Wood (or composite?) Ranger bed floor

[Mike Tonon]

Has anyone on here changed their Ranger bed to wood, like an antique truck? Or instead of wood, maybe composite decking, so it doesn’t rot? Thanks

 

[racsan]

by the time in its life that you swap out a rotted steel bed for a wood flatbed, there’s probably not much life left in the rest of the truck. Use real wood, some thompsons water seal and call it good. I built a flatbed once and just used 2x4’s , plywood & paint. was better than a bare frame.

 

[Mike Tonon]

Well, thanks...

But most of the truck looks like it’s only a couple years old. Everything electrical and mechanical works on it. And not much rust. Just a small hole starting in the bed floor and the cross member behind the cab has been looking rusty for a while. I’m guessing that area just got splashed more than the rest. Everything else is solid.

I’d be doing this, planing on keeping the truck and doing work and mods to it every now and then to keep it working and looking nice.

As for the bed... I’m looking for something not too slippery and something durable. Maybe oak wood is the best overall option, as I’ve heard people elsewhere on the internet recommend it. If I build it so the boards can easily be changed every 5 years or so (honestly, I’m not even sure how long they tend to last), that’s what I’m looking for. Also rust prevention on the adjoining steel parts. Has anyone bought a kit for this? If not the wood, how about the brackets and screws to hold the wood?

Looking for advice on doing it, not looking for opinions on whether or not to do it. I’ll decide that on my own.

 

[racsan]

p.o.r.-15 as much of the frame as you can.

 

[Roert42]

I do not think you are going to find a kit for this. Also, do you plan on doing just the floor or building a whole new bed?

You will need to consider that the bed sides, bulkhead, and floor are all one piece. This means that the sides and the front of the bed are attached via the floor, and the cross members under the floor. If you replace the floor with a wood one, you will need to find a way to attache the bedsides and bulkhead to the floor, and the frame, This would take a lot of custom fabrication.

You also need to make sure that you retain the original rigidity of the bed, the bedsides will no longer be completely welded to the floor and then attached to the floor. So this can be one of the bigger challenges I see.

As for mounting, I would simulate the original design for simplicity. 2x2 boards for cross members, a through hole, and bolts. You may even be able to use factory replacement bolts, but they might be too short. Then have the main planks run the length of the bed, same direction as truck driving.


If you want a wood flatbed, or with stake sides, should be fairly easy. Only tricky part on a flatbed is the mounting of the filler neck, but the can still be done.

 

[bobbywalter]

Composite is SLIPPERY.....

I went back to rotten plywood...and rubbery mats.... But thinking aluminum or composite with rubber

 

[sgtsandman]

Traditional is oak. People have used old motor oil as a preservative. For durability and putting up with the weather, that might be your best option. Composite tends to be a bit soft and would scratch, dent, and mar more easily. Pressure treated lumber would be about the same.