Rebuilding bed floor, what gauge steel?
 

I'm going to replace the rusted-out bedfloor on my truck soon in shop, and I need to order some sheetmetal. What gauge should I go with? I won't have the ribs working for me like the factory floor, so I'm torn as to what thickness to use for durability. Needs to withstand stuff being back there (especially if I were to haul some scrap), but needs to not weigh a ton and cost an arm and a leg for the steel. Any ideas?

if you use straight sheetmetal you will need to add a lot more crossmembers in the bed. another option would be replacement panels or a replacement bed-both can be jy finds. but to answer your question i think 14ga would be alright, maybe 12 if you were hauling a lot back there

No other input? Regular patch panels are a no-go because you can only get small sections, and the bad areas are bigger.

Others on here are using the 95 style beds and re hanging the 80 to 86 bed sides on them. They are also doing the same with the 73 to 79 beds.

Yeah, but a single bedside is $200+ (and I can't even find a shortbed single filler opening one).

You can also remove the bed floor from the newer truck and use it in yours.

The yards here are pretty full of the 95 style trucks, thanks to cash for clunkers. The beds are very cheap in the u pull its. Check around.

edited45678

Thats what I would do would be to use a new floor dont try to build one yourself your just asking for trouble.

Why?
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