I'm a long way away from finishing my project, but never too early to start thinking about some of these things. I have a 3800 Dual rear wheel cab/chassis. The truck came to me with a full wood flatbed that I intend to recreate. It is wrapped with nice metal strapping. I wanted to use white oak, but cost and inability to find 2x and 4x wood required to rebuild has moved me toward using easily accessible yellow pine. \
I keep floating between pressure treated pine and regular pine framing lumber. Will be needing mostly 2x6 or 2x8 lumber so both are easily available. The trucks hard working days are over and will be protected from the elements. I'm just trying to determine which type of wood would be best. I have extensive woodworking experience and I would say that unless I have to have ACP, I avoid it. When you cut a board and water comes out, I feel like you are asking for trouble with warpage and shrinkage. Regardless of what type I settle on, I will tounge & groove all joints for the floor and side boards and it will be painted.
So my primary question would be if it were yours, and planning to use it as I have expressed, would you use ACP or regular framing lumber? Secondary question would be what would you paint/treat it with to protect it long term. Color will be black. Final piece of the question would be regarding the tounge and groove joints, would you use glue or silicone caulk (or something similar) to join, or just leave it bare and use quality fasteners and let it move as it will?
I am afraid that if I go with ACP from Home Depot, It will have to be allowed to air dry for a long period of time to keep it from warpage, crowning, and shrinking after assembled. I've built enough decks with ACP to know it will be straight at the lumberyard and crooked as a 10' snake by time it made it home.
Last edited by aggie jon; 10/31/2017 7:09 PM.
