Bed Rail Caps

SilveradoWV · July 13, 2009

My truck had some bed rail caps on it when I bought it (used) and the front and back edges were peeling up so I bought some 3M tape like the kind you commonly use to attach the ventvisor things to the doors and fixed the front and back edges, it appeared this was the same tape used to originally install them. They are an aftermarket product, not the GM ones. So today on my way to work I look in the mirror and I'm about to lose one, the wind has caught the front edge of one and it was pulling it up and off so I pull over and duct tape it down which is currently the way it sits now since I'm at work. I looked at the one on the other side and it is lifting in the front also but the one I was about to lose this morning is one that I "fixed" already.

I'm thinking about trying to peel them off completely and then remove all of the tape from the bed and cap and starting over.

Anyone have any ideas that would make this experience go better? Best way to remove this tape from painted surface and from plastic?

Am I using the right tape to attach them?

It seems like the combination of the sun heating the black caps and moisture getting under there overnight makes the tape release easily.

Thanks!

700 sportsman · July 13, 2009

Well now that there off, I would put that tape on them, and put a bead of silicone down the edges, and a little glob in the front and back

hatfishr · July 13, 2009

I'd go to NAPA and get the GOOD automotive tape and re-do it. The silicone idea isn't bad either with the tape.

What part of WV are you in.....I'm in Winfield originally from Ripley.

SilveradoWV · July 13, 2009

I live in Chelyan, just a short drive down 77 South from Charleston.

hatfishr · July 13, 2009

I live in Chelyan, just a short drive down 77 South from Charleston.

I know the place....played football at Tech back in the day.

97SierraGMC · July 14, 2009

i like mine which are made by ICI and are polished stainless..

they don't flex and have a thick strip of 3m tape which is about 2.5" all the way down it and a little self tapping screw in the front and the back of the bed

had them on my old truck too..

plastic bed caps like to come off especially if they are not put on very well. what i do is clean with isopropyl alcohol and then put adhesive promoter on and use a heat gun and get the tape really warm and then press really hard, sit on the bed cap if you wanted because the tape is pressure activated