The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Bed wood in a Burb?

I have a 49 burb and am researching what to do with the rear floor. The plywood is solid but top covering is shot. I have seen threads on trying to get new material made etc. but not going that direction, My question is how close is a 1/2 ton truck bed to the rear profile of a suburban? Would a Mar-K type bed kit come to close fitting with minor modifications?

The fender wells "cut into" the Suburban rear floor. The fender wells are completely outside the pickup box/bed.

49bourbon: my floor is very solid to but the top "ply" is a little bad in places due to dragging stuff in and out of it as it was a delivery Panel. I'm seriously thinking about just putting a nice 1/4" sheet over the top of it.... or fill the places and sand down real good for some type flooring/carpet or something like that. Keep us posted on what you do.

I think my wood is solid from all the road salt up in the midwest west...it preserved the wood but killed the sheetmetal

I use my old panel to haul things,and the one I am redoing now I intend to use 2 sheets of marine plywood and split them so to get the width needed and put down wear strips to cover the seam. Should work fine,because as stated the pickup has a totaly different bed makeup.If you used the plywood you could cover it with anything desired.

thanks guys I was thinking the nice stained wood kit with painted steel or stainless runners would dress up the rear. I'll find a buddy with a 1/2 ton and make a quick paper template to see how close they are. I'm a long way from this being at the top of the "to do" lists.

Will you be mounting original seats in the rear? If "yes", you'll have to carefully consider the locations of the floor-pockets for the attachment of seats.

If you go this way, take a router and mill away half the thickness of the plywood sheet, about an inch from the center on each half of the floor, and make an overlapping joint. Some wood glue along the whole seem and clamped well will keep the water from seeping through, and it'll eliminate a weak spot in the center of the floor.

-Brad

Weeds on here did a really good tech write up on replacing the wood in his suburban using marine plywood. You should check it out

I was planning on using a rubber mat style bed liner in mine for hauling. They look pretty similar to the original. A long box size should get you there, check it out.
Bongo

I like the splitting the plywood idea. A lap joint is perfect for this application. I would go one further and say use an epoxy lacquer after it was in and then add the strips. It'd look like a bowling alley. Then to top it all off I'd undercoat the bottom and edges of the plywood. Sorry furniture maker by trade.

Here's the LINK to Weed's great suburban build

Thanks, Weeds & George,

It does not get much better than that.

Very nice Weeds! Picture of perfection. Hope I can Make mine look that good.