Dave, I love those old pickup beds too.
The Cushman bed floor size is only 35" x 46". I haven't decided yet exactly how I'll do it. I think that using a pickup "kit" would be way too much material leaving a lot of scrap. And some of those "kits" could cost more than the Cushman itself! If I made my own planks and just purchased the stainless steel strips, I think those metal strips would end up being out of scale to the bed itself, IMO.
I'm actually leaning towards getting some prefinished hardwood flooring from the local Home Depot or Menards. Oak would be the easy no-brainer. I put in one floor with, and really like golden hickory. But currently I'm leaning to a dark bamboo. see photo below.
Securing it to the bed frame will be a challenge. I'm thinking of edge gluing the boards together to make one piece and then using concrete block adhesive (waterproof construction adhesive) to secure it to the frame and along the sides. I think any actual fasteners from the top would be out of the question.
This won't be used for hauling. The Cushman is too small and too slow for being a real, effective hauler.
I'll have lots of time before I have to make a decision and probably change my mind several times along the way.
JD, While I like your plan and I truly adopt the Locost (cheap) philosophy, I don't have enough years left in me to grow a tree. I do have plenty of acorns though. Some, the squirrels haven't eaten thoroughly yet. If I send them to you, would you plant a few trees for me? Just send me a self-addressed USPS flat rate box with postage. Maybe I could plant that tree here and simply leave the finishing instructions to my grandkids in my will.
Glad to have both you guys post here.
_________________
Chuck.
“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman
Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log:
over HEREOr my Wankel powered Locost log :
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