TheSamba.com :: View topic - Pickup truck bed replacement restoration panel or options

Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:14 pm

Is anyone aware of a company that offers replacement beds/floors for sinka truck beds or is checker plate the only alternative? Unfortunately my single cab spent 20 years hauling fire wood so the bottom of the bed looks like a small mountain range.

I'd love to see some photos of restored truck beds also.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:39 pm

tri-star connection has NOS doka load beds,maybe lars has single cab ones too?

Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:52 pm

How much do you need? :shock:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/VW-T3-Doka-Ladeflache-incl-..._500wt_677

Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:58 pm

you want new?
http://www.ebay.de/itm/VW-Bus-T3-Doka-Ladeflache-4..._559wt_667

Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:14 pm

healeykit wrote: Is anyone aware of a company that offers replacement beds/floors for sinka truck beds or is checker plate the only alternative? Unfortunately my single cab spent 20 years hauling fire wood so the bottom of the bed looks like a small mountain range.

My singlecab bed is likely in better shape but has a few dings. Anyway, after cleaning the bed and taking care of any surface rust, I lined with 3"x3" rubber square pads, about 2/3" thick, that snapped together. These have row holes that allow water drainage and evaporation underneath.

So far I've had great success with this arrangement and the expense was around $100 ... probably a little higher now ... and I got mine about five years ago from Home Depot but they're available elsewhere. The rubber protects the bed very well from all abuse and protects items on it as well.

The over-plating commonly seen on many doka/sinkas is fine but beware water getting underneath and settling (rust).

Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:35 pm

Westybob - I saw a post earlier from you about your rubber mats, can you post photos or email?

I'll check with the tri-star boys.

Thanks for the eBay links, but I bet it could be cheaper to ship a whole truck :lol:

Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:42 pm

FYI- those ebay ads are from tristar connection.

Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:45 pm

healeykit wrote: Westybob - I saw a post earlier from you about your rubber mats, can you post photos or email?

I'm pic-posting illiterate on the samba but if you PM me your home e-mail I can shoot some pics to you.

Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:16 am

healeykit wrote: Is anyone aware of a company that offers replacement beds/floors for sinka truck beds or is checker plate the only alternative? Unfortunately my single cab spent 20 years hauling fire wood so the bottom of the bed looks like a small mountain range.

I'd love to see some photos of restored truck beds also.

A lot of European T3s had aluminum check plate flooring lining the bed floor area. Likely the most time and money economical route to take. Make sure to liberally oil spray under the whole area before laying that in.

Curious, is your sinKa a Syncro?

Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:47 am

There may be issues with this vendor but...

What about seeing what Vic has down in Pharump, NV, I think he also goes by ZSI Imports? He supposedly has a yard full of parts including Sinka and Doka, and at least it's closer to home. You can even travel there to see the stuff and negotiate.

edit: Oops maybe Nevada is not that close to you at all actually.....

WestyBob I would love to see photos of your bed protection rubber as well!

Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:47 pm

Bman wrote: WestyBob I would love to see photos of your bed protection rubber as well!

Send me a samba PM with your e-mail address and I'll send you some.

Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:24 pm

Bman, post the rubber pic when bob gets it to you...my bed is nice but I want to use it like a truck and something like this would be nice to have on it.

Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:04 pm

purplepeopleeater wrote: Bman, post the rubber pic when bob gets it to you...my bed is nice but I want to use it like a truck and something like this would be nice to have on it.

An update to my earlier post. I went out and measured and those are 3 'feet' x 3 'feet' rubber squares that snap together giving the appearance of a solid sheet. 6 squares cover the sinka, 4 cover my doka.

Wind will not blow them outta there, and I've given it the Columbia Gorge wind vortex test many times :wink:

Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:15 pm

By permission of WestyBob here are his photos of the protective rubber for the back of his ultra cool SINKA:

Nice fit, looks like the stuff they use in industrial kitchens, tough and heavy. I love that it would not trap any moisture and will keep things from sliding around. Thanks WestyBob!

P.S. Here is Everett's link on the how to for posting photos:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6