Wood bed alternative?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 5
From: Cary Il
You could still use a wood bed but use a wood like teak or ipe both are very hard and hold up out side the best . If you are better with working with steel you could use flat sheets of steel and weld it to the sides
http://www.advantagelumber.com/mobile/decking2.htm
http://www.advantagelumber.com/mobile/decking2.htm
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,104
Likes: 138
From: Orcas Island Wa.
Ipa is very hard to work, and teak is about 20.00 bf right now. I have 2 flatbeds that I built from steel, but are decked with 2 layers of 3/4" pressure treated plywood. It's made for below or at grade construction. Not sure if marine plywood is available in treated. It is normally made from high grade veneers, with no voids, and a marine grade glue. I vote for the pressure treated plywood from your local lumberyard, and way cheaper. Both trucks stay outside in the Pacific Northwest horrible weather. My .02
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Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 81
Likes: 7
I'm leaning towards throwing in a sheet of 3/4" treated plywood.
Ipa is very hard to work, and teak is about 20.00 bf right now. I have 2 flatbeds that I built from steel, but are decked with 2 layers of 3/4" pressure treated plywood. It's made for below or at grade construction. Not sure if marine plywood is available in treated. It is normally made from high grade veneers, with no voids, and a marine grade glue. I vote for the pressure treated plywood from your local lumberyard, and way cheaper. Both trucks stay outside in the Pacific Northwest horrible weather. My .02
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 157
Likes: 1
From: Medicine Hat, Alberta
I have not done mine yet, but I am considering using composite deck wood. I think there are some issues with shrinkage and contraction, but maybe some other members have more info on this.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 859
Likes: 3
From: Newberg, OR
I was thinking about 2x6 T&G pressure treated but my brother tells me the pressure treated is very corrosive and I'm sure no matter what you paint the steel parts with that contact the wood the paint will rub off.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Use Accoya, wood that won't rot in our lifetimes. Check it out: Accoya Uses Chemistry Trick To Detoxify Exterior Wood Treatment Process | TechCrunch
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 823
Likes: 4
From: Calais, Vermont
When I first got my truck the bed wood was just about gone. I ripped some 5/8" CDX and installed it using the original metal bed strips which were still usable, though much rusted. I applied linseed oil thinned with mineral spirits to the ripped plywood before assembly. Over the years, whenever I washed it, I would recoat my plywood bed wood with fresh coats of oil. I cut and hauled firewood for several years, then moved to the northeast from California where I used it as a daily driver and work truck for about ten years. In all that time, it was never garaged or treated gently. Only recently have I started to restore the truck. When I removed that plywood bed wood, I found that it was still in very good condition...it could easily have lasted another ten years. Caveat: I did this plywood bed over thirty years ago. The CDX plywood available at that time was Douglas Fir and was a much better material than the CDX that one would commonly find nowadays. And, except for rabbetting shallow channels in the wood for the bed strips, the labor was about the same as if I'd used solid wood. This is all a long-winded way of saying that I've used plywood with great success
oldmerc
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 5
From: Edmonton,Alberta
Pressure treated lumber and plywood is extremly corrosive to anything ecxept stainless steel . I would suggest white oak boards and just paint them like the factory did . I know the originals were pine but depending on where you live and how handy you are with a table saw the oak may be better value .
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 1
From: oh
The sheet of plywood is usually the cheapest, and easiest method of most truck guys who use their trucks, or a plate of steel . Have seen both.
On the 53 my wife used for mulch we installed plastic sheeting 4 x 6 in the bed and along the sides and even over the tailgate. They clean up nice with a hose, and you can even lay them against the rear window area to keep mulch,etc from touching the cab....cheap but effective
On the 53 my wife used for mulch we installed plastic sheeting 4 x 6 in the bed and along the sides and even over the tailgate. They clean up nice with a hose, and you can even lay them against the rear window area to keep mulch,etc from touching the cab....cheap but effective
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 5
From: Cary Il
New treated lumber and old treated lumber
Treated lumber is not the same as it was two years ago it is some very ccorrosive stuff read up on it here.
http://www.fortatkinsonwi.net/depart...dLumberNew.pdf
It will eat through aluminum
http://www.fortatkinsonwi.net/depart...dLumberNew.pdf
It will eat through aluminum
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,363
Likes: 1,724
From: AKRON ohio
Treated lumber is not the same as it was two years ago it is some very ccorrosive stuff read up on it here.
http://www.fortatkinsonwi.net/depart...dLumberNew.pdf
It will eat through aluminum
http://www.fortatkinsonwi.net/depart...dLumberNew.pdf
It will eat through aluminum