Longhorn question from a longhorn green horn(ha)

[jocko]

So, I'm reading my freshly arrived and very interesting 1972 Chevrolet Recreational Vehicle brochure, and lo and behold, I come across the following statement in reference to the Longhorn: "And the box floor is wood to facilitate mounting (of a camper)"

Really - are all 72 longhorns wood beds? I guess I never looked, just curious.

[stllookn]

Yep...never made an 8' 6" steel bed.

[Dieselwrencher]

That's right. All Longhorns have wood floors. Except one.

[jocko]

I learn something new every day on here. Well, I guess I learned this from a brochure - but I relied on yous guys to confirm it!!!

[longhorn70gmc]

Hello Jocko,
yes, both my 70 and 72 longhorns have wood beds. You can come by and use my 72 anytime for an example or comparitive anytime you want.
R/
Billy

[jocko]

Hey thanks Billy! Very kind offer. At the very least I need to come by and say hey! I'll shoot you a pm.

[manimal]

Ya lookin for a Longhorn jocko?

[jocko]

nope - am actually lookin for a red (preferred), orange, or ochre 72 C20 custom camper, cheyenne super trim (regular long bed)... That should be EASY to find, right!? I do realize that's a pretty tall order, and not exactly a common combo - but luckily I'm taking my time looking. Kinda jumped off my C10 swb search routine and am leaning larger. Used to have a Cheyenne LWB, but just kinda looking for that oddball combo I mentioned above now. I've found lots of C20 custom campers - but not many/any red or ochre supers... Could change color, but then I'd need to uninvest in the oddball color combo of parts I've already collected for the C10 I was lookin for! I put the trim cart before the horse, but that's ok, it's all fun and am sure I'll eventually find one. Thanks for asking manimal.

[SS Tim]

I'm pretty sure the prime reason GM went with the wood floor was that it was a cheap solution. After extending the bedsides they needed a bed floor extension or a dedicated floor. So anyway you look at it having current vendors punch out longer than current parts (wood & strips) probably made it more attractive (price wise)to the marketing people. The bonuses of a flatter, quieter bed and the ability to drill through and bolt down a camper were secondary. As I've said before a majority of the camper equipped trucks were a semi-permanent addition.

[70cst]

Originally Posted by jocko

I learn something new every day on here. Well, I guess I learned this from a brochure - but I relied on yous guys to confirm it!!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

I'm pretty sure the prime reason GM went with the wood floor was that it was a cheap solution. After extending the bedsides they needed a bed floor extension or a dedicated floor. So anyway you look at it having current vendors punch out longer than current parts (wood & strips) probably made it more attractive (price wise)to the marketing people. The bonuses of a flatter, quieter bed and the ability to drill through and bolt down a camper were secondary. As I've said before a majority of the camper equipped trucks were a semi-permanent addition.

Every Longhorn I've seen with an original floor around here had holes from where the camper was bolted down. On the truck I got my camper from, it was bolted through the floor too. My original bed floor, what was left of it, had holes and parts of bolts left. So, I don't know if this was GM's pure intentions, but that's how I've always been told my the guys that were alive in that era.

[jocko]

That is what they state as their intention in their sales brochure - ease of camper mounting. But I would be willing to bet that cost played a part in their decision, as Tim mentioned earlier. Just think how much it would have cost to invest in tooling for a Longhorn metal bed when all they needed to do was cut off less wood. I guess back then GM still made wise financial decisions. And hopefully they are again. New Chev trucks are the nicest on the road, but I'd still rather buy 5 old ones for the price of one new one. But I digress....