ceresone- my beds are 16ft long 1 ft deep and around 32 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick. i had the lumber cut at the local saw mill. it is white oak which is a closed celled wood. i braced at about 8 ft side to side. it takes some heavy duty screws for bracing. the beds are very heavy. empty they weigh about 2-300 lbs.

the cedar beds[with cattle panels] i build are 6 ft long by 24 inches wide and 1 ft deep. i dont use side to side bracing on these.

you could use rebar if you can find some steel clamps and it should work fine.

that is what i do so it doesn't mean that is the correct way. just happens to work for me.

william