The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts need tips on anyone who has replaced there big bolt bed wood

posted in the "bed" section not much info, i have a "loadking" wooden bed on my loadmaster need advice on wood replacement from anyone who has done theres, this will be for a "working big bolt" not a show car.

back 1/2 of bed wood is rotten, was going to cut ut across and replace with 2x4x12 sections and make a "doubler" on the cross beams to bolt it too, then use tons of wood screws with some additional support beams across under the boards.

any ideas guys???? was thinking pressure treated wood for this will be painted red once replaced...

depends on what your going to haul in it? most of the typical bed boards are tongue and groove, and just screwed to the cross rails with a screw of that type that is self threading. Also, usually the boards are 1 inche...or 3/4...at least in grain beds....

hauling??? maily kids on hay rides thats it.. poss alittle top soil NOTHING HEAVY

Maybe tear it all off and use5/4 treated deck boards. For what you describe, treated plywood would work.

ok i was thinking 3/4 treated ply would go on alot faster.... i might go that route....

Use trailer decking: 2 x 6 t&g fir, and self-tapping screws like fatweed says. Any lumber yard will know what you're asking for, and any trailer repair/supply house has the screws. Get the Torx-headed ones. They work best. Do the whole deck: it'll look better.

HOTSHOE... id love to do the whole deck, BUT it looks like it would be a huge pain in the butt... would have to take the metal bed apart, then replace wood the reassemble it, for a work truck???? the back 6ft of the bed is only section thats rotten cross wooden beams are ok, as i said i only plan on hauling mowers, weedeaters kids on hay rides and maybe alitle top soil thats about it thoughts???

Just get a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood. It will last quite a while.

builder can you give me a call her eat my desk ref this bed idea? 512-854-3451 or shoot me your number ill call you thanks have afew more questions for you

use a compost wood product
http://www.trex.com/
http://www.timbertech.com/default.aspx

you'll love it ten years from now

I just looked. That's a nice looking truck you have there. I think you should just try to put the boards back so it looks close to original. You'll be a lot happier with it too.

Fatweed said "depends on what your going to haul in it? most of the typical bed boards are tongue and groove, and just screwed to the cross rails with a screw of that type that is self threading. Also, usually the boards are 1 inche...or 3/4...at least in grain beds...."

Sorry to disagree but most, as in nearly all, grainbodies built in the last 30 years have used 2" nominal lumber in a 6" nominal width. It is most always yellow pine and is shiplap, not T&G. One manufacturer (Omaha Std) did use laminated larch in a 1" dimension but hasn't been used in a longtime. Trailer flooring is generally 1-1/8" and is some form of imported mahogany subspecies. There are several. A lot of this is ualso used in CA platform bodies but they don't make grain bodies in CA or too many of them anywhere these days. Whatever is used it obviously needs to be the same thickness as the front half of the floor. And why use 2x4 when 2x6 or 2x8 would make it that much quicler to replace?

I used T&G 2"X 6" treated on 1 truck.
On the other I used none treated wood.
Used the counter sunk screws, All the wood is tung & Groove.
You can put drain oil on it to keep it from rotting.
There is a new plastic board 2X6 T&G on the market but it cost's a lot.
A 20' is just a litle over $100.00 It's called Rumber, It's 1 1/2" X 7" made from recycled tires & plastic & has a 20 year warranty.
comes in 6' 7' 16' 20' 24'
It would be good for horse traylers etc.
Should last a long time!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I used T&G 2"X 6" treated on 1 truck.
On the other I used none treated wood.
Used the counter sunk screws, All the wood is tung & Groove.
You can put drain oil on it to keep it from rotting.
There is a new plastic board 2X6 T&G on the market but it cost's a lot.
A 20' is just a litle over $100.00 It's called Rumber, It's 1 1/2" X 7" made from recycled tires & plastic & has a 20 year warranty.
comes in 6' 7' 16' 20' 24'
It would be good for horse traylers etc.
Should last a long time!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I would steer away from most plywoods especially treated. The wear & tear as wel as weathering will make them delaminate. This is especially true of deck plywood. It is made from fast growing wide grained woods which will splinter and cause no end of swearing. For the record my '36 box was made from 6/4x6" T&G fir planks.