I have decided to install a wood bed vs a aluminum diamond plate bed, and as I never had a wood bed in when I got the truck, I need to know what the dimensions are as far as wide is each piece, I don't want to order a "bed kit" form a vendor I prefer to make my own and try and save few bucks. I already have the strips, just need to get some wood, I beleive it is 3/4" x length of bed, but I have no idea how wide. Any guidence is aprreciated.
Don

 

All boards are 78" L x 5 3/4 "W x 3/4" thick . Rabbits are 5/8 W x 1/8" deep on center & insides of outer boards . Outer board outside edges are 1/16" deep x 1" W. where the bed side rests on it.You can also taper rabbit the inside boards & inside of outer boards for water shedding purposes .

 

Here is a chart...

 

Hey Charlie, you wouldn't happen to have a chart like that for a F2 Express Bed would you?

 

Doug, I just put new wood in my Express Bed. I never found a chart so I measured between the bolt holes for the bed strips.

Mine happened to be 7 3/8" on all the center boards. The end boards need to be a little wider so you can trim to fit. 7 1/2" worked for me.

I have temporary plywood strips in for now. When I do a permanent job I am going to add the rubber seal/strip along the bed sides to keep the crud from collecting in the gap.

The Express Bed also needs thicker boards to be the same height as the end of the bed. Bruce Horkey sells 1" thick wood. Measuring my bed looks like it could be as thick as 1 1/8" to sit flush.

 

I forgot where exactly I got that diagram but it has been passed around for years on this forum. I know the Mar-K and a few of the other aftermarket bed kit makers offer some good documentation...much of which is available online on their websites. It looks like Scotty has it pretty well dialed in.

 

Scott, where can you buy the rubber filler pieces or what are you planning to use? I will be needing something within the next few weeks.

 

Doug, I don't remember where I saw them. Check Bruce Horkey, Mar-K, DC, Drake, NPD. I've been looking at all of them lately.

I saw some lawn edging that might even work. Sorry I don't remember. Not up on my priority list right now. If I see it again I'll let you know.

Scott

 

Just found it. Bed Box Side Seal @Dennis Carpenter. It just looks like flat rubber strip. I "think" the original stuff has a rounded bead on it.

 

Thanks Scott. Yes, the original piece had a rounded bead as I had a few pieces left in my bed when I broke it down.

 

Thanks for the measurements, I think I am going to build my own bed wood as I already have the strips. I haven't seen a metal bed I really could not have regrets down the road about installing.
Don

 

I saw a vendor at the 2016 Supernats that was selling extruded aluminum bed "wood" panels. The panels were very stiff yet lightweight. Each was coated with a design that looked like various types of wood. Not cheap but they looked very classy. I don't have the vendors card on hand right now but I will look for it. Maybe there are others here that were at the Supernats who can supply more info.

 

I'd like to see that, if you have their name website etc. sounds interesting, I'll try and google it.

 

So I went to the Supernats website and leafed through all the photos of the event until I came to the vendor's stand that had the bed wood...they are Smokey Road Rod shop...Smokey Road Rod Shop
BTW - I asked about pricing and was told that an F100 bed would run about $1,300 and it comes with SS strips and bolts.

 

I checked out their web site, very nice stuff, but a bit pricey.
Don