Bed wood prices, has anybody used this company?

[CURSED GEARS]

Hey gang.
Have been shopping on the internet for bed wood for my 70 Chevy fleet side and found a company called Classic Chevy Classic parts. (www.classicparts.com) They sell a kit made of pine for $244.95, and 43 bucks shipping, (part number 07-057)and oak for 299. 95, same for shipping.
I was wondering if any of you have used this company before, and if so, were you satisfied?
I've seen some wood kits for upwards to $800.00 bucks an wonder why this company is so much cheaper.
I called them and asked and they advised that they use a guy who cuts the wood, kiln dries it, and mills it, where as other companies have to have this done.
I also asked of the wood is pre drilled? They advised that they have patterns and for an additional $30.00 bucks they will drill in the proper place. (07-199)
Any way, anybody use this company before?

[GR8-68]

I have actually thought about producing and selling some of these kits in different woods as if you go away from pine they become rather pricey. But to answer your question I have not used them but I figure their a good company as they have been around sometime.

[frenchy51]

I also would like to know if anyone has used their wood. Seems like a good price.
I looked up an oak set for my 69 long fleet and their price was $349.95 for part #07-158

[54belair]

I used Mar-k in ok. city for my build---- I know for a fact their wood is quality wood and their Kiln drying process reduces the moisture to 10%. I only paid $365. for their wood bed kit. The diff. in my case would be $70.-----definitely not worth having any doubt for that amount of diff.
Also "just my opinion"---oak, or other Hard wood is the way to go----pine is soft wood, will scratch, gouge, not hold stain/sealer as well as hard wood----resulting in not lasting as long.

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by 54belair

I used Mar-k in ok. city for my build---- I know for a fact their wood is quality wood and their Kiln drying process reduces the moisture to 10%. I only paid $365. for their wood bed kit. The diff. in my case would be $70.-----definitely not worth having any doubt for that amount of diff.
Also "just my opinion"---oak, or other Hard wood is the way to go----pine is soft wood, will scratch, gouge, not hold stain/sealer as well as hard wood----resulting in not lasting as long.

I want to go with a quality kit, but when I add up all I need from Classic- oak wood, ss strips, and ss bolts, it comes to $548.40
Mar-K's complete kit with the same parts is $848.00 in their catalog. What am I missing? You paid $365.00?
Thanks

[BossHogg69]

Classic Parts is who I order parts from, never had an issue. They are basically just a distributor like the others.

However, everything I used on my bed came from Mar-K and it was of excellent quality. They make the majority of what they sell in OKC. I actually visited their place last summer on a work trip to OKC. Awesome people to deal with. Wood, header panel, tailgate, stainless strips, rear rollpan and tailgate trunions is what I used. I think just the wood for mine was a bit over $300, but it was finished nicely. They have all the prints online for the grooves in the wood, you may have a local hardwood dealer that can make some boards for you and save some cash. I messed up one of the pieces I got from Mar-K and sourced another oak plank locally after I found out there was a local business that specialized in that type of thing. Just a thought.

[54belair]

We're talking apples and oranges. I was referring to the "wood bed kit" (wood only)

The steel strips and hardware is another matter. I chose polished stainless, and it was expensive------but, you can buy the "steel" from cheaper places and depending on the look youre after it can be a decent savings. Ive seen some of the strips that are raw steel for painting and they are pretty reasonable.
The quality of the wood is determined by how its cut from the log, how its planed and sanded---as well as the kiln drying process, not all drying processes are the same.

[CURSED GEARS]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm thinking about stepping up to buy the oak since its not that much more. I believe the guy I spoke to when I was asking
about the price difference specifically mentioned Mar-k saying they either bought their wood from them, or someone like them. I cant remember the whole conversation.
Anyway, the large price difference kind of scared me, and kind of made me leery so I was just wondering if anybody knew the company.

