I have a 1963 Chevy short stepside. I have had the truck for over twenty years and I am on the final stage of a full frame off restoration. Oak wood is on the way for the bed. I have looked at several forums and web sites and I have seen nothing, to keep the wood natural looking, that works unless you re-apply every year. Is there anything out there that gives you a high gloss natural finish that will last? I know painting it will last but I want to keep the wood look.
thanks  

If you are going for a factory restoration, the wood in these beds came un-finished. What I would do is just buy a good water-proof sealer from Home Depot and that would keep the wood preserved while looking original.

-Cort  

I have a 65 long bed with wood. I just used a sealer that they use on the wood for boats and other wood water crafts.

-Travis
65' 3/4 ton
283-4 on the floor
headman headers
Cherrybomb glasspacks  

Rocky
I worked for awhile in the marine trade.  There are two ways that will work.  If the wood will not get alot of wear and tear, then sand the Oak.  Thin out some urethane ( poly-urethane ) varnish for the first coat to soak into the wood.  Then apply at least 4 more coats, with the last two being a UV resistant varnish called Spar Varnish.  If the bed will get more abuse, then use W.E.S.T. which stands for wood epoxy saturation technique.  You buy epoxy resin and catalyst that mixes up to be like a thick paint.  You should buy the companies little hand pumps that pre-measure the resin and catalyst, it makes for easy mixing, one squirt of each.  Start with a thin layer, then add at least two more layers of the thicher epoxy.  You must then use two coats of the UV Spar Varnish as epoxy is very sensitive to UV.  This stuff is tough.  All the large Marine stores carry some brand of epoxy for wood.  The web should have lots of info. Also look at boat builders and boat kit companies.  This will last for years.  Deep scratches may need a little touch up of the UV Spar Varnish.
Also, the epoxy will fill any drilled holes, so drill them out and then use the varnish, thinned for the first coat in the holes.
Charter boats in the tropics that are used every day and are in the sun and wet-24/7/365  usually use 6 to 7 total coats.  If your bed will see lots of weather, add an extra coat of UV varnish
Klues