New Bed Rails.

[JohnnyPopper]

Hi there!

I am finally going to replace my wood bed, looking to Mar-K as a source.

They have rails listed as being bolted but I admit I don't understand the current rails as seen in the pics.

It looks like they are pinned both vertically and horizontally, and welded as well.

Do these clamp the wood slats? Are they removable? Sorry to sound so ignorant but it doesn't make sense to me.

Finally, while I have not spoken to them yet, I hope they have 1/4 sawn red oak. If they don't, do any of you know where they may be sourced?

[Swampyankee74]

Hi, those are the bed angle strips. They are spot welded down the bedside. The 5/16 studs that go down through the wood also have 3 spot welds on them from the underside of bed angle strips. Earlier stepside beds used carage bolts there.

To replace the wood on your bed you need to pull the bed off the truck. I stood mine up vertically. You need to unbolt all of the cross sills. Unbolt the headboard, unbolt and cut the 2 small tacks where the foot board attaches to besides (not sure if that is what there called). Pretty much the whole thing has to come apart because because four 5/16 studs that are tacked to the bed angle strip on the corners go through the wood and then through the headboard and footboard.

I put a bed off an 86 on my 74. I had to replace the wood also. I ended up breaking a few of those 5/16 studs while trying to take my bed apart. I end up removing all of the 5/16 stud by breaking the tacks, by simply putting a vice grip on the threads and wiggling slowly till the 3 tacks popped. Then I replaced them with 5/16 carriage bolts. This allowed me to leave the bedsides, headboard and footboard all together, with just removing the bed cross sills. (Not saying this is the best way but it worked for me).
 There is a video on YouTube of a guy replacing his bed wood, on the two boards that go under the angle strips he cut slots in the wood to slide it under the angle strips and around the stud. (Not saying this is the best way).

There's a few options any how. I will try to find that video and post a link. And I will post a couple pics of my bed.

As far as the wood goes I used red oak from brothers truck and was very happy with it.

[Swampyankee74]

I wish I had better pics for you with what was happening in the corners when it was apart.

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[Swampyankee74]

https://youtu.be/InnrR5qaUvA?si=kAmuP31UDPZMgXg7

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[Swampyankee74]

Bed with the carriage bolts where the studs were and the studs with the 3 spot welds.

Again not saying any of this is the right way to go, but hopefully helps you out some.

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[JohnnyPopper]

Thanks Swampyankee!

VERY helpful 

[JohnnyPopper]

In the years I've thought about doing this, I think I came across a vendor that offered a 1/4 sawn red oak kit, and now, of course, I can't find it.

Anyone recall such a beast?

[Shifty]

Can't help, but I like the doggy! 

[Captkaos]

Generally speaking if the strips welded to the bed are good I typically leave them.  If the bolts are bad I do what Swampyankee74 posted.
I used to be a dealer for https://bedwood.com/ maybe they have what you need.  Jeff the owner is a great guy, I think they are at SEMA but probably have some specials going on.

[JohnnyPopper]

Thx Capn'! The link is still good.

For clarity, "if the strips welded to the bed are good" - does that mean you don't remove them?

[Captkaos]

are you saying the bedwood link is still good?  It should be they have been in business for a while.

If the strips aren't rusted or ruined I don't remove them.

[JohnnyPopper]

Thanks!

How do you remove the wood that's drilled being clamped down?

[Captkaos]

remove the nuts from the bolts in the metal strips running down the bed.

[JohnnyPopper]

Do the wood slats slide out away from the rails?

[Captkaos]

All the wood slats are held in by the tension provided by sandwiching them between the strips and cross sills. Once everything is loose you just pull them out from under the sides.