1947 ford ranger...

How do you mean? Did I weld it to the bar all the way along you mean?

Nah I only welded it where it was welded originally (as in original 1950s gas welds). I think they just tacked the wired edge on in a few places to stop it moving then chased the edge over, probably on a helve hammer. None of them have cracked from the welded so it doesn’t seem to be a weak point at all.

You'd be hard pushed to tell that's recreated patina on the tub!

What timber you using on the bed? (asuming timber and not steel)

I don’t know if its a daft idea, but you can get boards made out of recycled plastic. And they’re actually quite realistic looking, as well as being surprisingly tough. Wouldn’t have to worry about them rotting out or covering them in oil.

But they can be very slippery!

I did think of the plastic fake decking, But I’m not sure if it would look too fake, especially once scratched up it would be really obvious it’s plastic.
I’m not sure how well it bears weight either, and how much it sags with a heavy load. No one seems to be willing to part with that information.
Other issue would be mounting it. I’d have to add quite a lot of structure to the bed floor framing to be able to support it in the right places to screw it down, as it essentially bolts between the planks like original bed boards do. So I’d need bed strips as well.
It’s actually quite expensive too. Not that phenolic is that cheap in a decent thickness.

I think I’m gunna stick with the phenolic idea. It’s straightforward to mount with no special consideration needed so it would be easy to swap out in future if I change my mind. This truck will have a load of building work to do almost immediately it being done, so even if it’s only on for that and swapped out afterwards it will be worthwhile.

The phenolic is good stuff, but it doesn’t last forever. My trailer needs doing again, the first lot lasted about 15 years, this lot a little longer. Make sure there’s some way for rainwater trapped in the bed to escape.

Hi, Had you thought about scaffold boards? Quite sturdy so support not so critical, can be picked up second hand for cheaps and used to being covered in building stuff so It could be alright for its first job. Then think again as needed afterwards.

Colin