Introduction

Whether the bed rail caps on your truck are starting to deteriorate, or you simply want to add on new ones which are made with the highest quality material, truck bed rail caps are a great product to consider to help protect the rails along the bed of your truck. In addition to the protection provided by bed rail caps from dings and scratches, they are also useful in providing new tie points and adding a great look to your truck bed. Since they are typically listed for a reasonable price, many people choose to replace their stock ones at some point.

For your reference, we have carefully chosen the best truck bed rail caps after considering many of the top options on the market. Since truck bed rail caps come in a wide array of sizes and shapes, we have chosen a wide variety of sizes which clearly state whether they will work with your individual vehicle. This means you won’t have to make a phone call or break out the measuring tape before you know for sure whether they will work with your truck.

 

Buying guide

Before we start to look at the best truck bed rail caps, let’s go ahead and look at the features and variables that you should first consider when you decide to purchase truck bed rail caps. Since these will have a say in how durable your vehicle is from scratches along the railings, many people make sure to get the best ones possible to keep their vehicle’s value as high as possible. However, it is still feasible to get a high-quality set of bed rail caps while on a tight budget.

 

Set your budget

Since price is something that any potential purchaser of bed rail caps will first look at, it is important to start by choosing a price that will perfectly suit your needs. Although it is possible to get high-quality bed rails around $70, it is likely that you might consider those above $100. If you know how much you are willing to spend at a maximum before considering your options, you will not be let down with your final decision.

In many products, there are certain benefits that you receive when you pay higher prices, and truck bed rail caps are no different. However, if you carefully set your budget in the range of $70-140, you can either settle for a subpar pair of bed rail caps, or stylish ones which perfectly fit to create stake holes.

 

Know the length of your truck bed rails

Not every truck has the same truck bed rail length. However, thankfully there are various standard lengths which make it easy for manufacturers to create aftermarket truck bed rails to match your truck bed perfectly using your make and model. In any case, make sure that you know the length of your stock bed rails, or measure the area with measuring tape to ensure that you get rails that are the right size.

 

Figure out which style you like the best

There are many different styles of truck bed rail caps that you might consider getting. Some have stainless steel, others are made with other types of metal, and some with aluminum. For the best protection possible, it is recommended that you get a metal or aluminum rail caps. There are also bed rail caps that are powder coated to make them resistant to rust and corrosion.

Some truck bed rail caps place an emphasis on the exterior style, others place an emphasis on durability and protection. If you carefully choose which of these matters the most to you and then find a product which matches the style you want, getting a truck bed rail cap within your budget becomes much easier.

 

Extra features

Some people want their rail caps to come with all of the parts required for easy home install. Thankfully, there are plenty of models which can be easily mounted by the average Joe using 3M mounting tape. However, there are also other great models which require you to use screws to install the rail cap perfectly. If you have a power drill and know how to use it safely, it can save you the hassle of needing to find a rail cap which is installed with screws.

Many people also want space for stake holes to ensure that they can potentially use the rails to help tie down equipment. Since each of the following products will allow you to check and make sure it matches with your exact make and model, you can shop around for options and confidently know whether or not it would be the right size for your personal vehicle.

 

Top 5 Truck Bed Rail Caps

Ranking	Image	Product	Overall Rating
1. Read The Full Review		Wade 72-01151 Truck Bed Rail Caps Black Ribbed Finish	(4.5 / 5) View Now On Amazon
2. Read The Full Review		Bushwacker 49520 Ultimate BedRail Cap for 6.5′ Beds	(4.4 / 5) View Now On Amazon
3. Read The Full Review		ICI SPBR46 Stainless Steel Truck Bed Rail Cap with Holes	(4.3 / 5) View Now On Amazon
4. Read The Full Review		Dee Zee DZ11992B Black-Tread Bed Caps	(4.3 / 5) View Now On Amazon
5. Read The Full Review		Husky Liners Bed Rail Protector Fits Short Bed 5.8	(3.7 / 5) View Now On Amazon

 

Westin Wade 72-01151 Truck Bed Rail Caps

 

Consumer Ratings (4.5 / 5)

These truck bed rail caps are perfect for people who have truck beds that are around 78 inches in length. This means that many trucks which come at a standard length will be able to work with this truck bed rail cap perfectly. This is a two-piece set which comes with a limited lifetime warranty, which means that the long bed rails on your truck are protected for life. As a result, if you need high-quality truck bed railings that will last a long time, this might be one of your top options.

