This is a real world question, WW2 era.

Friend told me that modern commercial vehicle manufacturers do not paint the bottom of wood cargo beds/floors if the top is unpainted. The reason is that unpainted topside will absorb moisture that is then trapped in the wood against the painted bottom side.

I am now scratching my head trying to remember things like M127 trailers (wood floor), M109 vans (wood floor), and thinking about the M16 Shop van I'm doing for "Wheels" and trying to remember what the Army did. It had been my plan to simply paint the underside of the floor OD like the chassis, but now I'm concerned that would be wrong. My TM's do not mention this in any regard, so I'm a bit stumped.

Anyone have any input on this, especially photos or references ?

Thanks in advance,
John