New bed floor

[Gmule]

Has anyone replaced the wooden floor in a step-side box?
If so do you have any tips?

What kind of bolts to hold the bed to the frame? would standard 1/2" carriage bolts be acceptable or do they need to be hardened? I only have one bolt that came with the truck since the floor rotted years ago and they must have fallen out.

I am planning on using treated wood and then painting the entire inside of the bed black with industrial enamel.

The factory color of my truck is black so I plan on keeping the factory color.

 

[bucket]

I got my bed with a home made replacement floor, it looks like it was easy to make. Some of the hardware had come up missing at some point before I got the bed, I bought some regular machine screws to fasten the planks back down, they were a close match to what was still there. I bolted the bed down with regular carriage bolts from Lowe's.

 

[farmerchris]

im been planning to do this myself,going to router the edges of the boards,cut and fit boards so i found the specs at this site. http://www.classicheartbeat.com/bed_wood.htm .hope this help you too

 

[farmerchris]

lmc and brothers have the bolts and strips for the bed,factory used regular grade carriage bolts.you can get bolts at home depot,lowes or tractor supply however if you need strips,you have to order them from above sources.

 

[bucket]

My strips are made from basic steel strap, 1/8 or 3/16 thick I'd guess.

 

[Gmule]

im been planning to do this myself,going to router the edges of the boards,cut and fit boards so i found the specs at this site. http://www.classicheartbeat.com/bed_wood.htm .hope this help you too

OOOHH, Nice link. Thank you very much

 

[Gmule]

lmc and brothers have the bolts and strips for the bed,factory used regular grade carriage bolts.you can get bolts at home depot,lowes or tractor supply however if you need strips,you have to order them from above sources.

Thank you. I have all the strips. it looks like it takes 6 carriage bolts to hold the bed down?

 

[bucket]

8 bolts I think.

 

[mtnbiker727]

You probably don't need treated wood if you're going to paint it... But maybe it'll last longer if it is? Treated pine might not look as nice as the original oak bed. But it's probably easier to get than oak...

Don't mind me, I talk in circles.

 

[joecal]

This is an old thread, but I'm planning on replacing my wooden floor on a 86 shortbed stepside. How difficult is it and I believe I have to remove or lower the dual gas tanks to access all the bolts? I'd like to make my own but maybe I'm better off buying the wood kit, I'm sure it's a lot easier going that route. Any help is appreciated!
Thanks,
Joe