Bed wood replacement advice needed

[sigshooter]

I am looking for an inexpensive option for my bed wood replacement. I am looking for something for a few years until I can paint the truck. Right now there is no wood and the bed rattles like crazy, I can't haul anything, and it looks terrible. I want to stay painted black on the wood. Any suggestions on a wood type other than pine, and what about a paint type
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[Chevy Fleetside]

Plywood. If it is only for a few years.

[sigshooter]

I guess that would be an option, I dont mind spending the money for pine and making it look better. I am looking for any options that may last longer without spending the money for oak.... maybe poplar or something

Also what is the best paint/sealer to make it last a few years,

[72bigred]

Depends on factors.. I would say if you are going to paint it no matter the wood make sure you use a good oil base paint and really treat the ends..

If you are trying to stay on the cheaper side of things pine is pretty much the only way to go.. if you are stepping up at all and of course making it yourself in my neck of the woods stepping up means you might as well go with oak and then of course sealer etc would be different.

Try and get heart wood if possible when you pick your wood.. meaning center wood or if you cannot based on wood quality make sure you put your wood rings 'frowning' so when they do warp the do not cup upwards and catch water.

[Clyde65]

You can go with Pecan, it is a hard wood similar to Hickory. Usually you can get that close to home and you can clean it up yourself and install it.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Well in that case the yellow pine would be good. Red Oak is really not a good outdoor wood. As for the Pecan.. If you change your mind when you get it you can always BBQ a chicken with it...

[kieth]

Originally Posted by sigshooter

I am looking for an inexpensive option for my bed wood replacement. I am looking for something for a few years until I can paint the truck. Right now there is no wood and the bed rattles like crazy, I can't haul anything, and it looks terrible. I want to stay painted black on the wood. Any suggestions on a wood type other than pine, and what about a paint type
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I bought #2 yellow pine for $55.00 at economy lumber in Tulsa, Ok phone 918-835-4933 address 4221 e pine st . We then cut the lumber to the proper size (used the dimensions from Mar-K website) painted the lumber with POR 15 and then sprayed it black with a UV inhibited paint. Splurged on Polished SS trim with the money saved on the wood kit.

Kieth

after cutting to size and then doing the edges with a table saw and a dido blade.
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...rLzpm&lb=1&s=A

What it looked like being installed:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...xvc8z&lb=1&s=A

Finished:

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...Qx6ZF&lb=1&s=A