Remove Plastic Bed "Rails"

[Bronze Monkey]

I'm looking to install a truck rack to mount my kayaks to, but am running into issues w/ the truck rack mounts due to the plastic rails or covers that run along the top of the bed. Has anyone else removed these? If so, how easy was it to remove and reinstall? Thanks

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[John E Davies]

I haven’t done it personally, but this is what ARB says in their canopy installation instructions

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Here is the source:
Instructions Ascent Canopy AC16C– to suit Ford Ranger Dual Cab 2022+

If you get them off, please post a few pics and any tricks you discover.

FYI, you can’t mount stuff directly over the plastic trim pieces without using appropriate hard spacers to transfer the load directly to the steel rails. If you don’t do this, the plastic will distort/ break, and then you are fu@#$&

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[MJB4450]

I used to supervise a Ford dealership body shop. Most of these OEM bedrail trim have pegs on the underside that simply press into and hook under holes in the sheet metal. Usually when you pull them off the pegs are deformed and the trim will bend so they are seldom reused unless you are very careful and go slow peg by peg. And since they are on there tight, the metal will be pulled up and out of shape a bit but that is easily returned flat with a rubber mallet before the new trim is replaced.

 

[Bronze Monkey]

Thanks @MJB4450 and @John E Davies - I’ll proceed with caution and post pics.

 

[RapRanger21]

Thanks @MJB4450 and @John E Davies - I’ll proceed with caution and post pics.

I mounted my Yakima's right over them. No problem with those. I'm actually going to sell my whole setup though, get a camper top with a rack on it for my use.

 

[BuLLg0d]

You've installed the load box reinforcement kits I hope? Rangers need this kit. From their parts website: " Required when installing accessories extending above the load box side rail and weighing more than 88lb (40kg) " I found a universal truck mount rack kit that I intended to use as a middle range alternative rack that I could remove, but alas, I had to spend 160 bucks for this kit and they want 192 dollars to install it BEFORE I even think to purchase and mount a rack kit.

 

[dfritz]

Pretty sure that Load Box Reinforcement kit is essential for racks. At first glance, I assumed it was a spacer kit for the plastic rails. It's most definitely not that. The front wall of the bed is pretty flimsy, and the attachment to the bed sides is a bit unconventional compared to older pickups. The kit likely addresses that problem, without it you may have some cracks and separations on the inside and worse, the outside of the bed. The bed rail work-around has accessories attaching to the side of the bed rails to avoid the plastic. Maybe not the best idea in the long run.

 

[Bronze Monkey]

Pretty sure that Load Box Reinforcement kit is essential for racks. At first glance, I assumed it was a spacer kit for the plastic rails. It's most definitely not that. The front wall of the bed is pretty flimsy, and the attachment to the bed sides is a bit unconventional compared to older pickups. The kit likely addresses that problem, without it you may have some cracks and separations on the inside and worse, the outside of the bed. The bed rail work-around has accessories attaching to the side of the bed rails to avoid the plastic. Maybe not the best idea in the long run.

This is from the load box reinforcement kit product page:
These brackets have been developed by Ford to brace the floor to the wall of the load box to ensure that the off-road durability performance of the load box is maintained with the installation of load-bearing elevated accessories.

I won't be off-roading with the kayaks racked so I'm not too concerned.

 

[SyphioD]

I mounted my Yakima's right over them. No problem with those. I'm actually going to sell my whole setup though, get a camper top with a rack on it for my use.

@RapRanger21 a wedge / cabover camper topper is my plan as well. The ones I'm considering don't seem to have performed an install on a 2024 Ranger yet. I've only seen a GFC so far here on this forum and it looks like the plastic bed rail covers were left on. I've reached out to the builders I'm considering asking them if they have the 2024 dimensions or have run into any special mods needed.

Based on the first couple posts here, when it comes to considering mounting a 300-400 lb shell it seems like it is required to remove the covers in order to use the C clamps which most of the shells utilize? The printed "do not install directly onto rail" warning seems bizarre, but so is the j brace requirement...

@John E Davies what would an example be of an appropriate hard spacer if leaving the covers on, and where would this install? If you're saying on top of the plastic cover to spread load, then maybe it is not necessary with a flush metal cabover box as the C clamp would not be a localized pinch point?

 

[CrustyNoodle]

This gives you some idea of what you are dealing with (zoom in to see they types of clips).

For some of the clips you can use a plastic trim tool to help push the clip inward while pulling up on the plastic trim. For the ones at the front of the bed, you can't get a trim tool into. The best approach I found was to hold the trim and pull it upward while rocking it side to side. It takes a bit of wobbling and a bit of force but eventually the clips come out.


This is a close up of one of the clips (and a rubber seal I put around the trim to try to control dust ingress):

I also took the time to cover up the plethora of holes in an attempt to further reduce dust:

But the biggest defence against dust comes from the tailgate seal kit (not my car):

 

[romeo26]

@CrustyNoodle Did you need to remove the tail lights to access the clips?

Also. were there any issues re-using the bed caps, e.g. damaged clips that would no longer hold after the rails were removed. or any other issues affecting fit of the rails?

 

[fordgt]

I haven’t removed mine but if you lay on your back in the bed, and look up you can see all those attachment points. Perhaps you could push up from the bottom while a friend pulls from t top.

 

[Harlequin_Forest]

@CrustyNoodle Did you need to remove the tail lights to access the clips?

Also. were there any issues re-using the bed caps, e.g. damaged clips that would no longer hold after the rails were removed. or any other issues affecting fit of the rails?

I popped the tail lights out to pinch the clips in the rear. The bigger issues are the ones near the front by the cab that aren't accessible. I'm not sure how other are prying those out without destroying them so I gave up for now, may retry in the spring

 

[romeo26]

I popped the tail lights out to pinch the clips in the rear. The bigger issues are the ones near the front by the cab that aren't accessible. I'm not sure how other are prying those out without destroying them so I gave up for now, may retry in the spring

The list price for those bed rails is about $180 each, so caution is indeed warranted. If I do try it, I will wait until a hot summer day, to minimize the chance of the plastic breaking instead of deforming.

I wonder if instead of removing them, maybe it would be possible to safely pry the rails up just enough to run a bead of silicone sealant along the front and outer edge? Or even to insert a length of weatherstrip?

 

[WESTRESCUE77]

This gives you some idea of what you are dealing with (zoom in to see they types of clips).

For some of the clips you can use a plastic trim tool to help push the clip inward while pulling up on the plastic trim. For the ones at the front of the bed, you can't get a trim tool into. The best approach I found was to hold the trim and pull it upward while rocking it side to side. It takes a bit of wobbling and a bit of force but eventually the clips come out.


This is a close up of one of the clips (and a rubber seal I put around the trim to try to control dust ingress):

I also took the time to cover up the plethora of holes in an attempt to further reduce dust:

But the biggest defence against dust comes from the tailgate seal kit (not my car):

What tape did you use to cover the holes?

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