Metal Thickness?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
Metal Thickness?
Anyone know, or have an original bed and can measure, the thickness of the bed side panel metal? I had a donor 53 F-350 pickup lined up, but now I can’t get ahold of the guy. I’m going to have to resort to building my own bedsides, but don’t know the metal thickness.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
That’s what I was wondering. Is the bed material made of a thicker gauge metal than the other body panels? The box that came with the truck was just absolutely destroyed by years of heavy use. I remember the bed sides being pretty heavy duty looking compared to the other parts.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 245
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From: Southern Alabama
According to my research, Ford used 16 gauge steel for the bed sides. Approximately 0.060 inch.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Kemptville, ON,
I built my own bed. I used 16 ga for the walls. For the supports/cross pieces under it I used 14 ga.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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Likes: 82
From: Oregon
I thought that I had understood the bedsides to be 16 gauge. It seemed a bit heavier than the metal used for other body panels.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Oregon
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,352
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From: Central PA
Joe. I bought steel bed strips for my 55 F350 flatbed from Midwest Early Ford. I picked them up at Carlisle to save freight on over size shipping. I needed 9 foot strips. I think they came in 10 foot length. Holes were not punched. They were cheaper that way. I took them to an Amish welding shop. I took a old rusty strip along for the correct length and to accurately determine where to punch the holes. They charged me $1 per hole!
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
Joe. I bought steel bed strips for my 55 F350 flatbed from Midwest Early Ford. I picked them up at Carlisle to save freight on over size shipping. I needed 9 foot strips. I think they came in 10 foot length. Holes were not punched. They were cheaper that way. I took them to an Amish welding shop. I took a old rusty strip along for the correct length and to accurately determine where to punch the holes. They charged me $1 per hole!
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