How can my truck benefit from a set of bed caps or bed rails?
Loading and unloading your truck bed can do some serious damage if you're not protected. Dents, dings, gouges and scratches wreck the look (not to mention the value) of your truck in virtually no time at all.
Let something besides your paint bear the brunt instead, and dress up your vehicle while you're at it! Top your truck bed (and tailgate, too) with a sturdy set of bed caps, bed rails or both, and you'll discover:
Stock truck beds look pretty boring as-is. And nothing says ugly like a dinged, scratched or dented bed. You might think this frightening bed condition would be confined to painting, plumbing and auto glass installer trucks, but it's an everyday problem for anybody who actually uses their truck as a truck.
Bed caps and bed rails do quite a remodel job on these uncovered stretches of paint. Bed rails top your truck bed with the wicked appearance of smooth black or mirror-polished steel. A matte finish can lend a tough edge to your vehicle. Or, some extra shine can do your truck's body good and is sure to turn heads. Bed caps deliver smooth, rugged looks as well–not just for a fresh appearance, but also for covering old marks.
A key function of bed caps and bed rails is stopping damage before it hits your paint. Loading boxes, tools, bikes and more gets much less precarious with your bed top protected by a set of bed caps. And, they're custom-molded to the exact shape and size of your vehicle, leaving no space uncovered.
Bed rails are also effective guardians, rejecting items that would otherwise dent your bed. They keep large cargo from bashing either at the cab or at the gate, along with safe containment of stacked loads thanks to heightened tie down points. This way, you won't have to take it so easy on your heavy-duty rig.
Bed caps are one of the easiest to install accessories for your vehicle. Most require no drilling to mount securely. Instead, they attach with double-sided, heavy-duty adhesive foam tape. Bed caps go from in-the-box to mounted-in-place in a couple minutes, at most.
Bed rails typically mount just as fast to the stake pockets of your vehicle. Fitting directly in the pocket, bed rails use a bolt and a backing plate for securing to the top of the bed. Vehicles without stake pockets will require minor drilling. Dee Zee, Go Industries and Putco all build no-drill bed rails.
Securing large items in your truck bed can be a tricky proposition. Lashing them down to a set of bed rails makes a huge difference in cargo stability. In fact, Putco makes bed rails that are equipped to handle an incredible 500 lbs or more of weight capacity. Boxes, furniture and even random gear stay anchored in place where you intended. Plus, they're stronger, more convenient and look much better than in-bed cleats and hooks.
Bed caps and bed rails are both built to last. Bed caps, which thrive on durability to combat the harsh conditions of the top of your truck bed, use either a plastic composite material or sheet metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. They're specially crafted to last without fading, denting or otherwise losing their looks.
Pure steel tubing is the material of choice for bed rails, as these sturdy center supports are the anchor point for your heavy loads. Thanks to their all-steel construction, bed rails have the capacity they need for holding any load in place. Thick-wall tubing is used for the center bar; cast steel for the ends.
Bed Caps: An Overview
For topping your truck bed the right way, there's no better idea than getting a set of bed caps. They serve a few basic functions: covering existing marks, protecting against future damage, and of course, boosting appearance.
The excellence of a good set of bed caps is rooted in their custom fit. Careful attention is paid to the exact shaping of your vehicle (including the stake pockets). Not only does this assure proper fitment, but precise shaping ensures your bed caps will look like they were born to ride on top of your truck bed.
ABS plastic and formed sheet metal are the usual bed cap material suspects. Plastic bed caps typically come in a textured black surface. Smooth, ridged and even simulated diamond plate patterns molded into the surface are optional. For a super custom look, most can be paint-matched to your vehicle's color. However, your newly-painted bed caps are then subject to marring dents, dings and scratches. It's best to leave them as-is if you use your truck bed for utility. Turn to BAK and Bushwacker for a set of sturdy ABS bed caps.
Metal bed caps exude toughness. Available in aluminum or stainless steel, they sport a number of smooth and rugged finishes. Highly-polished and modern brushed finishes highlight the sleek bed cap options. Or, for a dominating presence, rough-and-tumble diamond plate bed caps let you spell out your truck's nasty attitude. For a forceful set of metal bed caps, look to Dee Zee and Putco.
