Replacing wood bed question

[cgster]

Can you replace the wood boards and metal strips without having to take off the whole bed?

[RMBLFSH]

Yes

[Zeroman]

Yes, you can.

It easier for the Step Side, but the Fleet Side can done, too.

I have Step Side.

The bed is actually anchored to the frame with the bolts which are located at the offset washers. Take those bolts out first.

You can remove the existing hardware, strips, and wood. The angles on the bedsides will rest on the bed cross sills. I would suggest removing the inner boards first, then the two outer pieces of wood.

Then just raise the bedside and slip the new wood underneath the angle. Most wood kits need to have the holes drilled in the wood for the angles so just mark the locations, remove the wood, and drill the holes.

Install the side wood pieces first. Then lay out the wood and strips.

Be sure the strips are placed correctly, front to back, as the holes need to match up with the bed cross sills.

Getting to some of the bolts in the center boards may be difficult, but it can be done.

GMC Pauls website has some great information on wood beds for those wanting to cut their own wood.

Good luck!

[Mike harris]

I'm just doing mine at the moment too, will be going the bed off approach as I want to paint up the chassis. What wood are you going with? I'm a bit limited here in the UK for kits so will making the boards myself just not set on what to go with. White oak is the easiest and a cheapish option so will probably end up with that

[Old_Gold]

My wood bed is also a project currently in process. I tonk you can use about any wood to make the bed. Originally they were southern yellow pine, and Walnut and oak are pretty popular. I chose white oak for weather resistance, strength and I like the look. My biggest challenge now is trying to decide where to stop!

[GR8-68]

http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

This is pretty easy to do yourself if you have a few common woodworking tools,
I made all my wear strip cuts with a table saw.

A is obviously your board dimension thickness

B is 1/4" deep

C is also 1/4"

D is 1/2"

E is 1/8 "

B and E can be adjusted slightly if you want your wear bar to sit a little higher

Board dimension widths are as follows for a stepside

Late 1960 to 1972 Stepside - 8 Boards
3 1/8" 7 7/16" 7 7/16" 5 7/16" 5 7/16" 7 7/16" 7 7/16" 3 1/8"

And the following for the fleetside

Late 1960 to 1972 Fleetside - 12 Boards
2- 6 3/8"* 7 7/16 7 7/16 7 7/16 5 7/16 5 7/16 7 7/16 7 7/16 7 7/16 2- 6 3/8"*
* = One board in front of wheelwell, one board behind

And the following info is board length

1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Short Bed Step Side 77 1/8"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Long Bed Step Side 97"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Short Bed Fleet Side 77 1/8"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Long Bed Fleet Side 97"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Longhorn Bed Fleet Side 103"

All this info was copied off GMC Paul's website