Should I get a spray in bedliner or some aluminum over the rail caps & not worry about the bed being scatched up? I don't mind the bed getting scratched, but don't want the top of the rails tore up. Do the alum. caps work? How expensive is are they?

 

I did the bedliner, ending just when the top of the bedrail starts to curve down. My theory was if the bedrail got smashed up, I could always add a top cap later and the bedliner wouldn't show...

 

I have usually put in an over the rail bed liner, now the thing is under the rail or spray-in. I just put in an under the rail drop in and it has a tail gate cover over the top.
Available for the rails are plastic caps that have a good oem look or diamond plate in either bright alum or black powder coat. I'm sort of undecided as to what I'm doing yet also, but will soon decide. Good luck.

 

My Line-X is sprayed over the rails. Looks great and is permenent.

 

I have Rhino on the bed, tailgate and rails. A scratched up bed will eventually begin to rust. Also, you might want to consider what that would do to the re-sale/trade value.

Alan

 

Caps and lining is the way to go!

 

I've tried over-the-rail protectors but they eventually rub thru the paint. I now have Line-X sprayed in the bed and over the rails. To keep the over-the-rail line-X from coming down too far, I set my hard tonneau cover on to mark the rails. To me, this is the best arrangement. As Jeff said, you could always put an aluminum cover over the rail later if you wanted it.

 

LineX over the rails here. So far I think it's fine.

 

Line-x over the rail for me . . . clean and simple

I'm taking it back to have the fold flat floors done too!

Neil

 

Line-X over the rails here. Seems to be the most popular thing to do, if that means anything...

 

I went with Line-X over the rails. The liner protects the bed from all but the hardest knocks, and even being black in color it does not get too hot to place your bare hands and arms on from my limited experience. I went over the rails for about the same cost as some of the less expensive rail caps and there is no way the Line-X can rub or be bent like the aluminum and plastic rail caps can. Additionally if I decide later I want caps I can add them. My son put the diamond plate caps on his truck and they do look nice but he isn't really happy with the way they fit. The kit comes with spacers so when it is bolted down it didn't get bent.

 

I have had Line-X over rail in last 2 trucks and they are great. Had aluminum over rail cap once and it tended to get scuffed, corroded a little, needed more care, etc. than a Line-X.

 

The spray in bed liners are worth every penny, I've had them in my last two trucks and was very pleased with their durability, fit and finish. I presently have DeeZee diamond tread rail caps on my rig now, they look pretty good, I'll install them over the Rhino Lining when ever I have it done.

 

I have/had Line-X over the rails on last two trucks. I would never do it any other way. Thinking about what else I can Line-X.

 

RamWheelsBy4,

Where I got my truck sprayed they had a book of photos of jobs they had done, one guy had the entire outside of his truck and canopy sprayed!!! That must have been some BIG $$$$$$$$$$$ as I asked about doing the rocker panels and that would have been about $2500.