The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop BED FLOOR OPTIONS

I AM WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS A GOOD LOW COST IDEA FOR A BED FLOOR FOR A 53 PICKUP? EVERYTHING I TRY TO COME UP WITH SEEMS TO COST AROUND 200-300. ANYBODIES HELP WOULD BE GREAT.
THANKS

Piece of plywood is about 20 bucks.

Piece of diamond plate isn't too bad.On my truck I am using bed floor out of 88 up swb chevy truck that I got free from body shop scrap pile ,building mounts and tacking in.

I used a piece of oak plywood, 3/4", about $50.00. Cut it to length. Sealed it on the bottom and stained and varnished the top. I split it down the middle so each piece would slip under the side rails. I then just attached the strips on top. It does not look too bad for a cheap fix.

Rick

I have a piece of 1/4 inch diamond plate in my longbed. Cost $83. No other changes. Anybody wants to lay down a wood bed can yank it and use a kit.

where did you all get that 50 inch wide plywood?

Rick,

I'm intrigued by your description of your oak plywood bed. Did you attach all the metal strips so it looks like a regular wood bed? Do you have a picture of it you could post?

Thanks

A friend did the plywood thing on a F..d pickup. Just drilled holes and put down the strips to attach. Used cheap plywood rather than oak. Looks OK but not as pretty as oak ply would. If you really wanted to make it look cool you could use a router to cut grooves for the strips to get them down a little.

I used just three of the strips but you could use them all if you wanted to. My truck is a 46 so it's a little different then the AD's

Rick

I have a sheet of 3/4 exterior plywood in my bed. It is heavy. No need for the 300 layered varnish or expensive marine stuff. I slip it in the back, slide it under one side of the strips, it will fall to the frame, and then slide it over under the other. I try to get it centered. And I don't worry that it is not 50 inches. Mine hasn't slid around (it is probably held in place by the carriage bolts which hold down the cross braces) so I don't bolt it down. That's cool, saves money on the strips and other nuts and bolts.

Simple, easy, and inexpensive. I use my 55 as a truck. What ever I want to through in the back goes there. And most of my truck is primer. Guess I look like a redneck. Maybe I will paint it next year.

Oh yeah. When this sheet gets worn out I will replace it with a fresh one at Home Depot. Maybe I will drive it in a parade.

RETREAD,
I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE DIAMOND PLATE. NOW I JUST HAVE TO FINE SOME. AND THANKS TO ALL FOR THE IDEAS.

I was wondering about the sheets of plywood they use for freeway signs. I forget what the stuff is called but it paints up real nice and I believe it come bigger than 48x96.

Personally I will use an oak kit and every time I use the truck that might damage the bed, I will use a loose piece of plywood for protection.

Tony M. I know exactly what you're talking about. I believe it's called MDO board. Sign painters use it because one side has a real smooth finish.

Has anyone ever used or seen anyone use Preasure treated lumber for the bed? Just wondering?

With my experiences with pressure treated lumber, it would be awful for a truck bed. My parents' house is 25 years old, the exterior is pressure treated lumber, and the treatment is still leaching back out of the wood.

Over here on the west coast it is used for structural only and it is usually very rough wood. I think on the east coast they have better grades because of the lack of redwood, they use it for decks. The pressure treatment from 25 years ago is totally different than the current process. The chemicals used are different as well.

If you decide to use the bed strips you can get two sheets of ply, rip one down the center and install it butted to the sides, then cut a slice off the other piece to fill the gap in the middle. Install the bed strips over the gaps and no one will ever know!
You can even use marine plywood if you want it to last longer. Be sure to seal the ends and edges before installation.

Has anyone considered PING PONG table plywood ? Guess what size it comes in.....Yes 60" x 108". The only issue is that it's 5/8" thick but that didn't stop me a year ago. Had the local supplier rip it 49.5" x 77". Slid in right in. Attached some SS strips on top and whola....

With all the support underneath I didn't worry for a second about being 1/8" thinner. I've hauled many yards of nursery mix and this is how it's looking today.

http://www.cmaynard.com/Truck/truckbed.jpg

Oh yes, for you who want to somewhat protect your wood finish during those messy runs to the dump or from hauling bricks, dirt, etc, get a sheet of rubber liner mat from matdepot.com. It comes 48" wide and as long as you want it.

Cheers...

you can actually get plywood in any size at a place that sells ply for marine use - the ply floor on a task force panel truck is somethin like 5' wide and 8' long, and can be obtained here through a Windsor Plywood store - cheaper to split and join sheets tho

Bill