I have the bed from ''Earl'' ready soon and need to find some longbed wood.
I contacted bigbucks on ebay and he doesn't sell longbed wood.
I was going to use marine plywood, but wonder what others have used?
Thanks
Bill

 

I used common spruce- really cheap, easy to get more if/when I need it. I plained it down to thickness, cut in edge chanels for the metal retaining strips, and marine spar varnished the heck out of it before assembly. A couple of years old, always kept under cover, still looks great. Truck is F-68 with express box.
As long as you protect the wood with a good finish you can use whatever you like IMHO.

 

I used birch plywood, with some special rating on the glue ("exterior" or some such thing). It was about $30 a sheet back then. I was not so concerned with durability or water, we never get rain here, and scratches or such don't bother me. The birch side is finely finished and takes stain great.

Are express box boards more than 96" long? Are they the same thickness as short box? I always wanted to make a box with loblolly pine scaffold-grade boards, that stuff is indestructable.

 

Bruce Horkey sells longbed wood kits in a variety of woods. His prices are right in line with everyone elses.

Ford Bed Wood


And these guys, too...

http://bedwoodandparts.com/i-2895152...de-pickup.html

 

I used a sheet of plywood and attached toungue and groove pre-finished hardwood from Lumber Liquidators, the whole thing lifts out to use the bed. The bed strips hold it down.

 

You might also give the guys at Northern Classics a call. They don't list long bed wood in the website, but they might be able to make it anyway:
Northern Classic Trucks - Reproduction parts for your antique Ford truck .

 

When, I get ready to do mine, we have a local sawmill that does Oak and walnut, so I plan on having them cut mine to dimensions needed. They can also kiln dry the wood.

 

Back where you are I think you can still get Carolina Gum! It looks like and oak or ash, but the pours don't go deep or turn black. It's very strong (they used to make pallets out of it) and it would make a good choice. Either that or Hard Cedar.

 

i just helped my friend do his 65 bed, he bought Trex decking material.

he will never have to do it again.

Decking Colors | Trex

 

Thanks all, I have to decide soon. Will have to open up the wallet for some of these fancy bed-wood kits......looking for cheap.......thanks

 

Understand cheap (frugal) I think the were originally yellow pine. When I did my 54 I used white oak and milled the groves for the strips (maybe the local High or vocational school might be able to help) Bed strips might be obtained from a truck dealer (flat bed). There should be some lumber mills in Ohio where you should get your choice of wood. Galvanized carriage bolts, nuts and washers.

 

I've been wondering why it's $300 for 24 square feet of lumber (OK 32+ in your case). Also add freight for a 100 pound package.

I'm starting to like that birch ply idea. That'll give me the opportunity to screw up an $80 sheet of plywood, then buy the kit anyway!

 

wouldn't it be 64 board feet of 6 inch needed to redo a 8ft floor?

 

One board foot is 12 in. x 12 in. x 1 in., in other words, a 6 in. board 2 ft. long is 1 board foot. I agree about the cost of these wood beds being extravagant. You can go down to the lumber yard and get shop grade lumber in a variety of species a lot cheaper. If you have access to a table saw or router they are really easy to reproduce.

 

1 board foot = 12 inches x 12 inches x 1 inch thick.