Thread: Timber Tray Back Ute Resto

Originally Posted by TIMBERBACK

Hi Iam new to this forum and would like some help ?
I am restoring a old timber tray back ute,and are up to replacing the timber. What i need to know is how to go about it as is what is the best timber to use tongue/gruve or not,what is the best paint to seal it off with and the best way to go about it.Thanks

Hi & welcome TB

nice project can you post some pics and give more detail as to the year, type, make , model of Ute.

If you want it original it will help.

Ray

if you want it to look nice and last i would use red ironbark finished with an oil (danish, lynseed, etc).

if you are not fussed with a nice finish i would use marine ply coated with an industrial floor paint of even cca.

Hi if you use T&G you can have problems later with cupping due to water sitting on the tray , Better to go with a decking board and a bit thicker then 19mm say 25-30 mm in ironbark or kwila and finish with oil . all depends on your budget . cheers john

There are all sorts of timbers you could use, from spotted gum to (as suggested), ironbark. It does come down to your own preference in terms of colour, but if you're going to paint(!) then, as weisy says, it's prety much irrelevant. Give me a call if you'd like to have a look at some different species. I have the three species mentioned in stock, as well as some nice grey gum, all in 25mm boards x up to 200mm width

On the subject of T&G, I'd say don't bother, for the reasons given previously.

TB there are regulations check that out for QLD give one of the Motor Vehicle Builders a call or the dept of transport.
T&G is what is normally used but is well seasoned and sealed. They look great varnished/coated to a high gloss.

Is it just the flooring or is it the whole tray bearers etc if thats the case its an old Ute pics PLEASE

thanks for all the good info.To help explain more of what we are up to i will post some pics of the tray latter on when the truck comes home

here is two photos - one of the old tray still on and one of the new steel frame we have just had made

Ok you are all very helpful. My next question is after we pick which timber we want ( we want the timber to look nice so a clear finish to bring up the natural look ) and before we screw to frame do we also glue them togeather and clamp before screwing down as t/g is out ?

Originally Posted by TIMBERBACK

Ok you are all very helpful. My next question is after we pick which timber we want ( we want the timber to look nice so a clear finish to bring up the natural look ) and before we screw to frame do we also glue them togeather and clamp before screwing down as t/g is out ?

If T&G is out what what you using??

You can use a tar based pitch acts like a glue available at HW stores, under each board on the bearer, it protects the timber a bit from wear, stops water getting between the boards and steel, used to do this in buses and truck's.

is this tar based pitch ok to use when the bearers are steel?

Originally Posted by TIMBERBACK

is this tar based pitch ok to use when the bearers are steel?

Yes thats what truck bus floor bearers are made from we used roofing pitch slap it on heaps so when you put the boards floor down it squeazes out.

It will help stop dry rot between the steel and timber.

if doing it on your garage floor put something down mungrel to clean off.

Rather then screw the deck to the steel, weld some tags along the bearers with some slotted holes and screw into the timber.

This way the screws won't be loose or heads busting off due to timber shrinkage and expansion

Hi all, am half way through replacing a f350 timber tray, plus a few
design mods. Have fitted seven cross bearers 100 x 50, all sealed
with bitcote No3. So it should be a quick job in the morning to fit
new alloy check gaurds and then onto laying the floor approx 25 x 100
blue gum (the price was right) and possibly some spotted gum included.
Intending to finish timber with lanotec. any thoughts or ideas
appreciated.

cheers Mick