Just a thaught, has anyone tried to use that fake deck wood for replacing the actual wood in your beds? I was just doing some brain storming and wondered if it works and how it looks, you would think it would be more dorable and not as much problem with the wood rotting out the bed sides. the only down side I could think of is you can't shine it up and it does look like fake wood. Just a thaught any ideas?

 

Are you referring to the Trex type decking?

 

I'm not sure of the name of the stuff but I think you can get it at Lowes or Home depot large hardware stores like that.

 

I would think it might be worth the trouble if you planned to paint it. However, if you mean to leave it unpainted, I would expect it to look less than special. Also, that stuff is not cheap.

If it were me looking for an alternative to real wood, I would go with a sheet of polished aluminum treadbright. Jag

 

Another alternative to wood planks is a sheet of 3/4 marine plywood, then rout out the grooves for the metal strips

 

wood is good

 

I have done this exact thing myself. My dad is the plant manager for a company that produces this type of decking, so I thought about trying it out about a year ago. I LOVE the results! It's durable, doesn't rot, hardly fades, and with the new streaked colors they produce, it looks pretty darn close to real wood too.

Don't buy the cheap crap at Lowe's and Home Depot. The colors aren't very good, the grain isn't stamped very deep, and the saw dust is very coarse and extremely visible in the board. It just looks terrible. Also, it's really overpriced for the quality.

Here's the website for the product my dad's plant produces. I highly suggest you check it out, and try it! I'm extremely happy with the results, and I promise you will be too.

http://www.evergrain.com

The color I have in my truck is called Golden Oak. It's one of the new "Vibrance Colors" which has streaking in the wood, and looks really great. Here's another anti-Lowe's/Home Depot board thought: The boards they sell are extrusion-molded boards, which are weaker. The boards I have are compression-molded, and tested to be some of the strongest on the market. I don't know how much difference it will make in the bed of a truck, but I'm not taking any chances. Good luck!

Oh and did I mention I work at Lowe's?? They'd probably fire me in a heartbeat if they know I was writing this post...haha!!

 

joelburn, post pictures

I was thinking about the plywood option. Has anybody tried it?

 

I can't remember who it was, but someone on this board mentioned using aluminum planking from bleachers as bed planks. I think it sounds like a great idea.

Bobby

 

Yep I have 3/4 inch thick oak plywood but I did paint it. I have a Bruce Horkey wood kit for the truck but I think the plywood will stay for a few more years. I like it.

I have a album called bed wood if you would like to see it. For some reason I can't attach a picture to this note.

Chuck

 

That looks good to me