Attaching a set of bed caps is a breeze. Relying on high-strength, double-sided foam mounting tape, bed caps pop on in seconds without tools. Using this mounting tape eliminates the need for tricky drilling or other potentially scarring installation methods.
The tape holds your bed caps down just as long, too. And, a generous amount of tape is supplied, so there isn't a shifty fit or any lifting ends.
Your tailgate is a bit more vulnerable than the sides of your truck bed. In fact, tailgate paint takes quite a beating when you slide large, heavy cargo into the bed. And, the top of the gate is where long, oversized items rest when your truck bed is too short for what you're hauling. If you go over rough road or drive to a rocky job site, that cargo bounces on the top of the gate, causing dents, dings and other damage.
Not to worry, though–matching tailgate caps are available with most bed rails to cover old damage or prevent new marks. And, if you're a Silverado or Sierra owner who wants to remove that unsightly winged tailgate cap, we've got a lower profile part that does the job and covers the manufacturer drill holes.
When it comes to safeguarding both ends of the inside of your truck bed–at the cab and at the gate–some stiff coverage is a must. Shifting loads can cause some gnarly dents in otherwise unprotected beds. Cab and tailgate protectors act as extra armor against damage by shielding the entire wall at either end of your truck bed. They're a smart alternative to a full-blown bed liner, too.
Bed Rails: An Overview
Melding a smooth appearance and toughness, a sleek set of bed rails provides the supreme combination of utility with hard-hitting looks. The raised steel tubing adds to the height presence of your truck bed, while the refined finish keeps things looking tight.
Beyond just visual height, bed rails raise another key part of your truck bed: the tie-down spots. Instead of fumbling with the corner cleats inside your truck bed, bed rails bring your anchoring points up to a comfortable working level. Both securing and untying your cargo gets that much faster, easier and more convenient.
Don't underestimate the strength of these bed rails. Because they use durable steel tubing, bed rails support incredible load capacity–up to 500 lbs for some Putco models. Plus, premium models boast loops at the rail ends that make convenient tie-down points. Straps, ropes and cords secured here won't slide along the rail and lose their tightness against your cargo.
Thanks to a variety of finishes and tubing sizes, you can get bed rails that fit exactly what you had in mind. Check out these bed rail styles:
Chrome bed rails are typically crafted from mild steel, then protected with generous chrome plating for a brilliant shine. Chrome bed rails stay looking great for a long time, but are more prone to chips in the finish than black or polished models. They offer fair corrosion resistance. Check out Go Industries and Dee Zee for brilliant chrome-finished bed rails.
A thick, protective powder coating guards black bed rails from the elements. Usually anchored by mild steel underneath, black bed rails offer excellent longevity in a finish that says more about utility than flash. The coating is durable, though prone to being compromised by chips and scratches over time. Powder coat finishes feature great corrosion resistance when the finish isn't chipped or scratched. Go Industries is your source for sleek black bed rails.
The pinnacle of both looks and protection, polished bed rails harness the all-weather power of stainless steel with a brilliant, mirror-like shine. This finish style can't chip, scratch or fade away, because it's really not a finish–just pure stainless steel. The warranty on polished stainless products usually reflects their supreme longevity. Stainless steel offers the best possible corrosion resistance. Set your sights on Putco and Go Industries for sturdy stainless steel bed rails.
Stake pockets determine a lot about bed caps and bed rails for your vehicle, both for design and installation.
If your truck has stake pockets at both ends of the bed, your bed rails will bolt-on in minutes. Short bed mid-size trucks typically have stake pockets only at the back. Attaching bed rails to these trucks will require drilling at one end. And, if you have no stake pockets, drilling at both ends is necessary.
You don't have to worry about blocking your stake pockets with a set of bed caps. AutoAnything's bed caps come in a variety of configurations: pre-cut for stake pocket trucks, smooth and uncut for non-stake pocket beds, or designed with pre-formed cutout spaces that give you the option to cover or uncover the pockets.
