Bed rail caps? Help!

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Feb 24, 2009 | 08:22 AM

rangermike

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From: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bed rail caps? Help!

Hey guys, My truck is in the shop for some body work and before I dropped it off I took the over the rail bedliner out so they could repair the side bed rails from where it rubbed down to the metal. When I get it back I do not plan on putting the bedliner back in because of this damage. I was looking at putting some diamond plate or smooth metal bed rail caps on though. I have heard that these can do the same thing? Does anybody have a way to put them on so that they dont screw your paint up? Can you just put double stick tape on the whole bottom side so it wont touch the metal? Any help or experience would be much appreciated. Thanks, Mike

Feb 24, 2009 | 08:47 AM

jas88

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From: Greater Austin, Texas

They are not going to mess up your paint as they have no weight on them like the bed liner did, unless you put a camper shell on top or something. But if you are worried about that, maybe you should just have a spray-in bedliner applied and have them also cover your bed rail caps while they are at it.

Feb 24, 2009 | 08:52 AM

Beastly

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From: Maricopa, AZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangermike

When I get it back I do not plan on putting the bedliner back in because of this damage... Does anybody have a way to put them on so that they dont screw your paint up? Can you just put double stick tape on the whole bottom side so it wont touch the metal?

I wish you lived a lot closer to me. I would offer to take the bed liner off your hands... I'm looking for a cheap/low-effort way to hide all the scratches, and minor dents in my bed. And, I don't think a roll-on/spray-on is going to do what I want.

I don't know if the double-sided tape would help, or not, but if anything is likely to do what you want, that would be it. I would think that it would work with the bed liner, too. What do the body shop guys recommend?

Feb 24, 2009 | 09:03 AM

Beastly

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From: Maricopa, AZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangermike

I was looking at putting some diamond plate or smooth metal bed rail caps on though.

I have the diamond plate bed rail caps at the moment. I'm not real pleased with them, but they were already on the truck when I bought it.

The problem with them is the orientation of the diamond pattern. On one side you can look up the bed rail from behind, and it lines up nicely. The other side, looks as if they put the metal in the cutting/pressing die crooked, and the pattern points about 15 degrees to the right. It looks bad, once you notice it.

Feb 24, 2009 | 09:09 AM

rangermike

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From: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beastly

What do the body shop guys recommend?

The guy I talked to said to get some bedrail caps with double stick tape but some other people said it still scratches the rails.

Feb 24, 2009 | 09:36 AM

TexasGuy001

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Joined: Sep 2001

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I had aluminum diamond plate caps on mine and they screwed up the paint big time. The fit tight and pinches the rails tearing up the paint. I had to do a lot of doctoring it up.

I now have some I got from JCW that are a composite material that look nice. I got the EGR ones, but there are a few others too.

Bed Caps at JC Whitney

Feb 24, 2009 | 09:48 AM

Scndsin

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Joined: May 2006

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From: Central Mississippi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beastly

I have the diamond plate bed rail caps at the moment....... they were already on the truck when I bought it..

This is the case with me as well. They were also under a fiberglass top which was quickly removed. The top did stress the rail cap over onto the paint in one small spot, but did not cut through the paint. I thought I'd want to pull them off, but they are rivited to the bed liner and have proved to do a good job as well. They also have grown on me aesthetically.

The self stick tape under them is quite thick and runs their full length.

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May 12, 2009 | 10:34 PM

brown 4x4

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From: Nebraska

I put the diamond plate caps on my 95 when I got it and now regret it. Like others, the paint is messed up underneath. And mine have faded pretty bad. I've also noticed after washing my truck I have to dry under them the best I can or it'll drip and leave streaks. If I ever have to have my box repainted, they're coming off!

May 13, 2009 | 02:17 PM

#10

rangermike

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From: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Alright guys. I had forgotten about this tread but now that it has been brought back up...... I ended up getting spray on bed liner put on just the rails and cut the old bed liner so it would slide under the rails. I am very happy with how it turned out and it looks great!! Thanks again for your opinions. I thought I had a picture of it since I had it done but I guess not. I will get one to show you. This is the before. Hope this worked.