Putco Locker Bed Rail Installation

[fyarbrou]

My 2011 GMC Sierra Crew Cab has the GM OEM Bed Rail Caps with pocket cut outs and pocket covers. I am thinking about getting a set of bed rails (Putco Locker 89889). My concern is how these bed rails would install and integrate with the bed rail caps.

 

I don't think that it would look right to remove the pocket covers and install the rails because there would be gaps around the rectangular pocket cut out and the round rail mount. My thoughts are that I would need to cut holes in the pocket covers with the rails coming through them to make it look flush. I hope my description makes sense.

 

I have seen several other brands where the bed rail mount plate just sits on the bed rail caps. This looks unfinished to me and I would like to have a clean integrated look.

 

Any ideas?

[fyarbrou]

Here are the Putco Locker bed rails.

 

 

[foghorn23]

I have a set of Putco Lockers on my 13 Crew. The truck has the OEM bed rail covers. To install I took a 1/2 inch (as best I remember) drill bit and drilled a hole in the plastic stake pocket cover. I used the rails plastic mount as a guide for drilling. They've be on a year and I have had no bucking or problems whatsoever. BTW the lockers are a great rail in that with the open ends the provide a great tie down spot.

 

Sorry about the dirty truck pictures. I hate road salt.

 

]

 

[fyarbrou]

Good info Sylvester13. I like the Locker's end tie downs too. My '99 Silverado just had standard rails and tying down a rope always slid to the middle of the rail.

 

Your mounts look solid as a rock. So I take it that you did not put any shims under the stake pocket covers? My pocket covers on the Sierra seem so be about 1/8 of an inch above the actual truck metal. I would have thought that tightening down the screw would have bowed the pocket cover down to flush with the truck metal.

 

 

Thanks,

Fred

[foghorn23]

It seems like the holding pressure isn't downward, but as you clamp down the rubber block expands outward. I was afraid the stake pocket caps would bow down too, but they didn't. The rails are really solid and you can shake the whole truck by grabbing them and rocking back and forth. The other thing about these are they are easy to remove. I actually had these rails on my 11 Silverado and the dealer let me pull them off the old truck when I traded.

 

By the way take a look on Amazon's site for these rails. Amazon also has an outlet site (Amazon Warehouse Deals) and I found my rails there for over 50% off. Apparently someone had ordered and returned them. When they came they were perfect, they were brand new and the only defect was that the box had been ripped and taped. Good way to maybe save some money.

[fyarbrou]

Sounds good. Now I just have to lay back and find me a set on sale.

 

Haste makes waste.

 

 

Thanks for the info Sylvester13.

[mattymax]

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/4322177377.html

 

One end is brand new. The other three aren't perfect but all the rubber was replace a month before they were removed from the truck. I also have a box of parts from putco. I can ship

 

6 1/2' bed

 

Matt