Plywood for bed?

[takehikes]

I"m trying to low ball a decent looking wood bed for my stepside.

I got to thinking I could buy a nice sheet of ACX plywood, seal it up with urethane then attach the bed strips right to it (not cut grooves for them).
My truck is a working truck (yard hauls, Home Depot etc) so I expect it to get beat up some but I would like at least a decent looking bed without spending a fortune for the real deal hardwood.

Any body try this?

[cep62]

I don't know if plywood will warp or not.
I know of one that was done with treated lumber or decking.
It looked ok.

[jimmy828]

Look into the marine grade plywood. Little more pricey but will last longer. I doubt the big box stores will have it in stock but could order it.

[HIO Silver]

Regardless of the lumber or sheet good selected, it will last longer if both sides and the edges are sealed/treated with a penetrating preservative or clear coat.

[takehikes]

I planned on fully coating/sealing the plywood. I figured the bed strips would keep it from warping badly. I was mostly wondering if anyone had done it this way.

[Ranchero50]

I'd say in that use and duty that a hard wood will be much better suited vs. multi grained plywood.

[jzjames]

I did it the first year I got mine, because I needed to spend my money on other stuff for the truck at the time.
The plywood worked good, exterior grade, attach it to the mounts and bedside holes as if it was the regular bedwood, and it wont warp. I don't know what kind of sealer you could use that would not wear through quickly though. (That goes for any wood on a stepside). I didn't try fiberglass resin, but the thing is, as soon as there is any little abrasion, then the water and sun will quickly affect the wood.

It will work though and last a good number of years.

[takehikes]

Good to hear that. Its what I'm looking for. Most of what I haul wont tear up the wood. Mostly looking to get it to be a 20 footer bed kind of like the paint I have!