If your supplier can furnish 14 or 16 foot boards, you can save a little by cutting two bed boards from each one. You don't have to waste as much from cutting the splits out of the ends. Even if there are no visible splits, you should still cut the end back as much as you can because they may show up later.
After 1960, the beds have board widths that are a closer fit to regular dimensional lumber, so you might not waste as much. These early beds make a lot of kindling.
We have not added to the wood finish tests
http://www.mar-k.com/installation_hints.html for a while because there is not anything new. The painted wood still looks as good as when we put it out in 2005. The pine with Helmsman over Pelucid is the most durable clear finish, but is showing minor failures. Most people would not leave their truck outdoors 24/7 for a year and a half so your experience will be better than this.
Mar-Ktech
