TT Wood Bed Rebuild

[Grady Bruton]

As I begin this project I figured I would start a thread to document my progress. Over the last two years I have been searching for a bed for my 1918 TT, or at least the missing metal parts to recreate something similar to the original. This truck has a very well preserved wood cab built by an unknown carriage builder, so the bed would need to compliment the original cab. It currently has a 1925 Ford Script stake bed on it I found last year at Chickasha and replaced the wood on. It gets the job done for now and lets me enjoy the truck in the mean time, but the end goal is to get the correct bed back on this truck.

The day I brought it home February 2020

All that I got from the original bed when I bought the truck were the rear fenders and several other pieces of metal, the rest was missing. After scouring the ends of the earth searching for old truck beds, wagon parts, and other wood truck parts, I believe I am finally ready to start. The latest find was a grain bed with these cool side braces I picked up in Chickasha this year. Unfortunately, most of the wood has rot and will need to be replaced, but can still be used as a template.

First step is getting the wood for the bed. I have post and white oak logs from trees that have died in the pasture. I had several slabbed at a local sawmill summer of 2020, but I didn't have a bed to go off of at the time and just guessed at what dimensions I might need. That wood cut in 2020 is dry now, but there are still a few large pieces I still need based on the recently acquired grain bed. Just a few days ago I hauled another oak log to the sawmill to cut the remaining pieces I need. This sawmill has a kiln so I won't have to wait years for this wood to dry before using it. My thoughts are by using local hardwood I'll be using similar material that was available to the local carriage builders back in the day. Plus using some of my own trees makes it that much more satisfying to build. So now it's just hurry up and wait for these final pieces of lumber to be cut and dried.

[Dallas Landers]

Great project. I really like that bed. Looking forward to seeing more.

[Michael Peternell]

Please don't wreck that trying to "restore" it. I personally wouldn't touch it!

[Angmar]

Agreed, that is a nice bed and TT.

[George House]

That bed you bought at Chickasha this year appears to be a perfect match for that well preserved cab. Several years ago I sold the curved metal supports like in your picture to another who was building a bed. And I’ve rewooded 2 ‘Ford Truck’ stake beds. The beds were originally pine. You’re going to have a very attractive truck. Enjoy

[Dallas Landers]

I agree on using as is, BUT and yes a big but. I wanted to do that with my 8in1 wood bed. Problem is most wood looked good but was rotted where the bolts and harware held it together. I had to make the decision to total rebuild or pick boards up off the road behind me. The front bed panel and rear panel has original boards in mine. Some hardware was rusted clear through. I remade all those bits. In the end you have eyes on it and know the condition its in. If you can save it , I would. I would like to see more photos of detail on that bed cause its too cool.

[Grady Bruton]

If I could "preserve it and use it as is" believe me I would much rather do that so it would match the cab. There's no substitute for 100 years of patina! Unfortunately a majority of the wood has rot to the point the bed is structurally unsound. Some pieces could possibly be salvaged and reused elsewhere if the rot is cut off, like the 4x6 beams and 1x14 side boards. But they would still need to be replaced since they won't be the correct size anymore.

While my horseshoer was here the other day I showed him the brackets on the bed. One draw strap had the threaded side broken off and needs a new threaded piece forge welded in place. We don't have any Amish in this part of Texas (that I know of) but my horseshoer said he would ask around to see if there's anybody in the area still blacksmithing the old way.

Damaged Draw Strap

Intact Brace