Opinions please!

[72chevynoob]

I am putting my truck together for summer vacation. Should I go with a wood bed or steel? If I go wood I need to replace most of the cross braces, including the expensive back one. I do already have marine grade plywood though, in a 10' sheet. My truck is going to be a daily driver during the summer (no 4wd= no winter), and I would lacquer the wood, or bedline both sides of the steel. Which should I go with?
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[jocko]

If you have a steel bed, I'd just leave it. If you go with a wood floor, I do not recommend plywood - I'd go with a hardwood. What do you have now? Steel I assume if you are talking about requiring cross brace replacement. if that's the case, I'd probably just stick with steel, nothing wrong with original.

[dylan1970]

I have always liked the wood bed look!

[tmc1986]

Daily driver=steel bed. Durable and looks great if its lineX'ed or whatever kind of Berliner you want. The wood beds will never hold up like a steel bed.
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[72chevynoob]

Originally Posted by jocko

If you have a steel bed, I'd just leave it. If you go with a wood floor, I do not recommend plywood - I'd go with a hardwood. What do you have now? Steel I assume if you are talking about requiring cross brace replacement. if that's the case, I'd probably just stick with steel, nothing wrong with original.

It is actually a wood bed, I just live in the land of road salt and snow. Why don't you recommend plywood? It is far more durable and less prone to warpage/cracking than hardwood.

[jocko]

because of the exposed ply edges along the length. they absorb a lot of moisture, marine grade or not. Hard wood will only have "end grain" at the ends of the boards. But, more importantly, when you cut it and rabbet it to fit under the slats that hold it down, it will very likely splinter. Just not ideal for making bed wood.

[72chevynoob]

Originally Posted by jocko

because of the exposed ply edges along the length. they absorb a lot of moisture, marine grade or not. Hard wood will only have "end grain" at the ends of the boards. But, more importantly, when you cut it and rabbet it to fit under the slats that hold it down, it will very likely splinter. Just not ideal for making bed wood.

Good point. I just looked up the numbers, and in Canada the prices are fairly similar for wood vs. steel:

Cross sill (3x): $55ea
Bed strips: $120
Rr. cross sill: $55
Bolts: $45
Reinforcement strip: $120
White oak or marine
grade plywood: $150-$180

Total: $655-$685

Complete steel: $600

The local place that carries parts for these trucks is a ripoff, and that is why the wood bed stuff is so expensive, however, I can get the complete steel bed from our local auto body parts store for an ok price, plus they carry Tri-plus, which is supposed to be fairly good quality.

[leftybass209]

I have always like wood beds better than steel. That being said if it ain't broke don't fix it, that's why I don't convert to wood. If money and time is available to you, then its personal preference. Whatever you choose, good luck!
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[ole dollor]

i like the bed wood better, if done right it is far nicer than metal ...

[72chevynoob]

I think I will stick to a wood bed and buy a bed mat for when I have to haul stuff. Thanks for the advice and opinions!
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