I parked next to a Chevy today with some tube rails along the top of the bed rails, I though they seemed like they would be very usefull to tie off to. I tried to google bed rails and all I am getting is the plastic covers for the top sides of the bed. Does anyone have these rails, are they junk and just for looks or are they actually pretty sturdy?? Anyone have pics of them on an Super Duty? Also do they have an actual name so I can search for them??

 

Personally, I think they're junk and they get in the way if you ever put a canopy or other accessory in the bed.

 

2006-2007 Ford F-250 Super Duty Bed Rails – Putco 89886 - Putco Locker Side, Polished, Stainless steel
Like these?

I see them all the time so they must not be so fragile that they just fall off, but IMO they're a cosmetic accessory more than a functional part. You ditching the Leer topper?

 

Yeah selling the canopy this weekend.. Its nice but I do alot of landscaping and construction work during the summer (personal hobby type stuff).. It would be nice for the 1 or 2 times I would actually use it in the winter but from say April to October it would be off and I have no where to store it..

Wow those rails are pricy! I was expecting them to be maybe $150 shipped, maybe I could just shop around for them..

It just seems like it would be nice for when I haul larger loads.. And for my overloaded dump runs haha!

 

Got a welder?

Chopping down some tubing and framing a set of bed caps with pipe rails is easy and would be significantly stronger than any cosmetic parts that just mount in the stake holes.

Like this, just minus the headache rack.

 

I have needed a reason to buy a welder haha!! I just learned how to weld 2 summers ago, its not pretty but it works

 

I have had rails like this on all my trucks.. Weld them up for each one - probably got $80-100 worth of materials in them - always tying off to them or something...

 

I went with the pop-up bull ring style that retracts when not in use.
Bull Ring Retractable Tie Downs | Shop Now

They work great. However, there have been many times where having the ability to tie down at any point along the bed would have worked better for me. Making up some rails is on my 'list'....it just seems to be way down towards the bottom. I need to bump that up a bit higher...

 

Cbzdel........

Just a thought........ I notice when towing my 5th wheel, there is not a whole bunch of clearance between the bed rails and the trailer.
I have wanted to put "tie down" rails on my truck, but don't because of the trailer.

I am planning a solution....... numerous tie downs on the inside wall of the bed. Up near the rails. I plan to put a "backing plate" behind the sheet metal to boost the strength of the tie downs.

Roy

 

We use angle iron a lot for bed rail protectors and weld eyelets along the top to tie off too. It works great and really protects the rails from being bowed.

 

how about slid and lock system? Some OEM are installing them factory plus they can work with bad caps and stuff.
AZ Truck Accessories | Bloomfield Manufacturing Slide-N-Lock