Installing new wood bed help?

[Kowtown]

I am installing a new wood bed in my 67 C10 fleet side. I need to know from you guys should I install the wood off the truck or is the only way to put the bed on the truck so you can put the cross sills in place then install the wood planks in strips?

[sick472]

I installed the cross sills first (loosely), then the wood and skid strips (loosely), then the head board (loosely), then one side at a time (loosely), then tightened everything up. Now, my bed was a conversion from metal to wood and it did NOT involve a kit, so my install would be different than typical. My main concern with assembling it off the truck was getting enough friends to pick the buggar up and move it without crinkling a lower bedside AND I really doubted that the holes that had to line up between the cross sills and the frame would magically line up after the bed was put into place leaving me to loosen everything up and fighting the alignment. Every one of the large cross sills were bolted to the frame and two of the smaller ones.

[Old_Gold]

I did mine on the truck. It was not too bad of a project, but there was one carriage bolt that I could not get to because of interference underneath, and a few others were a test of patience getting the nut started!
I would probably do it the same next time, unless it was for a full body off restoration.

Jim

[FirstOwner69]

My bed was already off the truck. Therefore, I installed the wood, reinforcement strips and cross sills with the bed off the truck as suggested in the directions available from Mar-K. Once done, all that's necessary is to have some help lift the bed onto the frame and install the 8 bolts that secure it to the frame.

I built 4 heavy duty saw horses with carpeted 2"X6"s screwed to the top. I placed 2 of these crosswise under the front panel and 2 perpendicular to the rear cross sill.

[1968aj]

I did mine with bed on. it was home made and I wanted to be sure all bolts were accessible. its a pain crawling around under the truck but none of my bolts were in factory locations. it doesn't look factory but I spent les than $150 including new strips.

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by Kowtown

I am installing a new wood bed in my 67 C10 fleet side. I need to know from you guys should I install the wood off the truck or is the only way to put the bed on the truck so you can put the cross sills in place then install the wood planks in strips?

Here, I did a little write up on doing it as a one man job.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=7657989


j

[Old_Gold]

Jeffahart, fantastic write up, I used that (and others) when I did my bed also!

Jim

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by Old_Gold

Jeffahart, fantastic write up, I used that (and others) when I did my bed also!

Jim

Thanks Jim! Also to OP KowTown.

If you haven't put a finish on your wood yet, here's my quips on tung oil.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=7659407


j

[Jose's 69]

I did mine with the bed on. Wasn't to bad. Just have a couple different extensions and swivel socket adapters. Had my wife hold the bolts down while I was under the bed starting all the bolts.