Protec bed - anybody have one?

[GreenRado]

Anybody here have a Protec bed?  Looks like I may be ordering real soon and need any comments, good, but especially bad about it.  I'm mostly interested in how well it holds up, etc.  Obviously nobody will have much info on how long it holds up, but curious if it's still doing the job after 1 year or so on the market.  Otherwise I may order the std bed and go the Rhino or lineX route.

 

I like the integrated bed "liner", but am actually less enthused about the "chevrolet" across the tailgate. My biggest concern is if it were to start creaking and squeaking after a couple of years!    

[SilveradoWV]

I see one all of the time parked at a Pharmacy here! It doesnt look too bad, other than the Chevrolet raised letters, but at least they are bed color. The one I see is never hauling anything so as you can imagine it still looks brand new! Thats as close as I have been to one!

[gmcjoe]

I like them

They have a built in 'bedliner' too.

I'd have to pull off the stick-on Silverado emblems though

[TxDoc]

There is a guy on another forum with one. He swears by it. I think he works at one of the plants that produce it. His email is tcj01@_removemefirst_hotmail.com   (remove the correct words ;))

 

The box is about 200 pounds lighter than a steel box.

 

The protec composite box can never rust and resists dents and dings better than steel.

 

The protec box is well worth the extra cost if you consider the cost of a bed liner insert or a spray in liner. Apply the $250 to $400 of cost to reduce the cost of the protec box.

 

The real savings will be realized if you ever bang into a pole, tree, or garage and do little or no damage to the protec box. You would save a fortune in repairs that would not have to be done. If you should hit something hard enough to break a panel on the outside or inside of the box, it can usually be replaced in less than two hours.

 

The other benefit is, should a panel need to be replaced that panel can be painted while you are still using your truck so your down time and labor time are lower.

[GreenRado]

Thanks for the replies so far!  I agree w/ all the comments here too.

 

Cannot independently verify this, but a pretty well placed source at the dealer I work with said that one of their customers, from out of state tried to put a topper on it and the topper dealer tried really hard to talk him out of it.  He didn't know the reason (my dealer) - I'm guessing that it's got something to do w/ using the  "C-clamps" on the rail underside, maybe?  Off hand I can't think of another valid reason.

 

Thanks Tx, I'll email this guy and see what he says about this, and post back what I find!

[TxDoc]

More stuff:

 

this is interesting:

the concentrated load-carrying capacity of the PRO-TEC tailgate is tested to 400 lbs. over the capacity of the standard steel tailgate.

 

 

PRO-TEC Advantages:

 

 

The PRO-TEC box gives you more payload capability because it’s nearly 50 pounds lighter than the standard Silverado box. And the concentrated load-carrying capacity of the PRO-TEC tailgate is tested to 400 lbs. over the capacity of the standard steel tailgate.

 

 

Unlike spray-on liners, where upfitters often take a grinder and grind the inside of the pickup box and tailgate to provide a gripping surface, there are no "liners" with the PRO-TEC design. The entire PRO-TEC pickup box (bed, inner panels, outer panels and rear fenders) and tailgate are constructed of durable injection-molded composite material, and are professionally mounted at the factory to meet GM quality standards. That means the entire pickup box and tailgate are rugged enough for most of your toughest jobs.

 

 

The PRO-TEC pickup box has a cleanable grain-textured surface, which helps provide skid resistance and load security with bulkhead dividers, two-tier loading, stake pockets and ten cargo tie-downs. Spray-on liners, on the other hand, offer too much skid resistance because they are often made of a non-skid, abrasive surface texture to help keep loads secure. Moving heavy equipment over the textured spray-on liner surface can be challenging. Spray-on liner surfaces are also difficult to clean.

 

 

PRO-TEC Features:

 

 

The pickup box bed, inner panels, outer panels, rear fenders and tailgate are all constructed of durable PRO-TEC composite material.

 

To help you store, transport and secure loads, the dependable PRO-TEC one-piece inner pickup box provides all the benefits of a steel pickup box such as bulkhead dividers, two-tier loading capability, stake pockets and ten cargo tie-downs.

The PRO-TEC pickup box features a unique, service-friendly design. In the event you have to replace any interior PRO-TEC panels, they are easy to remove and replace thanks to snap-on fasteners, adhesive and/or bolts. A well-trained technician is capable of removing or mounting a body panel in a matter of minutes. This can help reduce the time your Silverado is at your Chevy dealership or repair facility.

The protective stainless-steel tailgate top-edge helps prevent chipping when you're carrying long 2x4s or ladders.

[MarkD]

Does GMC offer the Pro-tec bed?

[Roofer]

My buddy has one and likes it alot. The downfalls I see are that you can't put a bed cap or topper on them that I can see. Another thing is it does scratch just as easy on the exterior painted sides and tailgate. I don't see all that much sense in it unless you really plan on abusing the box. I have a standard box with just a rubber bed mat. Most things get set on the floor of the box, not on the sides.

[DuckhunterInTN]

I like the idea of a Pro-tec box a lot because the outer bedsides of our boxes are so flimsy that they get little ripples in them by leaning on them.  However , I saw a Pro-tec box in person and it kinda turned me off to them.  It looked really wavy, kind of a "pre-dented" look.  It was also very flexible (like pushing the side of the bed with one finger would make it move).  One thing, though, was that the box was on a black truck, which made the ripples in it look worse than if it were on a lighter colored truck.  Either way, I would consider one if I were buying a new truck, but I would look at one in person (if you can find one) before you ordered one.

[GreenRado]

I noticed the same thing - seemed wavy to me the first time I saw one - I was fortunate enough to have the exactly correct sun angle to really sight down the outside. It did seem a little wavy, especially sitting right beside a std steel bed.  But I've seen them not in that direct sunlight and the waviness isn't nearly so pronounced.

 

Roofer just confirmed my suspicions that you can't put a topper on it.  Guess I never noticed that little tidbit of info when I looked at them.  That probably clinches it for me as I need my topper for camping/outdoor excursions w/ the family!

 

BTW MarkD, I am pretty sure the Protec is only chevy, unless they have changed it for '03.

 

Thanks again everybody for your comments!!

[TxDoc]

They are still not offfered on GMC trucks. I believe this is correct as I have not seen it on any of the following sites, while pricing a 2003 GMC:

 

http://www.agstar.com/leases/chromecarbook.shtml

 

http://www.kbb.com

 

http://www.carsdirect.com/home

 

http://autopedia.com/html/MfgVhl.html

 

http://www.edmunds.com

 

http://www.redbook4autos.com/home.html

 

And, I called GMC's customer assistance and was told no.

 

Sorry.

[MountaineerTom]

Here's an observation I noticed about the ones I seen on the local lot back in March.  Actually, you replied to it GreenRado, so you may remember it.  

 

Pro-Tec bed observation

[GreenRado]

Thanks for reminding me, Tom!!  That had slipped my mind.

 

Well, I put the whole thing to rest anyways - saw one tonite after dinner on a local lot and sure enough, absolutely no way to mount a std cap/topper that I could see, confirming what roofer had said in an earlier post.  The side wall goes straight down from the rail top - funny that didn't register with me earlier.  

 

Guess it's gonna be steel for me - now to just decide on the color???  

 

Thanks again everybody for the help and comments!!

[LarryE]

I don't like them at all

 

The tailgate is ugly as poop, and you can't shave anything on them or add anything to them,  very boring bed if you ask me