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Thinking About Bed Caps

BowTieDude

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BowTieDude Enthusiast

BowTieDude

Posted
Posted

Guys,

Been wanting new bed caps. Want to go with the black plastic kind. Which brand is best? Mainly concerned with how well they fit. From the limited pictures I've seen, I like the look of the diamondback caps by bushwacker. Are these good quality? Would it look weird to just buy the side caps and keep my OE tailgate cap? I thought I would get them with the stake holes so I could add tubular rails later if I wanted to.

 

Any advice or suggestions would be great. Also, if anybody has any pics that would be great, as I can't find any large pics on the web.

RyanbabZ71 Senior Enthusiast

RyanbabZ71

Posted
Posted

I have the wade brand. Probably the only other ones I would go with are the gm ones from the dealer. Mine worked great and have been on the truck for 6 yrs

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BowTieDude Enthusiast

BowTieDude

Posted
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Posted

Hi Ryan, Thanks for the advice and pics.

 

Those look really nice. I had seen them on realtruck.com, but they also have several other brands too. It's good to hear from someone that has actually used them. I'll probably order a set sometime over the weekend. I'm still trying to decide whether to get the smooth or ribbed design, I'm leaning toward smooth right now.

 

I'm also trying to decide if I want to get bed rails now, or hold off for awhile. I'm currently looking at these two from putco:

 

traditional

 

ssr

 

The only difference I can see is the traditional ones have the built in tie locations on the ends, I'm not sure the extra cost is worth it just for that. Anyone have opinions on these rails?

 

Thanks.

MS3DALE Senior Enthusiast

MS3DALE

Posted
Posted

Why not go with the GM accessory ones? There made to match your tailgate piece and fit perfect.

BowTieDude Enthusiast

BowTieDude

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Why not go with the GM accessory ones? There made to match your tailgate piece and fit perfect.

 

 

 

 

Well, in looking on the gmpartsdirect website it lists two. One is a flexible vinyl piece, part # 12497067 for $81.24. I don't care for the looks of it, it doesn't appear to cover very much area, and looks kinda cheap IMHO.

 

The second is a rigid molded cap, part # 12496453 It looks good from what I can see in the very small pic that's on there. I wish I could see a better pic of this one. It sells for $115.55 + $30.00 Shipping, that's pretty high considering I can get the Wade brand shipped for $100.84 from realtruck.com, or even cheaper if I got bedrails at the same time (free shipping on orders over $100.00).

 

Why do they have two versions anyway? Which would have come on my truck stock from the factory?

MS3DALE Senior Enthusiast

MS3DALE

Posted
Posted

The rigid ones would be the ones you would want to go with,These are what I have on my truck and what I sell at the dealership,and as I said before they match the tailgate piece.

BowTieDude Enthusiast

BowTieDude

Posted
  • Author
Posted
The rigid ones would be the ones you would want to go with,These are what I have on my truck and what I sell at the dealership,and as I said before they match the tailgate piece.

 

 

 

 

Could you tell me what they sell for at your dealership? I stopped and looked at some on new '07 classic trucks Sunday at a local dealer here and I really liked them (and the trucks were nice too :cool: ). I was going to try and call today and get a price, but got busy and forgot.

 

Also, do all dealers sell parts for the same prices or do they set their own markup? Wondering if I should call several, or just the one closest.

 

Thanks for all the help. :cool:

Bogle45 Enthusiast

Bogle45

Posted
Posted

I have the Wade brand. I just got them not too long ago. I would not get any with the stake holes already cut in them as I have heard and seen that the holes don't match up perfectly. The diamond plated caps that I have seen don't fit very well either. The edges don't really hug the bed rails like the plastic ones do, I think it is to prevent the metal from scratching the paint.

BowTieDude Enthusiast

BowTieDude

Posted
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I have the Wade brand.  I just got them not too long ago.  I would not get any with the stake holes already cut in them as I have heard and seen that the holes don't match up perfectly.  The diamond plated caps that I have seen don't fit very well either.  The edges don't really hug the bed rails like the plastic ones do, I think it is to prevent the metal from scratching the paint.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I know what you mean about the aluminum diamond plate caps. They're the reason I need to buy plastic caps now. The previous owner installed a set of them and set a toolbox on top of them as well. Might not have been to bad either, IF HE HAD USED SOME FOAM TAPE UNDER THEM!!! :cool: Now the caps are so oxidized that they make the truck look bad, and because of them messing up the paint underneath I have to cover it up with something.

