Truck Bed

Background Refer to the wood bed discusssion. We elected “Pattern F” with five 1×8 white oak planks and four 60″ metal holding strips from Mar-K. The side edges are covered by 1.5″ aluminum L-angle bar fastened with bolts/rivnuts to the bed wall but not to the wood planks; this allows for...

Background Hauling cargo typically requires securing it with some kind of tie-down — cords, straps, nets, tarps, or chains — attached to anchor points in the truck floor or wall. The Ute aluminum bed walls should not be used for anchors because they lack the strength of the vehicle frame and...

Background The gap between the rear tray and fiberglass roll pan cover is filled by the aluminum roll pan brace. The brace mounts from the inside of the tray side and then attaches to the top of the fiberglass roll pan cover. Rivets can be used, but a better installation method...

Background The truck bed floor is supported by front and rear trays, and by two C-channel cross bars. C-channel L-braces use a plastic spacer for added strength.

Background Once the fiberglass quarter panels are permanently mounted, there is very limited access to the space below the stepside. Thus, it’s important to complete all wiring and components in this area first.

Background After the truck bed assembly is installed with all supporting braces and plates, the front wall is reinforced with fasteners including 8M flat head bolts. The flat head bolts are designed to be flush with the top surface, and to accomplish this, the hole must be bored to match the...

Background The top overhangs of the bedside walls are stabilized by the flying buttress and rectangular wheel well to bedside braces. Refer to tailgate preliminaries discussion. Before installing braces, put the two aluminum tailgate parts together — the inner frame and the outer skin — with the bottom hinge and top...

Background For part descriptions refer to the Smyth kit contents. There are several approaches to the truck bed assembly. One method is to bolt together the entire bed frame — side and front walls and with various supports and floor trays — and then position the entire structure on the Beetle...

Background Insuring a waterproof Ute cabin is of utmost importance. One consequence of cutting the Beetle in half is that a new barrier between the inside and outside is created along the truck bed front wall. The chassis under the truck bed is filled with holes and inaccessible cavities so keeping...

Background The flying buttress braces (on the left and right sides) add important rigidity to the truck bed sides via a “sandwich” mount that incorporates the rear seat belt anchor plate (on top of the fender arch) and the rounded fender sheet metal underneath.