Am I allowed to make a critical comment about the cheap a$$ look of the rail and tailgate caps without getting kicked off the forum? Take a look at those on the new Fords...way superior.

 

Only if you offer me some advice on removing it as you're making your comment...

 

Here ya go...

 

Just to round this out for people searching in the future:

The bed rail plastic cap is indeed just friction fit into a multitude of holes in the bed rail. If you look under the rail inside the bed each of the square black plastic pegs is a clip. There is no double-sided tape or anything else holding it on. In addition to the clips you can see inside the bed there are about as many more you can't see between the inner bed box wall and the outer bed box wall. While you can squeeze and push up on the clips you can see you obviously can't for the others.

I pushed up all the ones I could see/touch. Then I started at the cab end and gently lifted/pried up on the rail cap, moving back towards the tailgate. You just have to be careful and lift & twist to pop out each hidden clip. If you get lucky you don't break any. For me, the last clip, which is on the very end at the tailgate, where the cap curves to a point, was the toughest one. That one seemed to have more grabbing edges than the rest. Of course, that's the one I broke off.

For those contemplating removing the rail caps and filling holes, you have your work cut out for you. This is what it looks like underneath (on a really dirty Minnesota truck).

Rob

 

Think I am gonna replace mine since my tonneau cover made the rails lift until I cut out the spot inside the box but they still dont sit flat but for 26 bucks each I am gonna replace them and maybe put some rustproofing or oil on the top before I put the new ones back on.

 

I need to replace mine come Spring as well. They are bowing/warping up. Have been since I got the truck. Warps up in hot, down in cold. Agree with the poor quality comments. Plastic does not belong anywhere on a REAL truck.
I'm still waiting for some enterprising entrepreneur, to come out with some nice brushed nickle or stainless caps and tailgate covers......
BTW...why make all those slots like that. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME.

 

Dee Zee makes some decent looking metal bed rail caps. They have bright and black finish diamond plate and some smooth finish aluminum ones. The only thing I don't like about them is that they are made to go over the factory covers (from what I can tell).

Rob

 

Thanks for the round up info... I've been wanting to remove mine (or at least lift the cab ends) in order to cut out the front stake pocket openings to accomodate a canoe rack without risking damaging the bed rail underneath.
It was a bit of a head scratcher for me why Dodge would stamp out these bed rail caps with a decent rear stake hole opening, while leaving the front one covered up so you have to cut them out if you want to use the stake pockets... leaving somewhat crappier looking openings in the front when not in use. Now that I see what the bed rails look like under the plastic caps, I'm really scratching my head. Why they would do that to a perfectly good piece of sheet metal to accomodate a plastic cover is beyond me... hopefully replacement rail covers will be available for awhile.