Well my bed is shot with rust, Over both wheelwells on the outside, and the inside, One side has over a 1 inch hole thru it (inside the bed)
So ive been looking at other ideas for it.
Ive seen a few off-road beds and im thinking around the same style. Just more functional then off-road.

im leaning more toward the top one with a full headache rack on the front.
With some diamond plate at the front under the deck, curved to look abit better

 

 

Most likely custom fab. Doubt you'll find pre-made ones anywhere.

 

For a dakota, youd most likely have to fab. one up, which im going to talk to a guy a my work if he can bend tube or not. Might get one priced made out of Aluminum, so I wouldnt have to deal with rust again.

Im thinking like the first pic, with Diamond plate floor and Top of the wheel wells
And some curved panel under the bed at the front like this.

 

that would be very cool

 

Aluminum doesn't "rust" but it does corrode! Salty water and air will turn it into a lovely white powder very quickly, if it isn't kept clean. Also, Galvanic Corrosion (caused by two dis-similar metals in contact with each other) can poke holes in just about any metal.


It might last longer, and it might not, just a heads up!

 

True, Galvanic corrosion, i planned to put Rubber between the Bed and Mounts, Along with getting both sides Done in Bed-liner. (the rubber would be a thin sheet)

I currently have a aluminum Rack on my truck I had made, unpainted. Ill see how it does at the end of winter. If I get a bed made, my rack will be forsale haha. I did plan to get the entire thing painted in bedliner once complete, to keep the truck all Black. I planned to get the rack done, but not sure now.

Also if I get it made, I dont plan to shorten the box length (6.5") and keep the Factory Hitch, Maybe even the bumper at first.

 

Uggh, I hate aluminum oxide...Unless ya mix it with ferris oxide, and lite on fire!

If you powder-coat aluminum good, it should last quite a bit longer, but just make sure that it is completely covered and THICK!!!

Ya could go with 304 Stainless Steel. Might not be as economical, or weight conscious, but it wont go bad too fast. I just wouldnt go thicker than 1/8 maybe 3/16 inch. (I have seen Stainless rust due to Kitty cat issues.)

 

Well I posted in someone thread about the height of the fender flares to see if they might cover my rust issue (cut the rust out and leave a hole, which would be covered by the flares.)

I have not picked the paint of the rust as my truck needs a MVI (inspection) had it in today and failed because of Rear brakes and links, goes back monday to get them replaced.

Pics of rust.
Driver Side, Isnt to bad yet.




Passenger Side:

 

My vote is to just cut out 2.5" out of your wheel well. In fact, there was a member that just recently posted pictures of exactly that. I might have to dig to find that thread.