 

As far as the stake pocket holes go, I have to have them. I've already got a set of chrome bed rails on the way that mount in the holes. Got them on ebay, by the way.

 

When you bought the Wade caps, did you get the tailgate piece too, or just keep the factory one? If you kept the factory one, how well does it match the caps?

gcook Enthusiast

gcook

Posted
Posted

I have the Bushwhacker brand on my truck and am not really satisfied with the fit. Had to trim the edge to get them to look right and follow the lines of the bed. Also, the double sided tape will not stay on the plastic bed cap. It stays on the metal bed top fine, but comes off the plastic bed cap. I sent the first set back because of this, but the second set did the same thing.

 

gary

MS3DALE Senior Enthusiast

MS3DALE

Posted
Posted
The rigid ones would be the ones you would want to go with,These are what I have on my truck and what I sell at the dealership,and as I said before they match the tailgate piece.

 

 

 

 

 

Could you tell me what they sell for at your dealership? I stopped and looked at some on new '07 classic trucks Sunday at a local dealer here and I really liked them (and the trucks were nice too :cool: ). I was going to try and call today and get a price, but got busy and forgot.

 

Also, do all dealers sell parts for the same prices or do they set their own markup? Wondering if I should call several, or just the one closest.

 

Thanks for all the help. :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

They list for $128.00,I can sell them for $108.00.

Most dealers sell at list price,but it wouldn't hurt to call around and see who will give you the best deal.

Generally if I take a phone call from someone and they say they can get the same part somewhere else cheaper I'll match the price to make a sale.

SilveradoLAX7 Enthusiast

SilveradoLAX7

Posted
Posted
Hi Ryan, Thanks for the advice and pics.

 

Those look really nice. I had seen them on realtruck.com, but they also have several other brands too. It's good to hear from someone that has actually used them. I'll probably order a set sometime over the weekend. I'm still trying to decide whether to get the smooth or ribbed design, I'm leaning toward smooth right now.

 

I'm also trying to decide if I want to get bed rails now, or hold off for awhile. I'm currently looking at these two from putco:

 

traditional

 

ssr

 

The only difference I can see is the traditional ones have the built in tie locations on the ends, I'm not sure the extra cost is worth it just for that. Anyone have opinions on these rails?

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

As far as bed rails, I havn't found any real desire for a tie down at the end. It's easy enough to put a rope around the rail. I would have liked a pair that can fit the metal part of a bungee through it. I didn't think to check the heght between the top of the bed and the bottom of the rail until I tried to bungee something. (on the positive side, I think they look pretty good)

 

-Jay

BowTieDude Enthusiast

BowTieDude

Posted
  • Author
Posted
They list for $128.00,I can sell them for $108.00.

Most dealers sell at list price,but it wouldn't hurt to call around and see who will give you the best deal.

Generally if I take a phone call from someone and they say they can get the same part somewhere else cheaper I'll match the price to make a sale.

 

 

 

 

Rich, you were right. I called around this afternoon and the first dealer said they could get them for $138.04, told them I'd let them know. Second dealer said $128.00, :cool: told him to go ahead and order me a set. They're suppose to come in Friday. I'll update this thread and post some pics when I get the caps and rails and everything installed. Thanks again for your help.

 

 

As far as bed rails, I havn't found any real desire for a tie down at the end. It's easy enough to put a rope around the rail. I would have liked a pair that can fit the metal part of a bungee through it. I didn't think to check the heght between the top of the bed and the bottom of the rail until I tried to bungee something. (on the positive side, I think they look pretty good)

 

-Jay

 

 

 

 

Jay, I actually found a set of the Putco bed rails on ebay. They're the ones with the tie downs, don't know how I'll like them, but I got them for $153.90 shipped. They're $218.49 at realtruck.com, so i'm pleased. :D

 

By the way, that's a sharp truck you've got. :P

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