Thanks for your help guys, and I have decided that I am going to build a bed just like on OlBlue's '38 farm truck. It has 4x8 sleepers, 7 4x6x7.5 crossmemebers unevenly spaced (26" for the three in the front, 41" over the duals, and 24" for the two in the back) giving 14'. I would really like to build a 16' bed on it, but I'm not sure how good of an idea that is. It is 7' cab to duals, and 10' cab to the end of the frame. I plan on using 2x6x16 deckboards, about 17 of them. I got some of the wierdest looks when I went around to the local lumberyards asking for a quote on an order like this! You'd be surprised how hard it is to get 16 foot 4x8s. I'm also thinking about putting 2x6s down both sides as a support for the bedsides, is that a good idea, or should I go with the 1/4" steel strips that OlBlue's '38 has down the sides? I am trying to stay away from steel and welding as I don't have access to equipment here, and it is expensive here in town. Another thing: I am planning on using plain Doug Fir, and applying a marine varnish to all of them. The guys at the lumber yards say I'm crazy and should use pressure treated. Also I've heard people say I should paint it, all black except for the bedside supports (white). What do you guys think? I want to keep it fairly original, and the plain fir and varnish is what the p/u guys do for their bedwood usually. Thanks for all your guys' help.
