The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Bailer Belt?!?

Earlier in January or February I started a topic about the little strip of wood between the hoist frame and the truck frame.

I was (and am) very hesitant to put wood back in there because I feel it will just deteriorate in time just like the last strip of wood.

So, I came up with the idea of using a length of bailer belt. Thick rubber with some type of fiber sandwitched between for strength. Would anyone know why I shouldn't use bailer belt strips instead of wood strips between the frames?

Should work, but I would want to hear from someone who has used it, it could squeak allot?

New truck bodies are most often attached with wood between. I have seen the exact same dimensions and material on many different newer trucks, so someone sells wood for the express purpose of installing it between a body and frame.

rubber may have a greater tendency to flex and give causing your bed to shift or loosen. some bodies i've seen have nothing between frame of truck and body don't know if thats a good idea or not they were just tack welded direct to frame then bolted

I've removed bodies from 50, & 60 year old trucks, & never found the wood to be deteriated.

I have used body welting,available by the roll from Total Performance in Wallingford CT. and other suppliers.Another idea is CCA.

I would use wood soaked in linseed oil or some other kind of oily preservative. Most of my beds have the wood buffer but I also have one that only has a bracket mounted to the frame for the bed to "land" on when down. It's steel on steel, don't know if that's correct or if there should be a silencer of some sort there.
Scott

One purpose for the wood strip is, if you have rivet heads sticking up on the top side of the frame, you can countersink them into the wood so you have a flat surface on top for the bed to rest on.