Wooden Bed question

[Albert Grattan]

I have been looking at doing the wood on the bed of my 48 Fargo

(close to B1B )and have 3 questions

The angle strips were off the truck box sides

1) How do I measure where the angel strip are located on the box side

from top of panel? I have no dimensions at all

It looks like the box depth is 20inchs? some weld spots left

I think it is the same as a

Short Bed B1B

2) I am about to cut the wood

Does the wood on the outer most sides of the box go right to the edge of the box side ( Completly under the angle strip)or does it go up to the bolts on the angle strips ( not comletly under the entire angle strips ) just half of the strip?

Pictures would be great if any body has them

3) There are 4 cross peices that the bed sits on that are mounted to the frame

One is different from the other 3

the odd one goes were?

There was not much of the bed left when I started so any help and info would be great

Thanks again

BERT

[pflaming]

The attachment will show where the cross members go. One short crossmember goes toward the rear of the truck. On my bed it does NOT attach to wood nor the strips. It is a spacer. It attaches only to the frame. My side shovel strips are weld attached to my sides. I have a tall side bed. The base of the strip must be level with the inner strips so it will be 3/4 inch up from the cross members.

The first three cross members have 3/4 inch bolts through them to the frame. The bolds do NOT go through the shovel strips. The bed picture shown is original as I received the truck. It has been a very helpful picture for me.

Good luck. Lots of fun. You can always make it easy and put in a 3/4 inch piece of plywood and stain to taste. Some may frown on that.

Edited June 6, 2017 by pflaming

[lugnut123]

you need 6 planks 7 3/4 wide13/16 thick.. I'm guessing 78 inchs long. Measure your bed. Your 2 outside boards will slidee under the angle iron on thhe side of the bed . The 4 boards in the middle will be space so they have about a 3/8 inch between them. The bolts that hold down the strips don't acually go threw the board s bbut inbetween. In front some bolts will hold the strips but others will need drilled and install a flat headed bolt or stove bolt. If you can get on the yahoo groups 39-47 dodge site and look in the links. The 39-47 beds were the same but 39-47's had wooden cross members. The B series had metal crossmembers. I hope this helps.

Some of the holes in the angle iron side pieces will match up with the cross pieces that go under the bed and bolt to the frame. It's like a big puzzle. Make sure to put in a cross piece on the very back. I think it should be wood but not bolt to your planks just to the bolt holes in the very back of your . frame.

Edited January 18, 2010 by lugnut123

[grey beard]

o to the Tech stuff section of this web site - it's on page 3 or 4. There you will find two articles on replacing bed wood, which are likely a lot more information than you want, but trust me, you need to read all this before you start a'sawin wood.

Good Luck

[BulldogTom]

I am getting ready to put the bed in my truck. Where are you getting the lumber? Did you go to a local or national chain? I looked at Lowes and did not find anything in the 13/16 or 7/8 thickness. I wanted to do composite wood but they don't have the 8" (7 3/4") width at any place I can find on the internet.

Tom

Lodi, Ca

[Albert Grattan]

I got White Oak from my local lumber yard

cost around 150 dollars

1 inch thick and will plane down to 3/4 inch

Bert

[Dave72dt]

The boards on the outside go completly under the angle strips and are drilled for the bolt holes, 3/8 " holes. Larger, recessed holes in the outside boards are used to located the bed to the frame. Mar-K has a diagram on their website on dimensions for the reliefs cut in each board for the strips to set in.

[lugnut123]

If you have to do a bed the poor boy way. Apiece of 3/4 plywood will work. Just seal your wood and stain it to help with the weather. A 4 foot wide piece is just the right size. But oak looks a lot better.Put your oak crossmember at the end of the frame in first. It's hell to put it later.

[BulldogTom]

I don't see a wood crossmember in the picture and don't remember taking one out when I removed the bed wood originally. Does it go under the wood at the tailgate or cab end of the bed?

Thanks

Tom

Lodi, CA

[Bob_Koch]

The DPETCA site has a page about this. Greybeards articles are there as well:

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/bed/bed.htm

[lugnut123]

ONmy b1b it was on the very end of the frame next to the tailgate.

[HanksB3B]

Hope this helps.

Hank

[Albert Grattan]

Thanks for the pics of the wood right against the box sides it was a great help

Bert