Getting to the point again where I am looking at buying new bedsides for my 54 has anyone used the NPD bedsides. ive been looking real hard at the Dan Carpenters bedsides but NPD is cheaper buy almost 50$ a side don't know which route to go shipping isn't the issue since I will drive to pick up just wondering on the quality of both.

 

I'd be willing to bet that they are the same bedside. Both companies probably purchase them from the same manufacturer. There can't be too many companies actually stamping out bedsides now-a-days.
Back when I was looking for stake pockets I stumbled upon these guys;
Ford Bedsides |
It seems like they produce a lot of the body parts for old trucks


Bobby

 

Fordgo you might ask NPD who supplies their bed parts. I would not be suprised if it was Dan. He is right outside of Charlotte. NPD has a store near Concord by the Charlotte Motor Speedway. As previously said you only have maybe 5 companies bending up beds in any real volume.

 

I'd agree with Donald it probably is Dan's panels. As he said there are only a few companies building them. I think the major players are Dan and Northern Classics.

 

It's a good bet that the NPD parts are coming right from Northern Classics. So..go to the sources....either Dan Carpenter or Northern Classic Truck Parts.

If the sides are shot, how are the front and tailgate?

Dan

 

I bought my bed complete from Dan Carpenter at Carlisle many yrs ago. The quality is excellent and everything fit. I whish he made 10' beds for my COE project.

 

I bought the whole bed kit from Northern Classics for my 51 and am very happy with it. High quality and fitment was good.

 

Thanks guys I talked to the rep from NPD he said their bedside were made in Michigan I know that Dan makes his own will probably take a day off work and drive the 5 hrs over and hit all three in the charlotte area (Dennis Carpenter, Dan Carpenter, NPD) still making my decision. I did see that Dan Carpenter makes the bedsides for Dennis Carpenter. I do have a new front panel already and I also need to buy a tail gate ....

 

The source in Michigan is Northern Classic Truck Parts. I was on a business trip to Sterling Heights, so I stopped by to take a look before buying. They stamp out the bed parts along with quite a few other items like patch pieces. Here's a lousy pic of the bed I bought from them. It came unpainted. I primed and painted the pieces before riveting the sides to the bed front. It came with a scripted tailgate and oak bed wood. They ship truck freight, so it worked out to pick it up at the freight terminal near here to keep the shipping cost down a little.

Dan