Factory plastic bed caps.

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Sep 20, 2006 | 10:04 AM

blakerj10

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Factory plastic bed caps.

I happened to bash in my right hand rocker pannel on my 05 SuperDuty this weekend. While on a mountain trail, a large rock rolled an hit my rocker panel right in front of the back tire. I am paying cash for the repair as my deductable is $2500. One body shop recommends removeing the plastic bed cap and painting all the way up to the top.

Another body shop says not to remove the bed cap, as the clips usually break on removal, and the never fit as good when you put them back on. Often there is a paint line/rub mark visable when put back on. He recomends removing my pinstripe (6" below bed cap), painting to there, then replacing pinstripe.

I told both shops, anything that they wanted removed, I would do prior to bringing the pick-up in. So neither is trying to gain or save time with these recomendations. I also thought about removeing both of them and having linex applied in their place. Any body done this? Advice is appreciated.

Sep 20, 2006 | 10:15 AM

mical

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I just had some body work done on my box. The body shop told me the same thing. I believe i paid about 120 for each one (factory) to be replaced. I replaced the tailgate one for about 60 since it was scratched to hell. The tailgate one can be taken off and put back on. I believe it is because you can reach inside to the clips through the tailgate inspection plate, whereas the box ones are a little bit more difficult. My truck is all black so I didnt have much choice.

Sep 20, 2006 | 11:32 AM

rwilimo

Fleet Mechanic

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From: NJ

I would defiantly pull the rail cap and paint all the way up. No professional body shop would cut paint at the pin strip. I pulled the cap on my truck when it needed paint and it went back on just fine. I used 2 guys to remove the cap, one pulled from the top and the other squeezed the clips from the bottom with pliers.

Sep 20, 2006 | 12:53 PM

turpehar

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Depends

Personally I would want the cap removed and the whole bedside painted. In a former life I worked in the auto collision repair industry and have, at customer request pull stripes and painted to them or used the back taping method. Some customer don't know the difference. Obviously you would or you would not be asking. Anyone who tells you they can't put the cap back on correctly, shouldn't be doing the work. If you choose to go this route, take a digital photo of the alignment/fit of the cap and make sure you're satisfied.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

Sep 20, 2006 | 04:04 PM

blakerj10

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Thanks for the insight guys. Yes, I do care... This is my first new vehicle and I am pretty picky. For you guys with body experience, I will try to put some photos in my gallery tommorow. Most places agreed that this should be an easy repair, and said they could do a lifetime warrenty as well. But, one place said the, "if it was mine, I would replace the panel, yep." I do not think that is necessary but, would like feedback based on the pics tommorow.

Sep 20, 2006 | 04:23 PM

turpehar

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Toss the bedside

I would defnately replace the bedside, especially since you said you're picky. As flimsy as they are, you don't want much bondo attached.

I suggest that you have them work you an estimate that you bring the truck in with the panel removed. The hardest part is pulling the bed to get to all the spot welds. In fact, if you had a mig welder, or access to one, you could replace it yourself and have the body shop get it in prime and paint it. Before you drill out all the spot welds, place cardboard accross the front of the bed and draw an outline of the bedside as it is on the truck. Then, when it goes back on, the width and angle that the beside has will closley match the original.

I talk my son through this process when he was 15, I watched, and he drilled, ground, aligned, and welded. I'd love to say "no problem", but you know how that goes.

Good luck, and let me know if you need any moral support.

HT