Thread: Oak Wood Beds and Misc.

Tweet

Brian, I understand that part now but what I do not understand is how do the boards themselves bolt inside the bed? Cross members have to be made or something? My floor in the bed now is the original ribbed metal one just like all new trucks have and most other ones...

You can either cut out the existing floor and weld new crossmembers in to support the wood floor (which I definately do not reccomend), or you can put in some false crossmembers which rest on top of the bed floor and bolt the floor to the false crossmembers. Neither solution really lends itself well to the type of truck you have. You will spend a tremendous amount of money putting an oak floor into a truck that never was equipped with one. I'd say that you would get a lot more bang for your buck if you just paint inside the bed and put the money you save into a better quality paint job or interior or engine work.

Well Brian, after some thinking I agree with you... Screw it... I have crappy Ryno Lining in it now that NEEDS to come out and just painted or something. I just wish there was some way to add more wood grain to the truck like the Grant Mohagany steering wheel. I don't want to do nothing wood on the dash though so that's the problem, nor the door panels. Now how do the wood floors bolt into a bed that accepts them? Like how many crossmembers, etc? I have I think 3 under the bed now but they are rusted and I need to replace them.

Too bad you dont live closer. I think some Maple would look great. I rebuilt a buddys 36 Chevy doors with wood. I work in a wood shop so its not a big stretch for me. You know Ipa wood, would be cool, it repels water, nice color too.

I do have a buddy in our local Ford club that has a wood working shop and makes or builds cabinetry, etc. I wonder if he would be up to the tast of doing this for me and help save me money... Probably would end up being more than just getting a kit. I may just email or call LMC, MAC and Dennis Carpenter and see what their oppinions are and see how I can do this. So far it doesn't look like I can do it and that it will be way too much and too much money but I will keep looking until I know 100% sure that it wont work or whatnot. If I have to spend heaps of money on it then I will pass it up but I am trying to work it out.

If your just wanting more wood grain ,why not some kick panels, lower door panels, or side panel for your seats. Maybe some thin flooring to cover the main part of the cab floor , you can get some engineered (most won't swell like real wood & is scratch resistant, ready to lay right out of the box ) flooring at a flooring supply AND pick your color to match your wheel . Should be able to get away with 25.00 to 50.00 a box and you'll have some left over in case you make a few mistakes. Just got to come up w/a good way to trim it out.

? just a thought ....
TL

You need to support the wood at the front of the box, the rear of the box, and have a supporting crossmember at least every 24".

FMX---Paint the box. If you want a touch of wood that matches the steering wheel. make up a pair of (low) oak sideboards that set on top of the bedsides and are held in place with attached peices that set in the front and rear stakepockets. If you make them more than about 3" high, someone will think your a farmer taking his hog to market. Done correctly, they look very good, and with the proper stain and about 6 coats of semi-gloss clear urethane they will be an exact match for your steering wheel.

Heh well these aren't too bad of idea's guys I appreciate this. I will do some more thinking and looking at pictures. Anyone here have any pics of some interiors? I am not sure on the color yet. I was going to do just plain black but with this dark metallic forest green color for the paint on the body I think a cream would look cool or something. I like the old style looking gauges with the faded white or cream and black needles. I want those and just can't think of what color would match them besides black... I am thinking, cream, black and then the painted dash same as body in the green.