Old school wood bed

[PSD_Tweaker]

Considering the cost of a steel bed, some new-comers to this HDT choice might be interested in a deck that allows under-bed storage for cargo, and tools, as well as a generator.

Also easily adaptable to changes like installing a motorcycle mount.

This bed it plywood that has a fibreglass veneer, it’s generally called deck-ply.

The bed cost with under-bed storage boxes was under $600.00

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/1q6XSAyl.jpg[/IMG]

Edited August 10, 2021 by PSD_Tweaker
Photo attempt

[Pat & Pete]

Here ya go .

[PSD_Tweaker]

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/vhcCrU9

https://imgur.com/a/7sg6iue

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/ZRpB8TSl.jpg[/IMG]

[URL=https://i.imgur.com/T26uskz.jpg "target=new"][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/T26uskzl.jpg "border=0"[/IMG][/URL]
[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/m3zZPvb.png[/IMG][URL=https://i.imgur.com/T26uskz.jpg "target=new"]Click For Full-Size Image[/URL].

Edited August 14, 2021 by PSD_Tweaker
I keep trying to upload pics

[rickeieio]

I'm on track to have $11k in our bed.  That's including a new ET hitch, 4 large tool boxes (24x24x24), Jacklopee, and a deck of 3/16" steel, on a tandem truck.  Agreed, not cheap, but almost half of that is the hitch, lights, tie downs, etc.

[Darryl&Rita]

Price of wood lately, cheaper to build with steel. Just sayin'.

[dennisvr]

15 hours ago, Darryl&Rita said:

Price of wood lately, cheaper to build with steel. Just sayin'.

I know wood prices are stupid now, but so is steel prices.  I bought a 2x2x20 .120 wall tubing the other day at a near by steel distributor for $90.   My building with wood or steel has been put on hold.......

[Big5er]

On 8/9/2021 at 9:49 PM, Darryl&Rita said:

Price of wood lately, cheaper to build with steel. Just sayin'.

As much as I want to say "who gives a damn", Darryl is right

😁😁😁

Edited August 12, 2021 by Big5er

[house]

I will say that I had a wood bed on my Freightliner when I purchased it, it vibrated apart,  They had assembled it with construction screws,  so I added steel angle brackets and aircraft lock nuts and the wallowed out the holes in 6 months.  I finally replaced it with a metal one.  Just my experience.  

[noteven]

The Aluma aluminum plank deck on my won ton is quite a thing. 
It’s not right for Heavy Haul RV work.

[Darryl&Rita]

18 hours ago, Big5er said:

As much as I want to say "who gives a damn", Darryl is right

😁😁😁

👍 It's like deja-vu all over again.

[Brad NSW]

30K miles, two years and this $600 wood bed is as good as the day built.  Of course wood prices have skyrocketed but still a cheap and durable way to go.  I don't worry about scratches or powdercoat wear.  Just add a layer of Watco Wood Oil once a year and it's good to go for another year.

Edited August 13, 2021 by Brad NSW

[jenandjon]

I like the wood beds. I think they have character. They will require more maintenance but thats OK. If I hadn't found the bed I did for free mine would be wood. We just so happened to have a carpenter employed at the farm at that time I buit the truck so not problem.

We had long conversations over many Bud Lights as to the pros and cons of revamping the steel bed over building the wood deck.  What made my my mind up was the steel bed was free and I already had it as well as the maintenance the wood deck will need.

[Sculptor]

   On 8/11/2021 at 6:18 PM,  Big5er said: 

As much as I want to say "who gives a damn", Darryl is right

😁😁😁

On 8/12/2021 at 1:03 PM, Darryl&Rita said:

👍 It's like deja-vu all over again.

You guys are hilarious.  😜

[Sculptor]

Is anybody talking about a wood deck with ramps and tie-downs for a smart car?  I assume it’s possible.  I think I’ve seen a Jeep on a long wooden bed, but I can’t swear to it.

