wooden bed restoration
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
From: Blue Eye, mo. hwy 86 & JJ
wooden bed restoration
ok my 85 stepside has a wooden bed that has rotted beyond all belief, 3 questions
1. how hard is it to do
2. oak or pine?
3. should i go through MAR-K or just use new plywood?
thanks again for helpin me out with my MANY problems.
1. how hard is it to do
2. oak or pine?
3. should i go through MAR-K or just use new plywood?
thanks again for helpin me out with my MANY problems.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
I have used treated pine with good results. The problem I had (I put new wood in a 53) was you can't just cut the wood to length and stick it in there. I had to cut the wood to length, and then take a router and put a "rabbit" down each side. In other words I had to cut down the top corner down the each side of each piece. This makes it the right height to fit between the bedside and the front header piece, and it also gives a place for the metal strips to bolt in and be lower than the center part of the boards, so when you are sliding stuff in the bed, you are not bumping over the metal pieces and the bolt heads.
I believe the wood kits you buy already have the wood whittled out to the proper dimensions.
I believe the wood kits you buy already have the wood whittled out to the proper dimensions.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,658
Likes: 5
From: Out of here
I'm not a big fan of wood in the bed either unless you are doing a concours restoration. Several vendors and sponsors of this site offer complete kits to re-do your bed. If you insist on using wood, go with a hard wood. Pine is too soft and will not last.
I'm in the process of building a Flareside from the ground up and probably will be using either aluminum or steel diamond plate for the floor.
I'm in the process of building a Flareside from the ground up and probably will be using either aluminum or steel diamond plate for the floor.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: East Bernstadt, Ky
i would definatly use a hard wood i saw a bed done in walnut and mahogany and it looked real nice hardwood is alot more expensive but you can go to a local lumber yard and buy it rough and plane it down yourself if you have access to a wood shop
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, MN
When I rebuilt my bed I used treated plywood, with intentions on putting diamond plate over it but have'nt put it on yet. I did that almost 3 years ago and it's still holding up. I don't drive it in the winter so that helps too.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
We used red oak, It's held up great. If I had to do it again, I would use an epoxy for the finish. I put 8 coats of spar varnish on the wood before the install and it has yellowed up quit a bit, and some peeling. The wood is still in great shape though and some day I will take it out and sand it sown and use the epoxy instaed. Here's a couple pics. More in my gallery.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
From: Blue Eye, mo. hwy 86 & JJ
wow big thanks everybody (espically texcan) for all the info. once i get the cash i will probably get the kit but perhaps with a different wood... i will not get the pine, perhaps oak, maby the red oak in texcan's pics. looks beautiful!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Thanks hitman This wasn't a kit. We milled all the oak ourselves. Like stated above we also had to rabbit for the bed strips. Was a lot of fun. Very easy. The 2 sides we just put up ander the bed and traced the ouside of the bed. Good luck!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
I just did a deck with the veranda composite boards from home depot. It would probably work well but requires some woodworking tools to machine it to the dimensions you need, its about the same as a 5/4 deck board IIRC, the edges are rounded off
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,000
Likes: 2,399
From: NY and VA
I think from the factory they used yellow pine- at least on my 54. It's easy enough to make your own. I used white oak, planned it, router job and a couple of coats of cuprinol. That was in 1970 and it lasted for about 30 years before rotting out- not garaged. If you don't have woodworking equipment, check with local high or vocational school. They might be looking for a project.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tontokowalski13
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
30
May 3, 2016 05:35 PM
nigeljoiner
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
28
Sep 10, 2014 07:18 PM