Uniting the forces of bed caps and bed rails can make for potent protection and strength on top of your truck bed. If you have a truck with stake pockets at both ends, you're in business. Mount your bed caps in place using the double-sided adhesive, and make sure your stake pockets stay uncovered. Then, bolt your bed rails through the open stake pockets. Rubber gaskets at the base of the bed rails keep the rail ends from marring the bed caps. In virtually no time, you have the combined forces of paint protection and tie-down strength working for your truck.
Picking the right bed protection is crucial to keeping your vehicle looking and performing great when you need to haul, or for simple cruisin'. Deciding on the right items can go a long way toward increasing utility, preserving resale value and adding some shine. When making the choice, consider these:
Though they fit in many of the same places, bed caps and bed rails do slightly different things. Think about how you use your vehicle (the bed specifically), and decide which ones–or if both–are best.
- If you frequently load your truck bed from all sides, a set of bed caps is a must.
- For corralling large loads on a regular basis, select a set of bed rails.
- If your truck is mostly for style and you use the bed infrequently, pick a pair of bed rails for smooth decoration.
For some truck owners, their truck bed is part of their life and livelihood. Protecting their investment is crucial. Others own a truck because it just looks sweet, and they want some extra style in back. Bed caps and bed rails satisfy both kinds of truck owners.
- For beefy protection that withstands frequent loading and the elements, select a set of ABS bed caps for the front, sides and tailgate.
- To repel most dents and add a safer, more secure tie-down spot, go with a set of bed rails.
- For truck bed top protection that is mostly geared toward appearance, pick a set of high-shine stainless steel bed caps.
- When you want looks-only bed caps that can be painted to match the exterior color of your vehicle, select a set of ABS plastic bed caps.
The way you use your truck bed factors greatly into which bed caps or bed rails are right for your truck. Evaluate what you carry in back and how you carry it.
- When you frequently use your truck bed for carrying large and/or heavy items, spring for a set of bed rails.
- If tools, gear, hardware and building materials are the usual cargo, select a set of ABS plastic bed caps, plus a matching tailgate cap.
- For total protection from heavy shifting loads and irregular item damage, pick a full cab protector and a full tailgate protector in addition to bed caps.
- To get the greatest possible utility, combine a set of bed caps with durable bed rails.
- If you rarely use your truck bed for hauling anything, pick whichever combination of bed caps or bed rails suit your taste.
The elements can be harsh on your vehicle, including any accessories you add on. Evaluate the usual weather patterns in your area before deciding on bed caps and bed rails.
- If your vehicle lives mostly outdoors in wet, humid or coastal conditions, select ABS plastic bed caps for rust-free protection. BAK and Bushwacker have your ABS plastic bed caps bases covered.
- For trucks that are typically garaged, covered, or stay in less severe weather areas, a set of metal bed caps will thrive. Dee Zee and Putco have an excellent selection of metal bed caps.
- When you want the bed rails that best withstand moist conditions, go with the corrosion-fighting power of polished stainless steel bed rails. Both Putco and Go Industries craft rust-shunning stainless steel bed rails.
This one's purely based on your personal preference. Think about the direction you want to take the looks of your truck bed. There's a set of bed caps or bed rails to match that vision.
- For the toughest all-around looks for your vehicle, outfit your bed with black or bright finish diamond plate bed caps with the matching tailgate cap.
- For basic protection and subdued looks, go with black ABS plastic bed caps and/or black powder coat bed rails.
- When you want the flashiest accents for your truck bed, combine polished stainless steel bed caps and a polished tailgate cap with polished stainless bed rails.
- To get color-matched style, select a set of ABS bed caps that can be painted to the shade of your vehicle
We hope you have found our Bed Caps & Bed Rails Research Guide Center a good guide in helping you choose the best Bed Caps & Bed Rails for your vehicle. It is AutoAnything's goal to provide the most information on the Internet and through our Auto Accessory Specialists on every product we sell. If you have any information that you think could help improve this section, please email us at researchcenter@autoanything.com.