inside bed ideas

[salazar44]

The inside of my bed is pretty tore up. At this time I am not replacing any panels and I wont be putting in the wood slats. I planned on painting the inside with Herculiner but dont know how to handle the bottom of the bed.

Does anyone have ideas or examples of something different then original?

[jonzcustomshop]

do this!

[jonzcustomshop]

...... just kidding, how about a steel floor out of a 73-87 cut to fit?

[ChopperDr]

My dad let me in on a little farmers secret when I was young. A simple sheet of plywood would form a nice bed and cover rusted or rotted out areas. After a while in the elements they weather nicely.

Chopper

[Rogue 64]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

...... just kidding, how about a steel floor out of a 73-87 cut to fit?

I have seen a 65-66 C-20 with a factory corrugated floor.
anyone know the RPO for that?

I may put a late model floor in mine.

[salazar44]

pics anyone? anyone besides jon? haha... jk jon!

[Chevy Fleetside]

plywood is going to be the easiest. But if you do it you should take the old out and remove your wheel tubs and put it under them. It is a big job if you don't know how to do it. If you just lay in on top of the old, water can get trapped under it...

[Anthony Fremont]

Somebody put a 3/16 - 1/4" steel plate in mine (66 GMC Fenderside LWB) at some time in the past. They welded all along the end by the tailgate and tacked around the edge for the rest of it. I have to say that it fits nice, but I want it gone. Come get it if you want, most of the tack welds are already loose. Remember, it's for a long bed so you can trim it for a custom fit.

[SIR]

if your going to do it.... do it good,the first time,think about that spray-on stuff once it's on there that's pretty much it ...just my 2 cents worth.

[salazar44]

Anthony... that would be quite a drive!

Sir... Your bed is VERY spiffy. Someday I hope! I actually dont mind the herculiner on the inside of my bed. Besides if I was going to do it right I would get all new panels first. Its just not within my budget at this time.

How thick should I get the plywood to be consistent with the original wood. Right now the wheel tubs are pretty much floating because I removed all the old wood and I want it to be the same height. Thanks guys!

[Chevy Fleetside]

3/4". And if you can get the pressure treated but if you were to do that it would only be a few more bucks to put real wood in. You will need 2 sheets of 4x8 ply and will have to do some cutting. Just make the seam down the middle. If you were closer I would help you out with it. I would make you get real wood though. I am a carpenter by trade. This was my stepside bed done with birch that I bought at Home Depot for $175..

[salazar44]

I have seen the plans online to do your own wood slats. I forgot where though. However, I dont have any wood cutting tools to do such a thing.

Otherwise the wood kit cost $407!

Polished Stainless bolts/strips = $270
Cadium/SS bolts/strips = $105

That adds up to $More.ThanIhave LOL.

Now if I could buy the wood and cut it myself it would be more reasonable.

So, I think I will pick up some plywood in 3/4" and buy the cheap bolt kit. Its not what I want... but it will do for now.
Then I can probably use some type of strip down the middle to cover the seem??

[jonzcustomshop]

If you have the original bed strips , maybe just bolt them on top of the ply wood- they wouldnt sit flush, but would look right.
however, if you are going with 2 pieces of plywood, with a seam down the middle , and you are going to spray the rhino liner over it, I would run a thin piece of sheet metal screwed to the underside to hold the two piecs together, and I would put wood glue in the seam.

[salazar44]

hah! that would be pretty sneaky! to still run the strips on the plywood! thats why ur truck looks like it does because you are very artistic and clever!

[muddpile]

I'm in the minority with this look, but it did fix a rough bed floor



But in all reality, I like the plywood with the strips idea. I've seen it done before and some times it is hard to tell it from the actual hardwood.

[jhow66]

Alum. step plate: (treated plywood underneath)

[NF65Fleetside]

aye Vic, 1gearhead here can hook it up on some sick diamond plating for your truck if you want to go that route. He lays down some good work. Or you can go the temp route with me and just get a thick sheet of plywood cut to demensions and rough it out til were ball'n!

[scotts62]

Back before i bought my bedstrips i used a sheet of plywood and cut one inch pieces as the strips then stained everythong on both sides with tranny fluid, it was stylin on a cheap budget in highschool!!!!

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I can tell you a cheap route that I did with a 66 stepside I had a few years ago. Go to home depot and get two sheets of T1-11 (tee one eleven) If you're a non-carpenter like me and don't know what that is, it's the 5/8" used as siding with about 3/4" grooves cut into the sheet about every 6" or so. It has kind of a rough finish. I cut it to size (only needed one sheet for the stepside, you'll need two for your fleetside) then belt-sanded smooth, coated with marine spar varnish ( 2 or 3 coats) then with an artist's brush I painted inside the grooves with flat black rust-oleum. I painted the grooves AFTER the varnish to cut down on bleed over. It was cheap and I think it looks a lot better than just plain plywood. The painted grooves kinda give the illusion of bed strips. Sorry I don't have pics, the trucks been gone for a while.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

I can tell you a cheap route that I did with a 66 stepside I had a few years ago. Go to home depot and get two sheets of T1-11 (tee one eleven) If you're a non-carpenter like me and don't know what that is, it's the 5/8" used as siding with about 3/4" grooves cut into the sheet about every 6" or so. It has kind of a rough finish. I cut it to size (only needed one sheet for the stepside, you'll need two for your fleetside) then belt-sanded smooth, coated with marine spar varnish ( 2 or 3 coats) then with an artist's brush I painted inside the grooves with flat black rust-oleum. I painted the grooves AFTER the varnish to cut down on bleed over. It was cheap and I think it looks a lot better than just plain plywood. The painted grooves kinda give the illusion of bed strips. Sorry I don't have pics, the trucks been gone for a while.

Thanks a good idea...you could even fill the grooves with some strip if you wanted to.