I'm looking for advice on a wood bed kit to replace the rotten stock plywood bed that's currently in my 1985 Ford F150 Flareside.

I found the MAR-K oak kit and think I'm going to buy it, but I wanted to check with the forum to see if anyone knows of a better kit or a good deal out there that I can find.

This kit is $388, seems pricey but what are you gonna do???
MAR-K Catalog - Select Your Truck

Also, I need a Front Bed Panel. MAR-K has one, anyone know of any other cheaper sources out there?

Thanks everyone,
JT

 

I think this is the site I will be buying my bed wood from.


Bed Wood and Parts1973-1986 Ford F150 Short Box Flareside - Bed Wood Sets


It comes in many different wood types even exotic woods.


For mine, doing it in red oak would cost me $450 roughly for the kit. Cheapest kit how ever is $300 but I do not know what wood it is as they changed the website removing the price preview for all the wood species.


Thing I read on the Mar-K link you posted is you have to buy new bed strips and drill new holes. As far as I know the place I linked above is made to fit like the original.

 

The kit from Mar-K being $388, I feel is a very reasonable price. I paid $300 just for the wood...then had to drag out the table saw and do all the cutting and figuring out myself. Plus, I have ordered several times from them and feel they are a top-notch company with very high quality products. If anybody ever needs bed parts, they are the first name to come up.

For having to drill new holes, just drop the wood and strips in place before finishing the wood and drill the holes. Shouldn't be a big deal to do. They also say the strips don't match the factory ones, well, I didn't notice any difference as I am using their strips.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-update-2.html

 

I used the MAR-K and was satisfied. I chose Oak. The only holes you have to drill are the ones that mount the bed to the frame. Depending on the condition of your old wood, you can use it as a template. If not possible, I suggest you assemble the bed on the frame and align it with the Cab. You would then drill from underneath in the existing frame holes. This can be difficult but affective. Otherwise you must be an expert with a tape measure and pray for alignment.

 

Could always take and go from underneath with a center punch or something that is pointed that fits the hole fairly good and mark the wood.


I did this years ago on mine when I did it I marked the center of the hole from under the truck then drilled the wood out.

 

One of the prior owners of my flareside replaced the wood with standard sized lumber. It means drilling a few extra holes in the supports, as you are moving the bed strips a bit laterally to make it work... but it makes replacement wood fairly straightforward. You can buy Oak lumber right at Lowes, four 1x6 and four 1x8.

See page 2 of my thread here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...with-pics.html

Then again the Mar-k kit isn't too much more

 

Sorry, I forgot that you have to drill the holes for the bed sides as well, but those are easy to drill from the top once you align them.