Shop Truck Bed Wood - Cheap, Durable, Attractive

WOW that came out nice!! My '47 has what I think may be a factory "tin" bed liner that goes over the wood. Yours looks so nice it makes me wanna store that tin in the attic!!!

 

i googled "Standard bed wood "wear strips" bought from Jim Carpenter" and no luck. Any more info on "Jim Carpenter" would be great
thanks

 

You're looking for Jim Carter for Chevy -- Dennis Carpenter for Ford

 

These guys list the strips and hardware:

http://www.truckandcarshop.com/trucks47_59/t47_104.html

- Joe

 

Your floor really looks good. I built a bed floor out of what seemed like dry treated lumber a number of years ago and there still was some shrinkage. Put it together tight and still ended up with some gaps?

 

Very Kool !
Thanks for sharing...

 

Good idea and great job. Please let us know how you like it as time p***es. Seems to me that it'd be fine for a truck that'll haul something besides ***...

 

thank you

 

Sorry about that, damn dyslexia

Here's the link...

http://www.oldchevytrucks.biz/47_55/full.asp?page=15

 

Actually I believe that I got them here, quite a bit cheaper.

http://www.cl***icparts.com/Bed-Strips/products/17/

 

Thanks for the insperation to get my bed done. Right after the 4-link.

 

Nice job. I did mine 2 years ago in pine. Those mesurements were the hardest part! Thanks for posting and you got my vote.

 

I found the rest of the years measurements:

1947 to Early 1951 - 9 Boards
4 1/4" 5" 5 1/2" 5 1/2" 6 3/8" 5 1/2" 5 1/2" 5" 4 1/4"

Late 1951 to 1953 - 8 Boards
4 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 4 1/4"

Late 1954 to 1957 - 8 Boards
4 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 4 1/4"

Late 1958 to 1959 - 8 Boards Stepside
4 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 4 1/4"

Late 1958 to 1959 Fleetside - 12 Boards
4 1/2" 5 1/2" 5 1/2" 7 1/2" 5 1/2" 7 1/2" 7 1/2" 5 1/2" 5 1/2" 4 1/2"

Late 1960 to 1972 Stepside - 8 Boards
3 1/8" 7 7/16" 7 7/16" 5 7/16" 5 7/16" 7 7/16" 7 7/16" 3 1/8"

Late 1960 to 1972 Fleetside - 12 Boards
2- 6 3/8"* 7 7/16 7 7/16 7 7/16 5 7/16 5 7/16 7 7/16 7 7/16 7 7/16 2- 6 3/8"*
* = One board in front of wheelwell, one board behind

The lengths of the boards depended on several factors, ton rating and wheelbase. The table below summarizes board lengths for the AD pickups and later model pickups.

Board Lengths
1947-1953 1/2 T Short Bed 77"
1947-1953 3/4,1 T Long Bed 85 3/4"
1954-1959 1/2 T Short Bed 77 1/8"
1954-1957 1/2,3/4 T Long Bed 89"
1957-1959 2nd Series 1/2, 3/4 T Long Bed 97"
1954-1959 1 T 97"
1960-1966 1/2, 3/4 T Short Bed Step Side 77 1/8"
1960-1966 1/2, 3/4 T Long Bed Step Side 97"
1960-1966 1/2, 3/4 T Short Bed Fleet Side 77 1/8"
1960-1966 1/2, 3/4 T Long Bed Fleet Side 97"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Short Bed Step Side 77 1/8"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Long Bed Step Side 97"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Short Bed Fleet Side 77 1/8"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Long Bed Fleet Side 97"
1967-1972 1/2, 3/4 T Longhorn Bed Fleet Side 103"

Found here: http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

- Joe

 

Googled for tips on 'aging' new wood for a truck bed. This was a good read!

 

Hey Rich, its been almost a year since you wrote this tech. How's the PT lumber holding up?

Great tech, thank you!

 

Good work, thanks for the tech info.

 

I think it still looks pretty good, especially since the truck stays outside.

The boards did shrink a little in width, but not too bad.

Rich

 

I always love things done by the owner, and even more so when it saves money and looks good! Very nice bed!

 

I never have understood why people spend so much for exotic woods,stainless trim and bolts.This looks great and is totally usable. Put a shiny finish on it and the old dog can`t ride out back anymore. Good common sense

 

Thanks for the update. Any corrosion issues yet? I think I'll do something similar, but use kiln dried wood and then use Thompson's Water Seal. That stuff worked great on my A Tudor's body mounts!

 

If you had it to do over, would you choose the same wood?

Looks awesome btw!

 

Great post, anyone know the wood dims for 55 and later 2nd series beds?

 

Looks great-I like the idea of building a deck for a "working truck". I just did the same thing for my '53 F-100 (after watching an oak kit go to hell in spite of several coats of varnish.) but I used synthetic deck lumber. Rabbeted the corners and reused my old stainless rub strips. No finish or preservative required. And I had let those boards sit outside year 'round for about 7 years while I tackled the rest of the truck.

 

I am tearing out my tempoary plywood today! Finnaly the right idea i have been looking for for!

 

Beautiful. It looks like the hardest part is picking the stain. I'm going to try this method on my old ford.

 

Great Thread.

 

Just spent a few hours rebating the hardwood ply in my PU for the steel strips, and found your post whilst searching.

If you are looking for wood dimensions you can get everything you need here

http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

P.

 

Thanks Still not that far yet but info is good any time.

 

Gonna do this right after I pull out the metal floor someone put in......Sacrilage!

 

That looks great!

Like your dog also.