Not a fan of the plastic rail caps on the '12... I am considering removing all the plastic and getting my bedliner in an over-the-rail. I did a search and found some info on the side rail caps... sounds like they come off OK and will leave a few extra holes, but should be able to deal with that. What about the tailgate cap? Has anyone taken this cap off? Is that row of buttons along the inside edge christmas tree connectors or some sort of plastic rivet? Really don't want to pry it off and find out that it isn't suitable to be recovered with bedliner and am curious about what's underneath it.

 

I think I'm about ready to find out just from normal use. My "Christmas tree" fasteners (/plastic rivets?) are really loose, probably will shear off soon. I guess the engineers didn't think that someone would slide rail-road ties in and out of of the backs of these trucks. Not a very rugged design, but my the tailgate cap on my neighbor's new Ford has already broken off- so that's some consolation .

 

they should offer a severe service tailgate or something....this thing is cheaply made

 

Anyone already taken the plastic off the rails? my son wants to but I think it will look terrible with the holes even with box liner sprayed over the top.Comments?

 

I replaced my tailgate cap 3 times due to damage from motorcycle ramps and such. In my opinion it wont look right taken off and then sprayed with bedliner. Too many holes to try to cover up. The cover just snaps into place. On one replacement lid I recieved from Dodge there was 3M tape on the outside lip.

 

BTW- right after reading this post the other day I saw a new Chevy missing its tailgate cap as well- so I guess all three have less-than-rugged designs. The caps on the Ford and Chevy cover huge cut-outs in the sheet metal of the tailgate so those guys are probably stuck with factory-type replacement caps.

 

I would rip it off and put a stainless one on that screwed in from the inside but I also have a wood liner to cover it up inside the tailgate. That's what I did on my old truck and 285000 km's of oilfield abuse and it was one of the only parts I never had to replace.

 

I really wish there was a kit on the market for some black powder coated aluminum tread side rails and tailgate cap.

A kit where you remove the plastic ones, have a battle to the death with a buddy with em for a few minutes til someone gets hit in the eye, and then replace with the quality aluminum ones.

 

I had mine fly off when I drove mine earlier this year. It got damaged by a fork lift operator. I bought a new one a few months ago, and its damaged again

I plan to make a sheet metal cover or a check plate cover next time.

As for the side covers, ya their junk. Not sure off what I plan to do about that one yet.

 

Still wishing.....