Naked bed.
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Postmaster
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From: Santa Clarita
Naked bed.
I just got done removing all the wood and metal strips on the bed of my truck. I'm getting ready to detail the frame, etc. Is it safe to drive the truck without the strips or wood in place? I noticed the side panels don't have much support. Need to fix the bed panels and paint prior to putting the new wood in. No offense, but this was a dirty job, but I enjoyed it.
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I drove mine awhile without the bed wood in it. I just cut some small 3/4 wood blocks and bolted the bed sides at the sill crossmembers. It was not real stable but if you don't get crazy I don't think you will have a problem.
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Ed- This is a bigger job than I anticipated. I'd advise having everything done. Wood lacquered, strips ready and new bolts. I tore into mine and now it's sitting with nothing in the bed and nothing is ready to put in. My biggest concern is what to do about straightening and painting the inner bed panels prior to putting the new wood down. Kinda feel I should of waited, at least for the rainy season.
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imlowr2-
I had a similar problem with scratches and scuffs on the inside bedsides. I decided I wanted to be able to haul light items from time to time so I opted to use the black Herculiner roll-on material on my bedsides. Now if I want to put something back there I just put a blanket or mat on the bedwood and don't have to worry about the bedsides getting scratched. I used two coats and I think it turned out well. If you want a shiny paint job on your bedsides this of course won't work. On your dark blue truck it should look fine. $100 for the kit.
I had a similar problem with scratches and scuffs on the inside bedsides. I decided I wanted to be able to haul light items from time to time so I opted to use the black Herculiner roll-on material on my bedsides. Now if I want to put something back there I just put a blanket or mat on the bedwood and don't have to worry about the bedsides getting scratched. I used two coats and I think it turned out well. If you want a shiny paint job on your bedsides this of course won't work. On your dark blue truck it should look fine. $100 for the kit.
Mountain Pass
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From: northeast texas
I'm about to start on my bed and have a question on the bedstrips. Is the wood grooved out so that the top of the bedstrip is flush with the wood surface or is the top of the bedstrip above the surface of the wood?
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks,
Jim
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From: Kansas City area
The bedwood is routed out on the edges but the metal strips still protrude above the wood a little to protect the wood from anything sliding around in th bed.
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From: Santa Clarita
Leckart, your bed looks fabulous, nice job. I noticed you have four big bolts with what looks like a washer on the cross sills in the wood? My truck didn't have those? I only have the regular carriage bolts bolting into the crossmembers and the bolts on the side walls holding them in. I've seen a few trucks with those bolts and washers like you have. Is that original? I think it looks great. I bought a SS bolt kit from Dwayne (Fatfenders) I don't recall seeing those in the kit either.
Since my bed walls are pretty beat up and could use replacing (especially the front) ,I think I'll go with the spray on coating on the bed. The side panels have slight dents and deep scratches which could bondo'ed and block sanded. I don't feel like going through all that. They even spray it on in the same color as the truck if you want. However I may go with semi gloss black. It cost about $300 to spray coat the bed. Thanks for the great advice. Ed
Since my bed walls are pretty beat up and could use replacing (especially the front) ,I think I'll go with the spray on coating on the bed. The side panels have slight dents and deep scratches which could bondo'ed and block sanded. I don't feel like going through all that. They even spray it on in the same color as the truck if you want. However I may go with semi gloss black. It cost about $300 to spray coat the bed. Thanks for the great advice. Ed
Last edited by imlowr2; Oct 8, 2005 at 11:56 AM.
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imlowr2-
The four large bolts and washers are original style. The wood is relieved so the washers set down about a 3/32" and they bolt through the cross sill to the frame. This allows you to remove the bed as a unit with the sills in place by just removing these four bolts plus a few others that need removal such as the ones attached to the rear fender supports. I too purchased my SS bolts from Dwayne and he also provided the large bolts and washers but they might have been a special request as I don't recall.
The four large bolts and washers are original style. The wood is relieved so the washers set down about a 3/32" and they bolt through the cross sill to the frame. This allows you to remove the bed as a unit with the sills in place by just removing these four bolts plus a few others that need removal such as the ones attached to the rear fender supports. I too purchased my SS bolts from Dwayne and he also provided the large bolts and washers but they might have been a special request as I don't recall.
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Ed
That's two different bolt kits Larry is displaying. Bed strip kit and a bed hold down kit. That's the way all the vendors I know of sell them. It's because you rarely find two people in a row that want to run the same set of hold downs. I just like to do the four in the middle, and two rear that are not exposed. Anyway, the hold down kits are available for about 35-40 from various vendors. Depending on whether you want them polished. Individual washers roughly $3, depending on the quality. There are some bad ones on the market that will rust easily. (cheap SS)
Larry, that looks very nice.
That's two different bolt kits Larry is displaying. Bed strip kit and a bed hold down kit. That's the way all the vendors I know of sell them. It's because you rarely find two people in a row that want to run the same set of hold downs. I just like to do the four in the middle, and two rear that are not exposed. Anyway, the hold down kits are available for about 35-40 from various vendors. Depending on whether you want them polished. Individual washers roughly $3, depending on the quality. There are some bad ones on the market that will rust easily. (cheap SS)
Larry, that looks very nice.
Last edited by fatfenders; Oct 9, 2005 at 04:02 AM.
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Dwayne, my truck (I think the bed was original) didn't have those four bed hold down bolts your talking about? The cross member sill has the hole which appears to go through the frame rails. I only had the the wood board covering it. I guess I should put these hold down bolts in. I'm pretty close to putting the bed back together. Any suggestions on where to get these? and do you recommend me putting them in or just doing like it was before. Seems much sturdier with the four installed. The one's I've seen are usually chrome and not SS. Here's a picture of what my bed looked like. (Now you understand why I need to replace the bed wood. LOL)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../58446.520.390
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../58446.520.390
Last edited by imlowr2; Oct 9, 2005 at 04:57 PM.
Fleet Owner
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From: NM
If you want to drive around with no wood, go buy yourself a 4 x 8 of 3/8" B-C plywood (exterior kind, not the pretty stuff) and lay it in there, under the side flanges, bolt it down at the crossmembers. It will be 1" too narrow to completely do the job, but you can live with it that way.