How did you do you woood beds?

[Me&My53]

I know there are some folks out there that have done thier own wood beds.
I would like some good information on how you achieved this.
Is it cheaper or more economical to just buy prefab wood?
I want to attempt my own wood bed from scratch.
I want a complete factory type install, with original type slats.
Who has done this?
What type of wood is best? Easiest or best to work with.
What tool are needed?
How did you seal your wood?
Some basic measurements.
Some pictures.
Thanks, Joe

[OrrieG]

Use the box above set to this site and search for "bed wood". Should get you lots of information and answers to your questions.

[_Ogre]

the mar-k.com site has lots of info for diy instalations

cutting your own bed wood is easy if you have access to a table saw
though with a little more set up you could also do it with a circular saw or router
as for cost... the kits are 4x the cost of diy, we do diy here
same with the bolt kits; 4x more than putting your own bolt order together
factory type install was hard southern pine painted black bed wood

this is trex plastic decking installed in truk



cut like this

[pvienneau]

I used Mar-K for the original look. Painted wood black like original using Por-15 and Marine Gloss Black.

[57chevyman]

i got a mar-k wood kit because i dont have a right tools to cut the wood. i put two coats of stain and three coats of minwax helmsman spar eurethane

[still1graphics]

Here is one i did last weekend while i was stuck inside the garage due to RAIN all weekend... Just a quick fix to replace the old wood bed that was completely gone! Pine boards from Lowe's and some minwax oak stain.

[Russell Ashley]

Look here for measurements: http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

I got my stainless strips from Mar-K but used GMCPauls measurements. I used good grade pine with no knots from Home Depot and painted them with black Rustoleum. I spent almost $100 on the wood.

[still1graphics]

another bed pick...
63' c10 fleetside short bed

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Look here for measurements: http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

I got my stainless strips from Mar-K but used GMCPauls measurements. I used good grade pine with no knots from Home Depot and painted them with black Rustoleum. I spent almost $100 on the wood.

Russ beat me to it. GMCPaul's has all the dimensions. You need wood, a table saw and a drill.

[solidaxel]

I guess it depends on what type of wood (color-grain-cost) and what you want it to look like.

I have used Ash, Cherry and Oak all look great and the Ash has been in there 9 years and it looks a bit dull but it is in the Sun every day (and around here we get over 300 days of sunshine !)
I think the Cherry looks better to me but it is all a personal taste.

The last set of wood we did came from Mar-k last week and the cost with shipping was less than I could have picked out the oak myself and had it milled.

I have had wood cut, milled and a rabbit cut in the boards, but I think for the money I would go with Mar-k and finish to your desire (color)

I am getting ready to stain and oil-varnish, and you are welcome to help !!!!

[Me&My53]

Thanks for all of the help guy's.
I am thinking of going with either cherry, cedar, or red oak.
I have never seen a truck with cedar in it but I have a good friend with a big saw mill and he can cut me any kind of wood I want. I have made several things out of cedar and I think it would look really good.
Thanks for the help!
Joe

[47 Fasttoys]

Funny you should ask, I picked up supplies today: 780 square feet (12'X6.5') of pressure treated pine and 120 galvanized bolts and nuts. Sorry no shine or bling here.
Rob

[Me&My53]

Here is a cedar counter I built a few months ago.[URL=http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/1953chevyAD/media/IMG_3876_zps23xcb0hg.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/1953chevyAD/media/IMG_3877_zpst0tuec6w.jpg.html][/URL

[tristan]

I've got a pile of prime grade PA wide-plank quarter-sawn white oak flooring left over from an addition that I put on my house that I hope to use on a truck bed some day. If your truck is going to actually carry things rather than show only then I would be cautious about the relative hardness of the wood used for the bed.

[solidaxel]

You will not have any trouble finding any wood for your pick up !!!!

[torchlight]

Used hickory from a tree on the family farm. Gives the bed a lot of character, I think! Great thing about wood is that there are so many options for grain and types of finish, you can really make your truck YOUR way.

[oossuuu754]

While its not factory widths or looking, SKYMANGS used 125 year old barn wood over top of 3/4 inch plywood base, on my truck "Cecil". I am thinking eventually I may add some rusted bed strips.

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Me&My53

Thanks for all of the help guy's.
I am thinking of going with either cherry, cedar, or red oak.
I have never seen a truck with cedar in it but I have a good friend with a big saw mill and he can cut me any kind of wood I want. I have made several things out of cedar and I think it would look really good.
Thanks for the help!
Joe

Cedar looks good and the smell makes it nice to work with, but It is not a very hard wood. If you are going to use your truck for any hauling you probably should take that into consideration.

[Old Crow]

On my shop truck, I used 3/4" marine grade plywood. Cut the sheet to length, cut the required widths, drilled the holes and then coated all pieces with 2 coats of Thompsons water seal.
Good thing I didn't spend a bunch on oak. The first time I hauled a tranny to the rebuild shop, it spilled about a quart back there. I'd have been upset if it was a show finish.

[Advanced Design]

Oak purchased from Mack Pro with the bed, multiple coats of poly, rubbed down with steel wool between coats.

If I was a wodworker and had the equipment, I would do my own next time.

[Me&My53]

As far as hualing goes probably the heaviest thing I will haul are antique bicycles.
I also collect them and now my search is on for a 1953 bicycle.
Most of the bicycles I have are pre WWII-- TOC.