Posted by Brian in Oregon ntxt on Thursday, March 14, 2002 at 12:10PM :
In Reply to: "41 bed question posted by Doug Engel on Thursday, March 14, 2002 at 10:29AM :
I assume you are referring to the 1941 WC 1/2 ton military closed cab pickup or open cab weapons carrier.
The bed is unique to the military truck. It is very close to the civie beds from the late 1930's, but of course the wheelwell bolt holes are for a flat fender, not for the civie fenders. In addition, the military bed has a central stake pocket spot welded in, while the civie bed does not. And the military tailgate does not have DODGE embossed in it.
It is possible to convert a civie bed if you are a good welder and can fill the holes and fabricate the middle stake pocket, or at least have the $$$ to hire someone to do it.
A more painless route, and perhaps one that is less spendy that converting a civie bed or trying to fix a beat up rusty mlitary bed, is to go with a reproduction.
Mack Products http://www.mackhils.com/mack_products/ at one time made the complete civie bed WITHOUT the fender holes being drilled. Their website only shows the front bed panel and the military tailgate, but the catalog I have shows all the bed parts. The bed side lacks the middle stack pocket, so one woul dhave to be added. But this would be a flawless bed. I'd suggest contacting them to see if the bed sides are still made or just order a catalog.