Power Wagon Stake Side Bed

[W_A_Watson_II]

OK, guys & Gals. I'm ready to start the build of the Bed I'll be installing on the 1946 Power Wagon. I didn't like the home made 1/4" diamond plate wrecker/gin pole bed that was on the truck, and since the '49 has a pick-up bed, I decided to to a flat bed, or old style Stake Side Bed would be a great look/use.

I've done a lot of looking at pictures, those that I could find, and the picture below of a Power Wagon at the factory with a Stake Side Bed is the look I'm going after. The lower image shows about how high the floor of my bed will reside as a result of ensuring proper tire clearance with the XZL's and 8" of upward axle travel.

I've started a design, and have come up with the outside width of 82" to clear the tires, and it gives me an inside load width of 77". As for the length I'm going with an overall length of 102" for an inside load length of 97". I'll have four floor support stringers across to support the wood floor.

I'm looking for input or suggestions. And if any of you have flat/stake beds I'd appreciate pictures and measurements as well. the only difficult item will be fabricating the stake pockets as no standard steel I've found will fit the uprights.

Thanks,
Will

[Steve G]

Someone had this truck for sale awhile back. It has a nice "relief" built in for tire clearance.

[Josh]

I'm in the same boat, Mr. Watson. I have a '48 with a Flat Bed & no Headache Rack. I want to put a Headache rack on, but I don't want one that sticks out past the cab as it would if it was flush with the bed. (assuming the bed covered the rear tires).
But if I make it only as wide as the Cab, then I have the bed sticking out...

Either way, it is going to look funny.

Any Ideas would be appreciated.

Pictures would be GREAT!!!!!

Thanks,
Munsk.

[W_A_Watson_II]

Josh,

My bed is 82" wide (to clear my wider tires with out having to notch the bed) and I plan on keeping my front stake sides in place all the time, so I'm not in exactly in the same boat. My "California" mirrors will allow me to see around the front stake sides, but I do want to make sure the front is solid enough to protect the cab.

I'm now waiting on my wood. I've built the frame, and it only needs the stake pockets cut in (waiting on fished wood for proper measurements) and clearance lights and fuel filler.

Here are some pictures:

Stake Bed Construction - 04/2012 - 05/2012

[CSCameron]

That is a BEAUTIFUL truck!

[W_A_Watson_II]

Well, I'm a little slow, but the floor fitting is well underway. It's held down with 182 screws! Man was that a lot of drilling and screwing.

Will

[Clint Dixon]

I like the way you have laid out your stake pockets in the period correct, traditional fashion. Are you planning to use the formed corner brackets and the formed connector brackets from the the front half of the side gates to the back half of the side gates? These are still available. I have the corner brackets on the side boards to header rack on my '47.

[Gordon Maney]

Well, I'm a little slow, but the floor fitting is well underway. It's held down with 182 screws! Man was that a lot of drilling and screwing.

Will

Good job!

[W_A_Watson_II]

Clint, Yes glad you mentioned them as I need to locate/order them. Yea, the period correct layout was part of my design, I wanted it to look like it might be an old bed that came on the truck.

Gordon, Thanks.

[Doc Dave]

Beautiful job Will.
There is something about wood beds that can't be matched by diamond plate or whatever metal some have.

[Clint Dixon]

Clint, Yes glad you mentioned them as I need to locate/order them. Yea, the period correct layout was part of my design, I wanted it to look like it might be an old bed that came on the truck.

Gordon, Thanks.

Here are a couple of links to where you can buy those brackets, Austin Hardware and McMaster:

http://www.austinhardware.com/search...s&string=stake rack connections

http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/118/3003/=hl4o7a

[W_A_Watson_II]

Clint, Thanks for the links. I've ordered them from Reese-Hitches.

[W_A_Watson_II]

Got the bed set back on the truck with some of the bed floor wood installed and the wiring complete.

[Ron in Indiana]

Looks like you're going to make it, so am I. One question, where's the hitch for the truck pull Friday night??? Or are you just doing the teeter board?

[W_A_Watson_II]

Thanks, yea, still need to build the stake sides, but I hope to have them done. Glad you will make it as well.

Guess I could pull the hitch of the 49, but I don't suspect the 218 cu.in Plymouth engine in the 46 to do too well. I'll use Fankie to do the truck pull.