[GR8-68]

The only thing I will be purchasing is the lumber to make my boards from and of course the steel strips and bolts. There really is nothing special about these boards you can make them at home simply with a table saw and basic hand tools. Literally there is 60.00 in lumber in a pine board set. And about 90.00in an oak set. Now if you feel you can't do this on your own this may be a bargain

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by GR8-68

The only thing I will be purchasing is the lumber to make my boards from and of course the steel strips and bolts. There really is nothing special about these boards you can make them at home simply with a table saw and basic hand tools. Literally there is 60.00 in lumber in a pine board set. And about 90.00in an oak set. Now if you feel you can't do this on your own this may be a bargain

x2 here, the piece I messed up was replaced by a $16 piece of white oak from the local hardwood dealer. I cut the grooves in it in my garage at home. I wish I would have known it was that easy to begin with and that I had a local hardwood dealer in my area...

[jayoldschool]

It's so easy to make your own boards. I did all the cuts on mine on radial arm saw. Everyone knows someone with a saw that will will work. Give it a shot, you'll be happy you did, and you'll save a lot of money. Additionally, you get to hand pick your boards.

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by CURSED GEARS

Hey gang.
Have been shopping on the internet for bed wood for my 70 Chevy fleet side and found a company called Classic Chevy Classic parts. (www.classicparts.com) They sell a kit made of pine for $244.95, and 43 bucks shipping, (part number 07-057)and oak for 299. 95, same for shipping.
I was wondering if any of you have used this company before, and if so, were you satisfied?
I've seen some wood kits for upwards to $800.00 bucks an wonder why this company is so much cheaper.
I called them and asked and they advised that they use a guy who cuts the wood, kiln dries it, and mills it, where as other companies have to have this done.
I also asked of the wood is pre drilled? They advised that they have patterns and for an additional $30.00 bucks they will drill in the proper place. (07-199)
Any way, anybody use this company before?

I just purchased bed wood from them,Classic Parts, a few weeks ago. I oiled it up and am installing tomorrow. I had to clean up the bed sides of rust. But the wood is nice. I am a general contractor so cutting and dadoing is a non issue for me. But the price of the wood is real good, even with shipping. Plus the length is an issue at 97", it's that extra inch! Plus you get the yellow pine which I wanted anyway, and it's a good wood for exterior.

Here's some pic of the lumber so you can see what you would be getting. Note: the lumber is cut and dadoed but not drilled!

Wood in Box


No cupping or cracked ends


Wood in process of being oiled with tung oil


I should have gotten rid of this when I got the truck, it had OSB on top. So it worked.

[GR8-68]

I use this for reference to cutting the widths and lengths and it also gives you the specs for the dadoes

http://www.classicheartbeat.com/bed_wood.htm

[CastIron]

Make sure if you're buying oak that it's white oak. Red oak is cheaper and more common, but shouldn't be used outdoors. And try to stay away from flatsawn boards. They tend to move more with humidity changes.

[special-K]

I've made all my wood floors. Quartersawn is what I use, no matter what type of wood. I have a friend who specializes in milling quartersawn. It's way more expensive because of how much of the log it uses compared to flat sawn. But it doesn't cup, warp, or split

[GR8-68]

[54belair]

That's the key to buying a kit---

[Shaky]

Depending on how much time you have, you might want to get on Mar-K's email list. They advertised free shipping for a limited time when I was looking for bed wood. I doubted that they'd send long-bed wood to the east coast for free, but they did.

[bedwoodandparts]

www.bedwoodandparts.com

[RodnRudy]

Here's another company that provides excellent wood kits.
http://www.horkeyswoodandparts.com/

[OregonNed]

I have a friend who finished the new bed wood for my truck over the last winter. The wood was purchased, and he milled and finished it all. Nice quality quarter sawn red oak was less than $300, but he went over kill on the finish and labor for it - 13-14 coats of finish for a mirror finish. If I'd have had to pay for all that, it would likely be in the thousands. That said judging by Mar-K metal parts, their wood kits are probably equally fabulous.

[GR8-68]

13 -14 coats is alot, I hope it holds up for you.

[OregonNed]

I have a feeling it will. The truck will never be driven in the rain, stays garaged 99% of the time, and isn't driven very much...

[Grumpy old man]

I've looked at many of these expensive wood kits and went with local sourced white oak . These kits show the wood milled with the cup up to show more grain when it should be milled cup down to last longer . You wouldn't install deck wood cup up and the originals I've looked at are all milled cup down .