Fixing Down a Wood Bed

[MacQuigley]

Im hoping to fit the wood to my bed this coming weekend/week and want to do it without drilling for the 6 (shotbed) bolts that go through the wood and supports.

Ive seen lots done like this and I prefer the clean look (plus I didnt realise you could get them pre-drilled and the last thing I want to do is make an ass of it as its too expensive to ship another bed to Scotland) but I wondered is anyone can confirm how they did this.

I assume you need to rebate the underside of the wood a little in order to clear the bolts domed head. Is that correct?

[cwcarpenter98]

On my truck, the PO used short bolts that went through the bottom of the bed cross bars that bolt to the frame. The bed is bolted solid this way, and I haven't had any issues with it.
Sorry I don't have good pictures to show it. On the second pic, the cross bar that you can see with the hole on the outside of the frame, he just put a short bolt through the other side and through the frame rail.

[MacQuigley]

You know that never dawned on me. I could use a short bolt just through the welded channel on the bed support.

That would work and I dont need to rebate the boards so if I want to change the arrangement later I can.

It seems so simple now!

[cwcarpenter98]

I was surprised when I pulled the old steel plate out and discovered the way he had mounted it. I have hauled a bunch of stuff with the bed secured this way and have not had any issues the whole time. My dad and I made our own bed wood, so I was glad when I found out I didn't need to measure and drill those holes

[MacQuigley]

I wont have much of anything in this as its a show truck not a work horse. Mind you its still held in place by the steel strips and 2 bolts on the rear cross member so Im not worried about it falling off!

[forestb]

That will not work for the last two bolts that go through the rear cross sill.

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by forestb

That will not work for the last two bolts that go through the rear cross sill.

I did it.

[forestb]

How did you attach the last two bolts or did you carve out a pocket in the wood?

[The Rocknrod]

Trim down the metal about a 1/2 inch, coat with Por-15. Use a long fastener, it attaches to the frame right there just like normal. Just not thru the wood.

[Lokin4AReason]

Do you have foto(s) of it ... at how it was fastened down ?

[The Rocknrod]

Same fastener, same place. Just trim down the area the bolt goes in. I'm not in Texas right now but I drew the info in paint. This is a cross section of one of the two brackets. Dont trim down a lot just enough to clear the screw head to wood lower surface.

[forestb]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Same fastener, same place. Just trim down the area the bolt goes in. I'm not in Texas right now but I drew the info in paint. This is a cross section of one of the two brackets. Dont trim down a lot just enough to clear the screw head to wood lower surface.

I love it

[bigmoe]

This is sounding like a good idea. What if you want to remove the box in the future though? You'd have to remove the wood in order to get at the bolts.

[forestb]

You should be able to get to them from underneath

[MacQuigley]

Im hoping I never have to remove the bed ever again but Im sure I will at some point and I guess I'll just have to remove the bed if I cant get at the bolts, which may be tricky as Ive move the gas tank to the rear of the frame meaning access will be limited. Actually as I type that Ive just thought of a problem getting access to the rear bed support to fit the nuts to the bed fixings. Oh thats one for tomorrow, time for beer here now!

[The Rocknrod]

No the bolts go thru the area the gas tank is not installed. I also have a rear mounted tank.
And the sill over the tank - You'd have to lower the tank anyway no matter what.

[MacQuigley]

Yep, thats where mine is but I also have my mufflers under the tank meaning I have to remove them. Not really a major problem just a bit of a pain. Why is there always something you dont foresee!