Since it comes with 3M mounting tape, the installation will be very easy for a handy person to do by themselves. However, if you are unsure how to mount with mounting tape, it is encouraged to ask a friend or take it to a trusted mechanic for installation. Since they come with stake holes, it will be very easy to later on convert this space to a stake for tying down equipment for hauling.

 

Pros

• Durable 6.5’ truck bed rail caps
• Two-piece set for protecting the two long vertical rails in the truck bed
• Included 3M mounting tape for home installation
• Limited lifetime warranty

 

Cons

• Will only work with truck bed lengths right around 6.5 feet (78 inches)

 

What Consumers Say about the Westin Wade Truck Bed Rail Caps

• These are simply amazing. They transformed my husbands pick up, no, seriously, it looks like a new truck! Who know something so simple, could make such a HUGE difference. The install was quick, simple, and did not require any tools. He had them one in under 5 minutes.
• These fit fine and look good as well. The packaging was good too. I am a professional in the automotive business. After reading another review about the adhesion to the rails I decided that I would be extra careful when installing by cleaning the surface properly.
• After examining the double faced tape, I decided to add more as I keep genuine 3M tape in stock. The tape That I used was much better with superior adhesion. I don’t think that Wade uses 3M. 3M tape is expensive by the way. Glad that I added the extra and in the end got the results needed.

 

Bushwacker 49520 Chevrolet OE Style Ultimate BedRail Cap

 

Consumer Ratings (4.4 / 5)

With the attractive Chevrolet OE style, these bed rail caps are a fast and easy means of putting top-quality truck bed rail caps on your side rails by yourself. If you have a standard truck bed length which is right around or slightly above 6.5’ long, this will be an affordable means of putting durable truck bed rail caps on your side bed rails.

These truck bed rail caps will also allow you to use your stake holes if you perfectly line them up during the installation. As a result, they can easily be used while taking full advantages of your truck’s stake holes. Just be sure to note that these are likely not the most affordable truck bed caps you can find. However, they are still very high-quality for people who like the OE style.

 

Pros

• High-quality 6.5” feet truck bed rail caps
• Two-piece set for protecting the two long vertical rails in the truck bed
• Can fit truck beds slightly above 6.5’
• Matte black “OE” style texture looks attractive
• Included 3M adhesive glue mounting strips for easy installation

 

Cons

• Not the most affordable means of replacing your truck bed rail caps.

 

What Consumers Say about the Bushwacker BedRail Caps

• The product looks good very close to OEM and it’s some pretty thick plastic, but the driver’s side stake hole cut outs are off by .5 inch. What i mean by that is the cut outs are the same size as the hole it was intended for but are .5 inches forward of where they should be.
• Worked great on my 2011 Silverado extended cab with the 6.5 bed. looks great too. a word of caution though. be sure you have them lined up perfectly before you start to put them down because when they stick they are there to stay.
• They fit really well, the tape is solid after you place it on your truck. It will not go anywhere after the tape sits down for a few minutes, great product. Make sure to take your time when installing it, because once it goes down it is tough to take off and you will end up having to buy new 3m tape.

 

ICI SPBR46 Stainless Steel Truck Bed Rail Cap with Holes

 

Consumer Ratings (4.3 / 5)

Anybody who has a truck bed rail length above 6.5 feet needs to consider other options if they want bed rail caps which will match the length of their truck’s bed rails. These people will want to consider longer rails like this one. Coming in at 88 inches in total length, truck beds with about 7.33’ will fit perfectly with these rail caps. Since it is included with 3M adhesive glue mounting strips, this product is easily installed without separate tools once you have the measurements right.

The only thing to consider is whether or not you think stainless steel would look good on your truck. Many people might otherwise prefer a black or another type of style for their truck bed rail caps. They will also ensure that the truck bed rail caps sent to you will perfectly match your exact vehicle. As a result, this is one of the best truck bed rail caps to consider if you like the stainless steel style for your bed rails.

 

Pros

• Stainless Steel 88-inch truck bed rail caps
• Two-piece set for protecting the long vertical rails in the truck bed
• Extremely durable and resistant to damage
• Included with 3M mounting tape for easy home installation

 

Cons

• Not attractive with all truck styles.

