[GB SISSON]

Poplar IS a hardwood. It is a tree with leaves that come off in the fall. Softwoods have needles. The Southern yellow pine is what I associate with the Ford beds I have worked on. It is not at all like the soft pine in the New England states and the West. It is very resinous (pitchy) and therefore quite rot resistant. It is also known as 'pitch pine', loblolly, and heart pine. It's the stuff they dredge off of river bottoms down south and mill into furniture and flooring. It is tough wood. Red oak is not at all rot resistant. It's structure is like a bundle of drinking straws wicking the water through the boards. White oak is used in boat building because it is far more rot resistant. And more expensive. Henry chose well with the southern pine. Tough, inexpensive and weather resistant. Just what a truck bed needs. Throw some paint on top and keep the line moving, and the customers coming back. That's good business.