Bed gap question

[FLFrank35]

The manual says to make sure the gaps around the edge are even. I have a little more than a 1/4" gap on the left and right edges. What have you all done about the gap? Is it supposed to be there? Leave it for drainage? Put an angle strip there, like these...?
https://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/mediumlarge/mrk-110109_ml.jpg:confused:

And should we have a gap along the front edge too?

Thanks

[FLFrank35]

I may have figured out what the problem is...
I stored my red oak in the house, where the humidity is about 50%, and I think that may have shrunken the wood. I put it back out in the gargage...hopefully it'll expand close to the original size.

But I'd still like to hear if anyone has put in drains, especially at the front of the bed.

[tony]

You'll need gaps on sides of the wood. Wood shrinks and expands mostly along the thickness of it, but not really along length.

[FLFrank35]

You'll need gaps on sides of the wood. Wood shrinks and expands mostly along the thickness of it, but not really along length.

Ok, thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.

[FLFrank35]

Thanks again Tony. I understand that wood expands/contracts, but I didn't know how much. So when installing the metal strips I didn't know how much expansion to allow for. I found these instructions at Mar-K...https://www.mar-k.com/instructions.aspx that explain a 1/16" gap should be used on each side of the strip. When I do that, the gaps on the sides are small, about 1/16-1/8".

They also sell a polished/stainless bed sill for the end I'm planning to install. Should look nice.

Cheers