Bed Rail Armor

[MTBLAZER89]

I don't mean the little caps either. I have been thinking about how to add something simple to keep my bed rails straight. I already had to hammer one back into submission to get the top back on. The trails up here are very tight for fullsizes and the bed rails are pretty common to wrinkle up. We also play in the snow during the winter and the wife/kids don't enjoy the topless winter wheelin

I have seen roll cages that come through the bed sides above the body line with this purpose, and that is a consideration of mine in the future.

I was thinking something as simple as a piece of flat steel that bolts where the top does and protrudes out a couple inches with a piece of 1.5" tubing on the rub edge maybe. You could run cross bars across the bed to brace it up. You may even be able to run these with the top on.

Discuss

 

[kennyw]

One piece of angle iron on each side would do it... If you want to get fancy you could make a piece that wraps up around the half cab too. If you come over to Reiter for the New Years run I can set you up with the angle iron

Just remember it needs to flow smoothly in order to prevent it from "grabbing" the tree and stopping all forward progress as well.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

I can't picture what you mean Kenny? What size angle iron are you talking about here? I'll work on something in paint to describe what I am picturing.

Not sure if I'll make the New years run or not. How is Reiter for a fullsize with the top on?

 

[kennyw]

Just like anywhere it will depend on the trail... but there are many full size friendly trails at Reiter.

I have a ton of 2.5 x 2.5 x .25 angle laying around right now... I sketched this up (not to scale):

 

[MTBLAZER89]

3 ideas I though tup real quick. Each made with a piece of angle that sits on the top and inside edge of the bedrail.

From left to right

1. Angle with tubing
2. Angle with tubing closer to body
3. Wider angle with corners rounded.

Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[kennyw]

I think the angle by itself with the ends shaped to match the body would be plenty strong. If you add anything to it, I would avoid the standoffs. Weld the tube directly to the angle for the strongest connection. That will allow a smaller tube for looks and better strength.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

I am just unsure about the forces on the vertical part of the angle on the body.

What about just a flat bar or the angle flipped so the vertical edge is inside the bedrail and a piece of tube on the "slider" edge.

 

[kennyw]

I am just unsure about the forces on the vertical part of the angle on the body.

What about just a flat bar or the angle flipped so the vertical edge is inside the bedrail and a piece of tube on the "slider" edge.

Either way I think would work just as well for an impact coming from the side. The flat bar with a tube on it will be more prone to damage if you drop onto a tree stump (bending up on the outside).

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Anybody else? Thoughts? Ideas?