Plastic bed rail caps (hate them)

[slowmachine]

Inexpensive... any idea how much? I just spent 1/2 hour on the shop ford parts site and couldn't find them.

I could be wrong... but I don't think anything is inexpensive for these trucks.

See the link in post #3

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[y2krtaf]

I don’t believe that this is true. I’ve purchased and used a fair amount of diamond plate aluminum. It has some strength, but deforms fairly easily from impact. It is not resilient in any way. It deforms, and does not rebound.

I have not tested the plastic covers, but they are easy to flex, and rebound back to their original state after bending. It is at least a little bit compressible, and will absorb some energy while doing so. Aluminum or steel diamond plate, on the other hand, will not compress. It will transfer nearly all of an impact force directly to the metal bed rail. It will not bounce back to its original state. You can probably mitigate some of this by stacking the diamond plate on top of a shock-absorbing material, like neoprene or something similar, that is commonly used when attaching a cap to the top of the bed. You could even leave the plastic cover in place, and attach diamond plate, with or without a rubber layer, directly to the plastic.

This is what I am referring to when I advise against replacing the inexpensive weakest link with something stronger. Laying diamond plate on top of the bed rail, in place of the plastic, will almost certainly turn the bed rail itself into the weakest link. Instead of making it stronger and less prone to damage, you may very well be making it weaker, and subject to more expensive damage than with the easily-replaceable cheap plastic cover.

Thank you for your reply but it does not help me find what I’m after.
Please stay in the far right lane LOL

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Perhaps Phil,if my brakes at work were larger,I would give it a go.
Just figured that with the bed racks available,and base plates for mounting them already in existence,it would be the next simple logical step.
instead I get all the engineers commenting on the questionable structural integrity of the bed side.Good thing no one thought about that before making giant load bearing racks LOL

Hi Gary,

Until I see the FEA analysis of the pickup box, I cannot say if the box structure is compromised or not. That is never stopped the aftermarket from producing aftermarket parts that use the side rails... I think the side rails are pretty robust...JMO.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[AutobotXJ]

I’d like to see some that hang over the side a bit more to protect the bedsides. My dog has already scractched up the sides with per paws and i’m always concerned when I load thingsor jump in from the side of the bed.

 

[HenryMac]

See the link in post #3

Thanks.

Those look like really decent prices for the bed rail @ $52... especially compared to the $31 decal.

 

[y2krtaf]

Hi Gary,

Until I see the FEA analysis of the pickup box, I cannot say if the box structure is compromised or not. That is never stopped the aftermarket from producing aftermarket parts that use the side rails... I think the side rails are pretty robust...JMO.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

I hear ya Phil

LikeI said,not looking to mount a one ton compressor on a bed rail just looking for some protection.

I was loading a sheet of plywood into mine,and slid it over the plastic cap,and was blown away at how soft it was,and easily damaged.That is what I’m looking to prevent.

 

[Dean Schaffran]

I suspect that the challenge of fitting something "solid" to the top of the bed would be the curve--take a long stick and look--it curves at least both direction front-to-back (curves in at both ends and crowns at center). fought the same thing trying to fit rails on the top of the Trac bed. Either has to be something formed to fit, or kinda flexible, I expect.
/lurk on/

 

[NvrFinished]

I understand the OP's request for something other than plastic. I had a 95 F150 4x4 long bed with the aluminum diamond plate rails. It held up very well with a lot of abuse and I liked how it protected the upper curve of the outside of the bed.

I'm not dissatisfied with the plastic ones currently, but it would be nice to see some other options become available. One thing I will note though, is that the top side of the bed of my F150 was much more sturdy and did not easily flex like these Ranger beds do.

 

[Djlink]

I’ve had diamond plate aluminum covers on my last two pickups since 1991 and used the trucks the way any contractor does and never had a problem with them. No dents to speak of, no caving in the bed itself, which I think is ridiculous. I’d have them today but shiny is no longer my thing. If I wanted them I buy some thing close and modify them to fit.

 

[PltFX4]

Just note this thread is 4 years old... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But I'll chime in anyway.... IMO, the price of the replacement bed rails is not "cheap" ($90-ish per side) for a injected molded plastic part.

Also, getting the old ones off seems to be not as easy as one thinks. At least when I bought a second set of rail tops to have painted body color matching, the body shop had to destroy the old ones to get them off. Don't know if they were just dummies or it is really difficult to do but I had been hoping to sell (or keep as a spare set) the old ones. Is there a secret to getting them off??

 

[airline tech]

Please use a Trim Removal Tool vs a screwdriver (as seen in video)



how to remove bed rail cap from 22 ford ranger

 

[Grumpaw]

Something no one has brought up or thought about when wanting a metal cap for the side of the bed.....
The top of the bed side tops are not straight.... they have a very slight arch to them, front to back. So, making a top rail that has an arch, while at the same time has a lip for the inside, and a bend for the outside would probably require more than a simple piece of sheet metal bending....would almost have to be formed...
Gotta love polymer/plastic that can be made in a mold....

 

[PltFX4]

Please use a Trim Removal Tool vs a screwdriver (as seen in video)

how to remove bed rail cap from 22 ford ranger

Agree with the always use the correct tool (if available)... good to know though how the tops are held in: the "arrow" type push in...

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

Something no one has brought up or thought about when wanting a metal cap for the side of the bed.....
The top of the bed side tops are not straight.... they have a very slight arch to them, front to back. So, making a top rail that has an arch, while at the same time has a lip for the inside, and a bend for the outside would probably require more than a simple piece of sheet metal bending....would almost have to be formed...
Gotta love polymer/plastic that can be made in a mold....

Noticed the arching bedsides while installing my Retrax cover. The cover rails won't sit flat.

Are caps made with an arch to properly fit the bed ?

 

[Canadian Ranger]

I'm removing my rail caps and I'm replacing them with Line-X, not sure what I'm going to do with the tailgate cap.
I live in the salt belt.....My '07 Ranger's bed rails rusted badly under them and I even sprayed Fluid Film undercoating under them.

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