Hi

I am debating building a wooden bed to get a few more years out of my 79 F150. To help me make the decision I'd like to know about weight. The brakes on my truck are iffy as it is and I don't want to add more weight.

Does anyone know how the weight of a new wood bed will compare to the original bed?

 

Best idea is to figure out what is wrong with the brakes. Instead of letting a dangerous brake issue drive the bed design IMO. Maybe all you need is a good bleeding or a new master cylinder or power brake booster?

Bed weight wise it all depends on what you make the frame out of (metal) and or make the planks out of, regular white pine, treaded lumber, 3/16 tread plate.

A regular long bed with tail gate is about 400 lbs ish. I figure that a small home flat bed is lighter than that.

 

I like wood for my flat deck F-150. It holds stuff, instead of letting it slide like it might on metal, so I can cheat and not tie down stuff... like I should.

Also takes abuse and doesn't rot if you let engine oil spill on it. and uhm... if the termites come, it's easy to replace.

 

Any idea how a wooden bed compares in weight to the original?

 

Like I said it all depends on what the frame work is made of, 1" angle iron, 1" square tubing, wooden 4x4's ????? And then what you use for decking material...

Ok say all wood frame and decking estimated 250 lbs ish ?? All wood frame ck this out, post #83 and on https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ghlight=dulley

 

Yeah, What 77&79F250 said...

I was able to move around the flat deck in the yard by myself (Bought it before I got the 78 F150) and had a hella time dealing with the pickup bed. The Pickup Bed is HEAVY.

 

It takes a lot of wood to make a heavy truck bed unless your using exotic woods or hardwoods. A wooden deck is going to be light, a lot lighter than your original truck box no matter how rusty it is. Find out what your brake problem is first as that's one of those things that stops you from driving into others and causing personal injury. Your going to have traction problems with a wooden deck unless you go out of your way to make it heavy. Curves on gravel roads, heavy rainfall on pavement, ice and snow will keep your knuckles white. ALWAYS make sure you have tie down tabs or a rail or something to secure your load.

 

when building wooden flat beds you will have to treat the wood for termites, id look for a factory box and fight rust not termites.

 

Thanks

The brakes are okay but I always have to be careful, I just have to be very careful when I drive it but I assumed all the older trucks were that way. It might just be that it is heavy for a F-150, dual gas tanks, dual exhaust, heavy duty suspension, extra large radiator, etc.

Over the years we've stayed on top of them but this might be the time to make a change.

 

Hydroboost upgrade time?

 

Tell me more.....what's involved?

 

Do you see the blue line with User CP, Albums, FAQ? See the SEARCH on that line?
It has a drop down search menu arrow, go to the "Advanced Search" option, top left side (search block), type in there what you are looking for and then go to the lower right column and highlight 73-79 forum. Select it and then you will have a detailed search just in the 73-79 forums.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...sion-done.html

http://powerbrakeservice.net/new-197...e-booster.html

Wow $$$ http://shop.broncograveyard.com/Hydr...products/1201/

 

I would suggest spelling it correctly when searching though: hydroboost

 

Having a Hydra under the hood might be a good thing, especialy when dealing with road ragers and heavy traffic.

 

Haha, nice idea.


Would keep the mice out too.