Alternate To Wood for A Stepper Bed???

[toomanytoyz]

Wood Bed in My Project Truck is Shot & will need Replacing, Just wondering if anyone has Come up with Alternate to using Wood?? What Did you Use & How did you Do it?? Any Idea's On This would be Appreciated...........

Thanks, Rick

[1969k10stepside]

I'll probably just use a sheet of plywood in High Step for now but would like to get some Diamond Plate for it eventually..

[Boog]

Well for most show trucks wood is the norm. Metal sheet is often used for a daily driver/ work truck. I am giving some thought to using a composite type home deck material. Trex is one brand, there are several. It's not cheap but it is durable and will not rot and comes in different colors.

[see ten]

There was a member who used Trex and posted some pics quite some time ago. I don't remember who it was but it seemed to look and work quite well for a daily driver.

[toomanytoyz]

Thanks for the Input, Also Thought about Putting Steel down & Having the whole bed Herculined also, Would like too See That if anyone has Done it??????????

Thanks Again, Rick

[jorgensensc]

I have also considered using some type if silestone countertop , or other engineered wood instead of actual wood. Although if you take care of it the wood we have now will last a really good while.
SHawn

[toomanytoyz]

Originally Posted by see ten

There was a member who used Trex and posted some pics quite some time ago. I don't remember who it was but it seemed to look and work quite well for a daily driver.

Found Link With Search , But His Pics no Show. I'm Gonna Pm to see if he can Repost Them, Thanks for Posting that Info..........

Rick

His Link............

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...highlight=trex

[special-K]

The wood lasted a long long time.In a highly cared for classic it will last even longer.In many cases the sheetmetal rusted before the wood rotted.I built a pro-street Stepside and used a steel Fleetside bedfloor and wheelhouses.

[68 P.O.S.]

Mikenutt has the composite stuff in his bed. I've seen it in person and I though it looked really cool. I plan on borrowing his idea when I get to that step.

[ksjh1316]

I have heard that stuff bleachs out real fast in the sun any truth to this?

[special-K]

I think Trex is fugly.I use it alot.Sierves it`s purpose,but looks like particle board,IMO.

[toomanytoyz]

Originally Posted by special-K

I built a pro-street Stepside and used a steel Fleetside bedfloor and wheelhouses.

Would u have any Pics of this you could Post???

Thanks, Rick

[Gray Ghost]

Trex is very expensive....for the money you would spend on that stuff [and it's not even waterproof] you could have a very nice wood bed. I am 90% sure Trex doesn't come in 1x8 size for the big boards....not sure what you'd do since Trex cannot be glued up like normal wood.

[2bits]

I put in a sheet of the most expensive 3/4' Birch plywood Home Depot had. ($30), wanted to get the thickest veneer possible. The bed was 3/4" too wide for the sheet, so had to add a "frame" around it, but I still think it came out great and I load all kinds of stuff in it, including my new engine, and it is very solid. Not sure how wide a standard bed is, mine is pretty rigged up, so I don't know how a standard 4 foot wide sheet would fit on a "good" bed. Going to do Pine and build myself (with Kelly's help i am sure ) and do the normal wood bed kit when I install my replacement bed.



Link to the page for all the pics of the install:

http://www.grossepointegothic.com/71stepside/woodbed/

[Orange Truck]

I would stick to wood. I used the oak kit from the firm in Oklahoma. This is class stuff. It comes groved and holes drilled and counter sunk. Although already finished, top it off with a sand of the finest paper and three coats of marine varnish. Then dress it up with polished stainless stell strips and fastners.

[lilred67]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=195408

here is a link to some pics of my steel floor i built....the cost was around $150.00. steel has gone up since then....

[Sequoyah]

I think some kind of composite decking material would work great if you want the look of a wood bed, but not have to worry about messing up a nice new wood bed. As far as size of the planks compared to the original...just drill new holes for the 5 1/2" or so wide composite

[Chris H]

http://www.rumber.com/truck_products...ruck_beds.html

Here is a website for "rumber", which is a rubber composite lumber product (sheets and boards). Manufacturer makes it sound bombproof.

IIRC, there was a red stepside truck here that had a similar product in his bed?

[Rdub]

At a car show, saw a polished stainless floor and then chrome wood bed hold down strips were applied..... looked very nice.... depending on the intended use, aluminum could also be used with the chrome wood hold downs or some other type metal strips, chrome, polished alum. or stainless. I have a short step which needs a new bed and I think at this point some type of metal bed with metal strip hold downs is what I'm planning.