewiring up the lights, I found out my turn signal switch was bad and bought a replacement from Oreilly's: BWD p/n S3237. DO NOT BUY THIS SWITCH OR YOU WILL BE SORRY. The metal pivot pin (or whatever it's called,) was too big and had to be filed down, the slot for the turn switch lever was too small and had to be opened up, and the connecter uses a crappy adapter to mate it with the half moon connecter in the truck. A true piece of dook. You have been warned!

[stomper]

Sorry I don't know for sure but I got a ticket one time for no mud flaps on my lifted Chevy. I would guess no fenders would also be illegal. Hell isn't about everything related to keeping an old truck on the road illegal in California?

[domeier]

Originally Posted by stomper

Hell isn't about everything related to keeping an old truck on the road illegal in California?

It is getting pretty bad out here, the touchie-feelies are very much in control. I won't be surprised if the day comes when anything that isn't hybrid or electric is banned from the road.

I was out driving it this morning, and passed a motor cop and one in a squad car, and they didn't pull me over, so maybe I'm okay. Or... maybe they were late to the donut shop and didn't have time to give me the third degree.

[domeier]

Oh, and it is WEIRD driving it like this. Gotta be careful not to spin the tires, and it took me three tries to back up into the driveway - the perspective is all goofy when you're watching the rear axle instead of the top of the tailgate. Really odd.

[Ol Blue K20]

I believe that you will be required to have mud flaps at least after that say to them "HUH what do ya know, didn't know that"

[SS Tim]

Classic Heartbeat.
http://www.classicheartbeat.com/bed_wood.htm
GMC Pauls
http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

The GM design spec. on the wood is 0.81" not the 3/4" commonly quoted.
The two pictures below should give you everything you need for your stepside.

As to using plywood there is no reason you can't but it is not that hard to mill your own planks and save some money especially shipping. Myself, still looking into a drop in replacement wood that will be more stable and tougher. Problem is finding a source in Longhorn or longer lengths.

IIRC here in CA fenders or mud flaps are required over 1500lb.

[domeier]

SSTim: That drawing is very much appreciated. Thanks!

[stomper]

I was going to chime in on your bed wood also. I just went thru trying to do a bed floor on the cheap. I settled on the idea it's not really any cheaper to do plywood - at least marine grade at $100 a sheet - and you have to cut it lengthwise anyway.

Go ahead and get the proper 8 boards ($70 for tight knot cedar),
cut the features for the strips on a table saw (6-pack for your buddy),
treat the boards however you want ($20+),
get a galvanized fastener kit ($30),
and paint a set of new steel strips ($40).

I also used GMC Paul's information for the wood dimensions

I know the soft cedar will dent easily but the metal part of the bed isn't pretty either.

The angled side strips are PITA. Avoid replacing those if you can - or use the covers.

[domeier]

I gave my table saw away after the third or fourth time it tried to cut my thumb off. That thing was possessed. And that is a super good looking bed.

[Leroy-B1]

I just bought my own wood here from a sawmill to try my own I bought cypress supposedly it doesn't rot.....we'll see a lot cheaper though bought my wood for 65 bucks in 8 ft x 8 inch x 1 inch boards
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