making my bed

[rjs53]

was wondering if anyone has made their own bed? Theres not a place on mine that isn't bent,broke or rusted. My plan is to get a 4x8 sheat of 16 gauge and some 3" square and make my own, has anyone tried this? I'll have a fab shop make my bends.

[MrTucker]

a simple search will show you what you need to know...

[blackdiesel]

Heres a post out of my build thread:

Then i went to work on the bed. Still couldnt find any good stock sides, so i built my own. Used 1/4" thick, 2x4 steel tubing, welded it together at 45* for the "custom" look. Then used original rear fenders. I welded the tailgate shut because A) Nothing will be loaded in the back of this truck and B) No one needed to be in the back of this truck. and finally to get rid of the chains and not have to worry about hinging and hidden latches





Then i proceeded to finishing blocking the fenders and rails, then paint. Then i put a custom wood floor in the bed. I laminated ash, cherry, and walnut together.

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

Heres a post out of my build thread:

Then i went to work on the bed. Still couldnt find any good stock sides, so i built my own. Used 1/4" thick, 2x4 steel tubing, welded it together at 45* for the "custom" look. Then used original rear fenders. I welded the tailgate shut because A) Nothing will be loaded in the back of this truck and B) No one needed to be in the back of this truck. and finally to get rid of the chains and not have to worry about hinging and hidden latches





Then i proceeded to finishing blocking the fenders and rails, then paint. Then i put a custom wood floor in the bed. I laminated ash, cherry, and walnut together.

Yor bed looks great.
Kim

[blackdiesel]

Thanks Kim, i appricate that

[BlueJeep]

[QUOTE=blackdiesel;3787272]Heres a post out of my build thread:

Then i went to work on the bed. Still couldnt find any good stock sides, so i built my own. Used 1/4" thick, 2x4 steel tubing, welded it together at 45* for the "custom" look. Then used original rear fenders. I welded the tailgate shut because A) Nothing will be loaded in the back of this truck and B) No one needed to be in the back of this truck. and finally to get rid of the chains and not have to worry about hinging and hidden latches

QUOTE]

Is that a typo or did you really use 1/4" wall tubing on your bed?

[blackdiesel]

nope, thats the real deal. shes heavy too. makes for good traction

[BlueJeep]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

nope, thats the real deal. shes heavy too. makes for good traction

Wow I guess so! And I thought my 16ga. sides and steel floor were heavy...

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Wow I guess so! And I thought my 16ga. sides and steel floor were heavy...

i put it together (fenders, tailgate, floor) on saw horses after i painted it. and used 4 guys to set it on the frame. 2 stout men probably could have done it, but my paint job was worth more to me than trying to prove my manhood... so i called a few buddies

[GRIMSS]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

Then i proceeded to finishing blocking the fenders and rails, then paint. Then i put a custom wood floor in the bed. I laminated ash, cherry, and walnut together.

It's about time you post pics of the bed. I wish that I took pics of it when I was down there.

You have a pic to show how the wood looks from the tailgate?




.

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by GRIMSS

It's about time you post pics of the bed. I wish that I took pics of it when I was down there.

You have a pic to show how the wood looks from the tailgate?




.

oh come on jared, these were in my build thread!!! LOL

No i sure dont. tailgate is welded shut. No one needed to set in or on my bed and no one sure didnt need to load anything into it. and i didnt want to bother with those nasty chains or hidden latches. Anyways, i shall get a pic or two from the back.

Shes still setting down in that shop, hasnt moved since. *should* be getting my frame back tomorrow. got my wiring harness to send off to get cut down and ecm flashed. its all down hill from here.....

[GRIMSS]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

oh come on jared, these were in my build thread!!! LOL

I guess I missed it. When you get a chance get a good shot to the wood planks you did. Very cool look.

[xpickup]

Here is picture of a bed I made for my son to sleep in. The bed sides are 16 ga. with 1.5 exhaust tube for the upper role. I made the roll pan, splash aprons, and the running boards out 18 ga. The frame work that the wood sets on is 1" x 1". Made the sides bolt through the front panel instead of the sides. The front panels top tube has a bong welded in and I tapped for a 3/8 button head. The stake pockets started out as 2" x 4" box tube and the I made a fixture to plasma cut out the profile and then plated them. It worked out very well. I now have 2 more to build, a 48 for a friend and a 54 for a truck I am building for someone else.

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by xpickup

Here is picture of a bed I made for my son to sleep in. The bed sides are 16 ga. with 1.5 exhaust tube for the upper role. I made the roll pan, splash aprons, and the running boards out 18 ga. The frame work that the wood sets on is 1" x 1". Made the sides bolt through the front panel instead of the sides. The front panels top tube has a bong welded in and I tapped for a 3/8 button head. The stake pockets started out as 2" x 4" box tube and the I made a fixture to plasma cut out the profile and then plated them. It worked out very well. I now have 2 more to build, a 48 for a friend and a 54 for a truck I am building for someone else.

THAT IS AWESOME!!! i need to build me one, but it would have to be a long bed now

[mixermike]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

THAT IS AWESOME!!! i need to build me one, but it would have to be a long bed now

[hotrodrookie]

NICE!!! Im only 21 and I was thinking of making one of these for my future kid to sleep in one day...

Maybe Ill make one for myself, lol.

[1sik52]

He must have one hell of a bedroom door!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 1sik52

He must have one hell of a bedroom door!

too funny, I didn't think about that. Maybe it is a roll up garage door, you know sticking with the theme and all. The bed has nicer paint that a lot of trucks out there. I made the mistake of showing this to my wife. She follows with "You should build one"......I can't finish the one connected to my truck as it is. ha ha

[xpickup]

Don't worry I threatened my wife about building one for us. The sad thing is my 1948 panel is in my car trailer and I am building a 1954 chevy pickup for someone else but paid stuff comes first. Also bulding a 1948 F*** COE crew cab for a buddy and bagging his 1948 F*** Panel. The paint turn out great but the clear didn't so I wet sand and recleared , then still was pleased so wet sanded all the way up to 2000 grit and buffed. My wife and friends thought I was nuts. They didn't have to look at everyday and not be pleased! Garrett is only 2 years old. They said he'll see dad hammering and dollying something out and the he'll go work on his bed. Its amazing how much he watchs me. Hopefully he'll be bitten by the bug. He already has half the truck! Thank for all the great comments.

Shannon

[NONHOG]

Cool stuff ! More pics on that 1st bed (please)
Wish I were that cool of a dad

[bjcaldwe]

Awesome bed, I know where all the parts I am missing are now lol.

[blackdiesel]

wheres the footboard? (i mean tailgate, hahaha)

looks awful straight with a real nice paint job. gosh i hope he dont scratch it! i think id have to sleep next to it instead of in it, but that defeats the purpose...

[1sik52]

I think this thread has been officially hijacked! LOL!

[rjs53]

very good info thankyou and nice work on the beds

[slimneverdies]

rjs53 hope you dont mine me bringing this thread back up! I need to know how to place the bed on the frame without the bed boards installed. Mar-k instructions show how its done with wood in the bed so thats no good for me.
If someone could point out the 4 mounting points that would be great. Also I made my bedsides from scratch so I dont know if that little flange that the original bed wood sits on has anything to do with mounting it. I didnt install one on mine yet cause I think mine needs to be raised for my notch.

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks
Slim