Ever since I took possession of the little truck the proportions [as well as materiality] of the bed have bothered me, but after initially thinking running boards would help [they did] it took over three years to finally begin doing something about it…

Sourcing a not altogether pristine but well-traveled bed last spring from the same American Canyon truck that had donated said running boards began the process in earnest.

This treasure sat around the yard all summer but in September I lured Shawn [http://instagram.com/shawnhibmacronan] out to collect and take it to his Alameda studio. Progress was then delayed by a fortuitous [for him] five-month hiatus/residency at Autodesk in San Francisco, not to mention our various peregrinations and the onset of winter.

Once back in his studio the bed was obviously an impediment to other work and as the weather was becoming predictably nice we reconnected to correct the imbalances.  Last Wednesday, the worst of winter over and the worst of the rot patched, he pulled in with it, albeit ten inches shorter. By day’s end we’d tried it on the truck and set it on again with fenders, which fit fortuitously perfectly…

Old bed out, new bed in, fenders tacked on temporarily, mounts located, bed out again to weld them and third day, after welding in tubing for interior support and stabilization of the seventy-year-old rusted sheetmetal, the fenders were permanently attached and we broke for Valentine’s day, again unseasonably warm and bright…

Sunday all went back in place nicely but nearly endless fittings ensued around the periphery – niggly little sheetmetal refinements…then Monday came braces, miniscule details, reattachments and…

…somehow, late of another overly warm afternoon, it was all actually done;

Huge thanks to Shawn HibmaCronan and to Linda for allowing us to coopt her Benicia studio…

Onwards, ever.

M