[Darryl&Rita]

25 minutes ago, Sculptor said:

Is anybody talking about a wood deck with ramps and tie-downs for a smart car?  I assume it’s possible.  I think I’ve seen a Jeep on a long wooden bed, but I can’t swear to it.

Realistically, a wood bed can handle almost anything that a steel deck can. With additional steel, the lines blur even further.

[rollinbrian]

26 minutes ago, Sculptor said:

Is anybody talking about a wood deck with ramps and tie-downs for a smart car?  I assume it’s possible.  I think I’ve seen a Jeep on a long wooden bed, but I can’t swear to it.

My deck is wood planking over an aluminum frame.  We'll be adding a smart later this summer.  I'll probably use the Jack Mayer system and add a angle of aluminum underneath aligned with the rails.

[Brad NSW]

Our wood deck has had a Smart car on it since Day one.  Easy on/off and it's loadable from either side.  Ramp extensions ensure I don't drag the bottom of the Smart car when airbags are still full.

[Brad NSW]

Here's a photo of the tie downs I use.  Recessed into the deck.

Edited August 14, 2021 by Brad NSW

[Sculptor]

How are your joists fastened to the frame?  Flat plates through-bolted to both the frame and the joist?  Looks like 4x4 decking. 
Do you strap the ramps on top when you’re driving?

I think about a bed quite often.  Last year we left the rental house which would have been a good place to build one.  We were there for a number of years, but I was down with surgeries which limited my mobility, and in between there was a pesky full time job to distract me from my true occupation of working on our rig.   So I decided it was time to enjoy the fruits of our labor and travel.  The smart bed is still just a dream at this point.  I have confidence in my skills, but fabbing a big steel deck is no longer a possibility for me/us.  On the other hand I still have many of the tools needed for a wood deck, given a place and the time, it could happen.

[rpsinc]

On 8/10/2021 at 11:51 AM, dennisvr said:

I know wood prices are stupid now, but so is steel prices.  I bought a 2x2x20 .120 wall tubing the other day at a near by steel distributor for $90.   My building with wood or steel has been put on hold.......

I bought 4 sheets of 3/4" plywood 2 months ago, over $300.  I am on hold too.

[Sculptor]

On 8/9/2021 at 6:55 PM, PSD_Tweaker said:

The bed cost with under-bed storage boxes was under $600.00

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/1q6XSAyl.jpg[/IMG]

Can anyone see the image?  I was not able to.  West system epoxy covered with a layer of glass would last a long time.

[Pat & Pete]

On 8/9/2021 at 9:04 PM, Pat & Pete said:

Here ya go .

 

9 minutes ago, Sculptor said:

Can anyone see the image?  I was not able to.  West system epoxy covered with a layer of glass would last a long time.

 

[Sculptor]

Thanks Pat&Pete.

[Pat & Pete]

1 hour ago, Sculptor said:

Thanks Pat&Pete.

 👍

Edited August 14, 2021 by Pat & Pete

[Brad NSW]

14 hours ago, Sculptor said:

How are your joists fastened to the frame?  Flat plates through-bolted to both the frame and the joist?  Looks like 4x4 decking. 
Do you strap the ramps on top when you’re driving?

I think about a bed quite often.  Last year we left the rental house which would have been a good place to build one.  We were there for a number of years, but I was down with surgeries which limited my mobility, and in between there was a pesky full time job to distract me from my true occupation of working on our rig.   So I decided it was time to enjoy the fruits of our labor and travel.  The smart bed is still just a dream at this point.  I have confidence in my skills, but fabbing a big steel deck is no longer a possibility for me/us.  On the other hand I still have many of the tools needed for a wood deck, given a place and the time, it could happen.

Sculptor, I used 10 very large U-bolts to secure two 2x8 stringers to the rails.  Then laid the 2x6s crosswise.  Used two 4" angle pieces to stiffen the ends.  Done in a weekend.  Below is a montage of the process.

 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Brad NSW