Weak Bed Rails

jsn0801 · January 4, 2008

I am a contractor and my truck gets USED alot. My 1st time loading it I put my knee on the rail over the drivers side wheel well, and it made a concave impression. My over the rail Rhino liner was installed and it looks straight now. Is there a easy way to add support from the under side or something? Since I'm on my second chance I dont want it to happen again, or possibly worse. I don't think the Rhino adds any rigidity. I'm used to my old silverado where I was able to walk down the rails with no problems. Any sugestions would be greatly apreciated. Thanks.

Zembonez · January 4, 2008

Man... you are not kidding. The rails on my new GMC would leave dents if a cat walked down them. Way to go GM...

sillyazz · January 4, 2008

Man... you are not kidding. The rails on my new GMC would leave dents if a cat walked down them. Way to go GM...

Where did you get that Bass at the bottom of your post?Thats cool.

VMax2007 · January 4, 2008

Why not get some bed rail caps?

http://www.putco.com/product/Putco_Skins_Holes/

Or, I believe GM makes some too. In black I think?

2005 Z71 · January 4, 2008

It sounds like he is looking for a way to reinforce them from underneath. Even then, you still need to put something on top like the Putco product or diamond plate.

jsn0801 · January 4, 2008

My Rhino liner is sprayed over the rail which will protect the surface. I dont think I want to put caps on top of the Rhino. I just need more structural support. That is why I am looking to do something from underside. Possibly expanding foam? or something made of hard plastic that is close to the right size that I can secure tight to inside of rail? Anything aftermarket designed to fit this?

Zembonez · January 4, 2008

Man... you are not kidding. The rails on my new GMC would leave dents if a cat walked down them. Way to go GM...

Where did you get that Bass at the bottom of your post?Thats cool.

Funny thing... the guy that sold me my boat sent it to me.

pm26 · January 4, 2008

I would buy some aluminum angle and bolt on the underside of the bed rails. There is probably a bunch of holes drilled in the bed rails already so this should not be a big problem. Then I would install thick diamond plate rail caps on top. I guess you could use stainless bolts and friction nuts to bolt all of these together in a neat way.

It seems to me that the NBS ('07 and up) should be called WBS (weak body style) instead. Honestly, if GM wants to play these games, they should at least offer a heavy duty bed version for those who use their trucks hard.

ChickenWing · January 4, 2008

Fuel efficency is the reason behind it. They are doing every little thing to reduce the weight on these trucks. I work in a GM Powertrain plant. Even the transmissions (4l60e) have a new "Low Mass" case to reduce weight. We changed to these for the '08 model year, but alot of the end of the '07 model year got them too. I'm not saying the thinner side rails is a good thing, but it was becoming clear that high gas prices required action, not to mention the laws just passed requiring better economy were expected for a long time by GM. They still have a long way to go, who knows whats next?

pm26 · January 5, 2008

Fuel efficency is the reason behind it. They are doing every little thing to reduce the weight on these trucks. I work in a GM Powertrain plant. Even the transmissions (4l60e) have a new "Low Mass" case to reduce weight. We changed to these for the '08 model year, but alot of the end of the '07 model year got them too. I'm not saying the thinner side rails is a good thing, but it was becoming clear that high gas prices required action, not to mention the laws just passed requiring better economy were expected for a long time by GM. They still have a long way to go, who knows whats next?

Were any of these weight saving measures instituted for the '06 trucks as well? I would like to know what the weak points on my truck are before I find out the hard way. Are the beds stronger on the '06 models? What about other parts?

If GM wants to save weight, why are they going back to iron blocks when we know that aluminum blocks are at least 80 pounds lighter? And by stuffing these trucks full of unnecessary gadgetry they are increasing the weight too!!!!! What about that?

And incidentally, is that "low mass'' transmission case also a "low strength" case?

VMax2007 · January 5, 2008

Were any of these weight saving measures instituted for the '06 trucks as well? I would like to know what the weak points on my truck are before I find out the hard way. Are the beds stronger on the '06 models? What about other parts?

If GM wants to save weight, why are they going back to iron blocks when we know that aluminum blocks are at least 80 pounds lighter? And by stuffing these trucks full of unnecessary gadgetry they are increasing the weight too!!!!! What about that?

And incidentally, is that "low mass'' transmission case also a "low strength" case?

My 6.0 has an aluminum block.

Alot of the weight reduction is to compensate for the added weight of all of the modern safety equipment. That's why the trucks curb weights are not really going down after all of this "Jenny Craig" treatment they are receiving.

hubbycap · January 5, 2008

I put one of those thick rubber bed mats in my NBS. I drop items on it all the time. I'm not talking engine blocks, just 15#-20# wheels. Happened to pick up the edge of the mat the other day to see how dirty it was under there and MA-YIN! It's dented to high heaven! Body panels are one thing, but the bed floor? Disgusting.

ChickenWing · January 5, 2008

Were any of these weight saving measures instituted for the '06 trucks as well? I would like to know what the weak points on my truck are before I find out the hard way. Are the beds stronger on the '06 models? What about other parts?

Well, as I said above, I work in a powertrain plant -- I work with transmissions. I dont' know about '06 trucks, I dont' have one. But weight reduction is happening throughout the products.

If GM wants to save weight, why are they going back to iron blocks when we know that aluminum blocks are at least 80 pounds lighter? And by stuffing these trucks full of unnecessary gadgetry they are increasing the weight too!!!!! What about that?

Again, I dont' know. I'm not an engineer. I don't design them. My '07 5.3 has an aluminum block, too. No need to piss on my shoes, its not going to help.

And incidentally, is that "low mass'' transmission case also a "low strength" case?

I've never heard it refered to as "low strength" case, no. To be honest, you could not tell the difference with out a scale or knowing where the mark is to indicate a "low mass" case. I've handled 1000's of the old ones, and 1000's of the new ones. I cant 'feel' the difference, so I don't really know what the weight difference is. Not more than a few pounds I don't think. Most of the weight reduction was by making the valve-body vanes thinner. They are still plenty strong for guiding the fluid.

sshoureas · January 5, 2008

It seems to me that the NBS ('07 and up) should be called WBS (weak body style) instead. Honestly, if GM wants to play these games, they should at least offer a heavy duty bed version for those who use their trucks hard.

If you are not happy why not buy another brand truck?

pm26 · January 5, 2008

It seems to me that the NBS ('07 and up) should be called WBS (weak body style) instead. Honestly, if GM wants to play these games, they should at least offer a heavy duty bed version for those who use their trucks hard.

If you are not happy why not buy another brand truck?

I have an '06 truck, which probably does not have all these weight saving measures. I am just trying to find out what to watch out for. I know better than put any pressure with my hand on the roof for example, as it is paper thin.