I've been thinking about making some side stakes for my truck (The extensions above the bed, not a flat bed with stakes) to help advertise my forge.

Does anyone have any pictures of this? I only have a couple and I'm trying to figure out the best look with them. I think it gives it a neat look you don't see too often, but some ways seem to look better than others.

Here's all the pictures I have (looking to see more!):







(Best trailer idea ever)





Thoughts? Opinions? My truck is a business truck and everyone in town knows it and drives by it daily. I thought the side stakes would be a good way to go as it classes the truck up and is removable. Probably best made out of oak, I might have to use oak plywood since I'll be engraving it and I don't want it to twist or crack over time so easy.

 

I think that would look great, and I like the top pics best. I wouldn't go any higher than those, but I might do 3 boards instead of two. Just my opinion.

 

OK, first, let me say pardon the Dodge pic on a Ford forum. It's merely to show a stake rack option that I always thought had more class than any I've ever seen, and have loved it since I was a kid. I always thought the proportions were great, and the extra bit of style with the cut outs in between the boards look fantastic, imho. You can use a router or wood burner to carve your business name in the boards, too.

 

That does look pretty good, fits the lines of the Dodge's sides of the bed quite nicely.

I'm thinking boards around 5" tall or so. I'll probably have to mock up something before I start cutting, too thick or too thin won't look as good. Have to give it some thought as I like to keep the look of my truck pretty clean and classic and it would be easy to make it suddenly look too busy and out of balance.

 

Have never done those before but I always have an opinion, suppose the side boards were a grain and color match to the stuff on the floor?

 

I like the look of the staggered boards with the top one only running about half the bed length. Sorry no pictures.
Brian

 

x 2. Wider board on top, thinner board on bottom, corners radiused, back ends cut at a slight angle.

 

I also like the look of staggered side boards . I build a set for my 47 pickup that look similar to the ones on the 49 flatbed . The sideboards on the flatbed were made from 5/4 white oak I had left over fron doing the bed . The ones on the 47 pickup were made from standard 3/4 white oak and they don't have the look and solidity of the heaver 5/4 stock . 5/4 stock usually planes down to about 1&1/8 " thickness and looks good with these old trucks .

 

Any pictures of what that looks like? I'm having trouble finding anything...

 

Alright, here's some quick photoshopping. Right now I'm thinking dual 7" boards is the way to go. Keep in mind I'll be writing on them.

Two 5" boards


Three 5" boards


One and a half 5" boards


7" on top and 5" on bottom


Dual 7"



The ones on the first truck I pictured earlier (not my truck) look like they are 5" boards. I have some 1 1/2" thick 7" and 5" boards, but they aren't oak. I might just use those and remake them out of oak when I get a new bed, as mine is pretty trashed.

 

I did a quick mock up with some 7" boards to be sure.
Then got bored and photoshopped those as well, lol

 

Do you mind me asking what your company name is?

 

Evermore Forge.

I was planning on having that on the top one, then at half the size maybe having ".com" at the end of it and the number and what not on the lower one. Maybe a small version of my logo as it's pretty tall for writing on the side of a board like that. I might some day do the logo on the side of the doors, but right now I still have a lot of work to do on the truck and I'm unsure if I want door art on mine just yet.

 

Stephen67, What about doing some of your ornate metal work and use metal to make it, I first envision something 3D, like a grape vine with leafs and grapes. You could then do your Lettering and Numbers to be replaceable. I just screwed around a little tonight with AutoCAD and came up with this...

 

My opinion and a dollar won't get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but I like the metal sideboard idea. Unique and ties in with your business well.