 

What Consumers Say about the ICI Stainless Steel Truck Bed Rail Caps

• Looks great on my 2001 Silverado extended cab.
• If you like the sleep chrome look, then these rail caps are for you.
• This is a good product with a simple installation that only takes a couple minutes, or maybe an hour if you want to have some beers.

 

Dee Zee DZ11992B Black Tread Bed Caps

 

Consumer Ratings (4.3 / 5)

If you have a truck bed around 88 inches long, then this set might be the right size to perfectly match the length of your truck bed and stake holes. Since this product will allow you to easily see if it matches your exact make and model, you can always ensure that it will fit perfectly before you decide if you want to purchase it. This model comes with a diamond plate aluminum material which has a protective gloss black powder coat finish to protect from rust and corrosion.

There are two pieces included with this set which are placed on the two long vertical rails which protect your truck bed. When perfectly matched, they will easily align to produce stake holes which can be used for tying down equipment. Just keep in mind that since these bed caps require screws to install and a little extra expertise might be required unless you already have the tools required to do this.

 

Pros

• Diamond plate aluminum truck bed rail caps
• Two-piece set for protecting the long vertical rails in the truck bed
• Protective gloss black powder coat finish
• Rust-resistant material which is durable in all weather conditions
• Included stake holes to match your truck’s

 

Cons

• Requires using screws to install.

 

What Consumers Say about the Dee Zee Black Tread Bed Caps

• Easy install. Comes with 4 nice screws to really hold it down on the sides. DO NOT try to bend these if you think they are curved a bit. My brother did and they will kink like all aluminum. Looks great on my truck though.
• Real easy to put on, and exactly what I was looking for! They took 10 mins to put on. Perfect!
• I’ve been using this product for years and just installed some on my new Silverado, I’ve had them on all of my previous trucks and they have stood up to the test of time.

 

Husky Liners Bed Rail Protector Short Bed Rail Caps

 

Consumer Ratings (3.7 / 5)

If you have a truck bed shorter than 6.5’ you will need to consider smaller options so that you can have a truck bed rail cap which will fit perfectly on your vehicle. Since these However, people who have the standard 6.5’ design will still be able to get this product if they like the look and design of the rail caps. Since they will ensure that they fit perfectly onto your vehicle’s make and model, there is no stress with wondering if they will fit in the end.

Since this product comes with a lifetime guarantee, you can ensure that it lives a long life and spends the rest of your truck’s life protecting its rails. All of the parts are manufactured locally in the USA, making it a great option for people who live in this country. However, before you place your order, be sure to ensure that you have the right part number which perfectly fits your truck bed.

 

Pros

• 8’ and 6.5’ part numbers for both sizes of truck bed rail caps
• Wavy rugged stale is considerably attractive
• Designed and manufactured in the USA
• Lifetime guaranty

 

Cons

• It is sometimes difficult to ensure that you order the right part number.

 

What Consumers Say about the Husky Liners Bed Rail Caps

• Super easy to install (check out youtube for a couple of tips before getting started). The pattern in the bed caps matched the factory tail gate cap on a 2012 GMC Sierra. Overall, I am happy with the purchase. Well worth the money!
• Look good, easy to install. I was a little leery of the two part cap design but it allows for perfect alignment of the stake holes. All of the stake holes lined up perfectly. I also like the removable stake hole covers. Make sure to dry fit as you only get one chance to line them up right.
• These things look awesome. I was a big concerned about how strong the bond would be but it turns out there shouldn’t have been a concern. Good product. Take your time to line them up because once they are stuck they aren’t coming back off.

 

How to Install Bed Rail Caps Video

 

Best truck bed rail caps: Summarized

 

Finding the best truck bed rail caps for your personal vehicle is something that requires you to set your budget, know the length of your truck bed, the style of bed rail cap you want, and which extra features you want for them. In most cases, the options presented above should work for truck bed rails of all sizes if you carefully select which one to consider.

If you have a short or medium truck bed rail, your first option might be the Husky Liners Bed Rail Protector Short Bed Rail Caps since it will fit both small and medium truck beds. If your truck bed length is longer than 6.5’, you should consider the ICI SPBR46 Stainless Steel Truck Bed Rail Cap with Holes since it is longer than many other options you will find.