Stainless Steel Bed

[jmccrack]

I was wondering , it seems like a lot of guys are not using the S/S bed base that comes with the kit. I wonder why it is necessary?

[bnelson]

I was wondering , it seems like a lot of guys are not using the S/S bed base that comes with the kit. I wonder why it is necessary?

Its not really, unless you were not putting a wood bed in. If you are putting a wood bed than its gonna be a place to trap water between the wood and the steel. I was not planning to put wood in for a while, so when I did, I had screwed the SS down with button head bolts to create a space between the wood and steel and drilled a lot of drain holes. If I was to do it again, I would leave that big heavy thing off. Again. Its all a matter of preference and what works best for you.

[chuck35truck]

I am at the decision point myself. I like the aluminum bed from Smokey Bones Rod Shop that sort of requires the use of the SS bed. I have not screwed down the SS bed yet, but if I keep it, that is the next step. I also may leave the steel in and coat it with a bed coating for now. My look for the truck is more old school, so a wood bed is more appropriate. Another builder used the SS and overlaid it with thin plywood what he burned with blow torch and then clear coated.

[jmccrack]

interesting. I am putting in a wood bed. I am building a 55 chevy truck right now and it has a wood bed with nothing underneath. I think I may not use the SS plate. Instead just the wow strips and flat bar under to hold everything together. And as Pat did make the bed removable. Please weigh in with your thoughts.

[Robodent]

I guess it’s all personal preference. I’ve seen Erik’s build and he painted the stainless floor of the bed it looked cool .
I installed my stainless then the Smokey road rod shop bed kit. It has a track system and actually the stainless was good to mount it all up in place . Idk the bed kit from ffr is a little pricey for what you get in it, but a little more $ the Smokey road rod shop bed kit is the cats rear end . Rob

[Pat Landymore]

Hi Jerry…
A few things I’ve learned from mine where you can adjust now and do it better:

1) You could raise your entire box an additional 3/8 inch to compensate for…
2) using (for example) 1/2” x 1-1/2” or 1/2” x 2” BOX TUBING. It will bend way less when you’re lifting the bed in and out.
3) That wood is heavy! I used 1/4 x 1” flat bar which doesn’t bend much but adds to the weight…wonder if aluminum box tubing is available in the size above?
4) I did think clearly enough to do this…run your support steel or aluminum right out to the edge of the wood and then fire a screw through it into the wood from underneath. That will assist in keeping it from bowing so much while your lifting it in and out.

My 3 cents…. 😁

[Pat Landymore]

PS. Or you could leave the box as is and of course just lose that 1/2” of inside depth

[Chris Wingardh]

I ordered the wood bed, I supose there is no underlayment. I will epoxy (west system) the underside to make it waterproof, may do it on the top side also. Will have to see what it looks like when it gets here in the fall.

[Pat Landymore]

Here’s another thought for those thinking about a wooden floor…

Ditch the stainless floor, get the ‘wow’ strips as someone called them, and router grooves into a nice sheet of plywood for them. You then could burn it, stain it, do both, whatever you want, then mount the strips and it would be a beautiful single piece of wood already rigid and easily removed.
???

[jmccrack]

That is exactly how I will do it. I think 1/2” plywood should do the trick. If I use treated plywood there will not be any chance of the wood rotting

[edwardb]

Slightly off topic but discussed so will throw this out -- I ordered the wood bed kit with my truck. Ordered 09/09/2020 for 12/05/2020 completion. As of today, the wood bed kit is one of five backordered (POL) items. Each update from Factory Five (Brent) was they were having trouble getting the wood bed kit from the vendor. About a week ago, they contacted me and said they have totally struck out with the wood bed. Cost plus mainly availability. Lumber is crazy right now if you follow in the news. They recommended a wood grain aluminum product, sent me pictures, and I approved. Actually has already shipped and will be delivered tomorrow. I don't know if it's the Smokey Bones Rod Shop product. But the pictures sure look similar. Not sure what their future plans are for the option. But they hung in there for my order.

Related to that, I've also wondered about the SS bed piece. This thread is helpful. Sounds like I'll leave it in for the bed I'll be using.

[Robodent]

Here’s what my aluminum bed kit looks like from Smokey road rod shop . All I had to do was cut the hole for the fuel filler.
Best thing about it is it’s totally maintenance free. I believe this is the big horn oak in barn wood color. Rob. 148220

[edwardb]

To close on a post I made the other day, today I received the wood grain look aluminum bed for my truck from Factory Five. I can confirm it is from Smokey Bones Rod Shop. Says so on the instructions. Made for Factory five including the gas tank cutout. The kit contains all the required pieces -- SS strips for between the boards, mounting hardware, even a piece to finish the ends at the tailgate. The instructions are a little sparse but I'll figure it out when the time comes. Not clear whether the SS floor piece (subject of this thread) should be used or not. We'll see. Picture of just the wood grain pieces after I took them out of the box. Appears to be some kind of vinyl (or whatever) clad material stuck onto the aluminum. It wraps around the ends and underneath so you can see that's what it is. I like it.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ab234/edwardb123/IMG_2451.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/edwardb123/a/31737472-d15e-42e2-8d8e-965924ebbb8d/p/2268ea9b-d37b-404e-9584-1065f8a45091)

[Robodent]

Looks nice . That’s a big upgrade from ffr . I think Tom Wallace got the first one and I bought the second one from Smokey road. Mine did not have the cut out for the fuel neck. However my stainless strips were pre drilled. The only draw back to the truck is no trunk space like the roadster has. I’m enjoying going to car shows and cruise nites but I can only bring lawn chairs or one passenger not both and my lady friend likes coming along believe it or not.
I’m thinking of adding a D ring to the bolts that hold down the stainless strips in the bed to tie down a couple lawn chairs but haven’t found anything I like and the thought of them rattling when not in use would kill me. The thought of drilling into the aluminum wood slats is totally out of the question. Hopefully you read this Paul and maybe think of a solution. Rob

[edwardb]

Looks nice . That’s a big upgrade from ffr . I think Tom Wallace got the first one and I bought the second one from Smokey road. Mine did not have the cut out for the fuel neck. However my stainless strips were pre drilled. The only draw back to the truck is no trunk space like the roadster has. I’m enjoying going to car shows and cruise nites but I can only bring lawn chairs or one passenger not both and my lady friend likes coming along believe it or not.
I’m thinking of adding a D ring to the bolts that hold down the stainless strips in the bed to tie down a couple lawn chairs but haven’t found anything I like and the thought of them rattling when not in use would kill me. The thought of drilling into the aluminum wood slats is totally out of the question. Hopefully you read this Paul and maybe think of a solution. Rob

Good feedback. I have tie-downs on my list of possible mods. Agree would be desirable to have something back there for just the reasons you mentioned. Haven't come up with anything yet. But hasn't been something I've focused on.

[PhilO]

I remember someone else using truck bed Tie down strips in place of the stainless strips in two rows. Would change the look a bit but would give you tie down options with no extra holes and the tie down clevises are removable leaving a cleaner look

[RuffShod]

The Hawaiian 35 uses the tie down strips.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?31323-Build-Thread-for-my-Hawaii-35-Hot-Rod/page3&highlight=hawaii

I think this is what he used,,,,,

https://www.uscargocontrol.com/products/airline-track-48-piece?gclid=CjwKCAjw47eFBhA9EiwAy8kzNCdOtcDYen2yo8 mnUheMLrZ9pHRc8OiAhlycmB7309ieRILb87xsFBoCTRAQAvD_ BwE

Also found this.....

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?29974-The-Truck-Bed-Thread&highlight=bed+strips