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.
>You 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.