Weak Bed Rails On New Trucks

[pm26]

I looked closely at an '08 Z71 crew cab Silverado this week and are those bed side rails flimsy! Whoever complained about this previously was not kidding at all. I would not let a cat walk on those.

[VMax2007]

I looked closely at an '08 Z71 crew cab Silverado this week and are those bed side rails flimsy! Whoever complained about this previously was not kidding at all. I would not let a cat walk on those.

 

 

Yep, that is part of the reason I put the bed rails on. Gotta reduce weight to make up for all the added weight of all the safety equipment I guess?

[Guest Riggs]

bed rails look nice on any truck,,,, mine will soon be sporting a pair when i get my tailgate back

[norsemanberg]

where is your t gate?

[Guest Riggs]

i got a new one, and i am having "something" custom done to it , still decideing it all i know is that it will be different from everybody elses.

 

my old one is bowed out 3 inches, doenst latch on one side and is all scratched up. (i got it that way)

[todoubled05]

yea you aint kidding. This past christmas I was at my uncles and we were talkin abouut my truck and its ups and downs. Even thought we couldent find tomany downs my uncle threw in the remark, " So how did you get your first dent? " I said wtf you talkin about. so we walked outside and he walked toward the bed then pointed at one of the rails. I looks and sure enough there was a dent. looks as if someone barly hit it with a rubber mallet. I was so much happier not knowing it was there. Thanks uncle mark. But really I have no idea how it got thare but I guess it could be from anything.. I can't wait to get that check from the government ganna blow it on a bed and rails sprayed..

[Zembonez]

I was so much happier not knowing it was there.

 

Mine has several depressions on the rails... never had anything in the bed. Bugs me big time. I'm going with a Leer 100XQ shell soon so I won't ever see them again.

[pm26]

I was so much happier not knowing it was there.

 

Mine has several depressions on the rails... never had anything in the bed. Bugs me big time. I'm going with a Leer 100XQ shell soon so I won't ever see them again.

 

 

And what makes you conclude that they will not bend completely under the weight of that camper shell?

[Doomsday]

I can't stand these things, but we have to live with them in the new truck market. My friends dad has an 05 F150 and it feels way stronger than mine, still weak but way stronger than mine.

[RedRockSierra]

No Kidding about the rails, I am getting ready to have mine lined.

I am not able to find bed caps other than Putco or plastic for the 5'8" GMC bed. I would like to find some diamond plate ones.

[pm26]

I can't stand these things, but we have to live with them in the new truck market. My friends dad has an 05 F150 and it feels way stronger than mine, still weak but way stronger than mine.

 

I think that even the ones on my '06 feel stronger. And of course, the '06 crews cabs came standards with plastic bed rail caps, which were deleted for the '07 models to make the trucks better. The only practical way to reinforce the weak bed rails on the new trucks would be to get some custom fitting diamond plate aluminum bed rail caps, drill holes like every 10 inches or so and bolt a long aluminum angle underneath the bed rails and tighten together with stainless machine screws and stainless nylon locking nuts. That would definitely do it.

[RedRockSierra]

Actually, (Cant remember name of company) but the welding company(out of FLA) that is mentioned on this board is making the diamond plate caps for the NBS. They are just completing the caps for the 6 1/2 bed and they said they will be looking into the caps for the 5"8" bed. The Diamond plate caps black pwdrcoat will look great on my truck. And should make the rails a little more substantial.

[Zembonez]

I was so much happier not knowing it was there.

 

Mine has several depressions on the rails... never had anything in the bed. Bugs me big time. I'm going with a Leer 100XQ shell soon so I won't ever see them again.

 

 

And what makes you conclude that they will not bend completely under the weight of that camper shell?

 

You might be right... may just crush the bed!

[FRANKD3TANK]

No doubt about the weak bed rails, i have a few deep chips in mine and dents, dont know if i should have them fixed at a body shop, line-x over the rails, or put bed caps in? wat do u guys think.

[pm26]

I was so much happier not knowing it was there.

 

Mine has several depressions on the rails... never had anything in the bed. Bugs me big time. I'm going with a Leer 100XQ shell soon so I won't ever see them again.

 

 

And what makes you conclude that they will not bend completely under the weight of that camper shell?

 

You might be right... may just crush the bed!

 

 

Nah, that won't happen - too much area to spread the weight on, thus low pressure - but make sure you do not get an armor plated cap. That's a definite no-no for these trucks.