Bed wood; What kind did Ford use?

[jzjames]

Ive got an image in my memory of how the factory bedwood looked in the Flaresides and Stepsides.
Was it some kind of hard pine or fir? Or was it Oak?

Does anyone know for sure what kind of wood was used by the factories in the old truck beds?

[bjde0b]

I thought I read somewhere that it was pine. I used oak. Ohhhhhh it looks so good.

[red403]

I will be using dark walnut in the bed of my truck but mine is a fleetside so it will require a little custom work.

[hazelnut]

I would think that boards would have been white oak from the factory. White oak is used on wood deck equipment trailers, Seem to last about 20 years unprotected, longer if oil is leaked on it.

[67 Camper Special]

I bought a new stepside in 75, and the bed was Southern Yellow Pine stained black. Had old Chevies that used the same wood.

That being said, I would use something better. That box in the second post is just too pretty. How do you get a box that straight?

Larry

[jzjames]

Southern Yellow Pine stained black.

This is what I thought. Cant really get that wood anymore, huh?

[Art]

Southern Yellow Pine stained black.

This is what I thought. Cant really get that wood anymore, huh?

Around here, utility poles are either Southern Yellow Pine or cedar. A friend of mine told me that stuff lasts really well since it is treated, but he got really sick milling lumber out of those poles and won't do it ever again.

[68 Ford Stepside]

LMC sells oak replacement bed wood. Cox preserving, a local wood preserving company can preserve wood for individuals. Of course if you really use your truck as intended, wood beds can get beat up pretty quickly. Especially soft wood like pine. I thought about installing diamond plate aluminum until I priced a 4 x 8 sheet. $900.00 is a lot too rich for me. Treated 3/4" plywood would probably hold up as good as anything for a working truck bed. I wouldn't be afraid to dump a half ton of rock onto a 3/4" plywood bed.

[brownac1983]

Southern Yellow Pine stained black.

This is what I thought. Cant really get that wood anymore, huh?

I'm in NC, just about all lumber here is made of yellow pine. They're everywhere. From what I understand, the kind of wood you find at your local building supplier varies from region to region. If you decide you really want southern yellow pine and can't find it elsewhere I'd be happy to cut some slightly oversize, box it up and ship it to you, but I'd think shipping would be a killer.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/2-x-12-x-16- ... W2sc0KRjdk