I am restoring a mid-50's Ford stakebed for my '56 F-350 dually, and have 16 of the 20 steel stakes necessary stakes to complete a full set of side boards. Does anybody know if these are available from FORD or another source? I think the stakes were used for many years on many variations of FORD stake beds.
The stakes are stamped and formed steel, 35" total length. The area that goes into the stake pocket is a rectangle 1.5" x 3"

I just need four to complete the set. I am replacing all the wood, so that is not a factor.

Pictures of the F-350 can be seen in My Garage. Here are photos of each side of the metal stakes:

 

That could be easily reproduced at any decent sheet metal shop. I also think ya could find them at the junk yard on other makes of trucks. I got some from a Dodge that where the exact same. Maybe they where Ford that was there. IDK for sure. But they can be made at a shop really easy Bud.

 

Bed stakes are and were usually made by the bed manufacturer, not the truck manufacturer... the bed should have a data plate on it with the manufacturer's info, and that will narrow the search down dramatically... A great many truck repair shops carry spare stakes , and the rails are just a cut to fit deal.. most modern trucks use babinga wood rails, as it is very durable in the sun and weather... it is however not cheap wood, but it is very strong and durable !! I am not sure where you live, but there are several gate manufacturers in the City of Commerce, ca. I am sure a google search would help!

 

OP's "About Me" profile: TX / More Ford trucks have been sold new in TX than anywhere else (CA is second). Should have no problemo finding stake bed makers in TX.

 

Just sent you an email. Maybe these will help.?

 

Thanks for the input guys. I should have mentioned that this is an original FORD Script factory "platform bed".

I believe that many were sold from the early 50's to 60's with virtually the same construction. Only the lenght and width changed based on the size of the truck, and therefore, the number of stakesides. It is identical to the example in the FORD truck parts book - I even have the correct original hardware.

Jeff

 

Platform = Flat Bed

Platform & Rack = Stake Bed.

The script beds were replaced by FORD block letters in 1957.

 

The bed on my 65 was off of a 64 that was used up in Susanville, Ca prison system.

 

I'm almost done with my 55 F350 script flatbed dually. But I have no stakes. Where you able to find any stakes? If so where?

 

Sure did. I kept trolling eBay until I found the additional stakes I needed. Set up a search that will email you when keywords come up in for sale listings. Don't be shy in asking sellers if they will sell the stakes only, as the stakebed frames often don't move.
As I recall I think a forum member here, put me on to somebody that had a couple of stakes, too.

Do you have the connecting hardware that goes between the individual stakes? You can watch for that hardware to come up on the same flea-bay search as the stake bed.

 

Thanks, JeffLee! Your truck looks AWESOME! I've been checking craigslist and ebay. I'll set up a search on the keywords. I found a place online and ordered the stainless steel corner pieces. I'm only planning on doing my stakes across the front by the cab and maybe a short section on the sides. But would like to locate enough to do the whole bed, at a later date.

 

Thanks for the encouragement, Mike.
I just posted a lot of photos of the "finished" '56 Meadow Mist Green F350 in MyGarage, and included some photos of the stakebed details.
BTW MAR-K Manufacuturing (OKC, OK) makes some really nice stainless bed strips, which I used on the red oak, which I had custom milled to the original dimensions. I was lucky to have a few of the original boards and stakes that were intact, so I could get the correct profile.
I was also going to just to the cab stakes, and the first L & R side stakes, and then it got out of control. A lot of work in the end.
Good luck on finding your stakes.
Jeff

 

JeffLee - I think I found some stakes on Amazon, the dimensions are 3.0 in. x 1 7/8 in. at the top and tapers to 2 1/2 in. x 1 3/4 in. at the bottom, are those measurements even close?

 

WOW, Amazon!? Amazon really is into everything - a bit scary!! I am going to guess these are generic stakes and would hold out to find the correct FORD units.
Sorry, but I am far away from my truck until after the holidays, so I can't help you quickly on the dimensions.

I looked at a lot of Ford stakes, and they all appeared the same at the mating point - I quess they used the same mating pockets on all that era's platform beds. The height of the stakes varied. I found at least 3 different heights, but the bottom profile were all the same, so a taller stake can be cut down and used with a shorter set of stakes. It may require drilling new holes for the wood to match the height of the other stakes.
I used four taller "4 plank" stakes I found, which I cut down to match my "medium 3 plank" sized stakes and used them across the front of my bed, against the cab. They worked fine, and the wood plank holes even lined up!

So open your search and buy strategy up FORD stakes from that era that are equal to, OR longer, than the units you have.
Stay original and keep looking, it wasn't that hard to find them.
Jeff

 

I might have short ones and long ones both in the barn. Can't remember for sure, but will take a look. Can't promise and they might be rusty a little. But I'll check. I guess I can use the dimensions that are posted here.