Weight Rating for Aluminum Bed Walls?

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

Bed rails, bed sides, side boards, whatever they're called- how much weight is safe to put on the aluminum bodywork in the bed? Really asking about the short bed 5.5, but curious about others too I guess. If I have to take my truck in to Afghanistan and put 3 mujahedeen sitting on each side with their AKs and some bofors on a turret in the middle, are the Toyotas going to laugh at me and keep going while I'm a crushed can on the side of the gravel?

I feel like I was less worried about the older steel beds handling a near unlimited amount of mother in laws sitting on them.

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[amschind]

I think that there are two schools of thought on this.
1) "It's a truck, and bed scratches mean that you're a REAL MAN who is using it as a REAL TRUCK." The end result of this philosophy is a truck bed that looks like you have in fact been using it as an APC in the Sandbox for a decade, and that you've encountered at least one hostile platoon of US Marines.
2) "It's a $60k truck, and nicer than most luxury vehicles. I'm gonna shell out another $7k for a utility trailer and beat the crap out of that while using my bed like a big toolbox."
The end result of this is that you have to deal with the cost, hassle and space of a utility trailer, but you get way more "dispatchable" space from an item that can vanish without making you cry.

I'm not saying that either one is correct for all of us. A 10 year old XL 2WD regular cab long bed that your cousin's friend's company was off-loading really belongs in camp 1. A new Limited probably belongs in camp 2. My truck is a 302A XLT PB with a lot of money pumped into it.....I chose camp 2.

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

I think that there are two schools of thought on this.
1) "It's a truck, and bed scratches mean that you're a REAL MAN who is using it as a REAL TRUCK." The end result of this philosophy is a truck bed that looks like you have in fact been using it as an APC in the Sandbox for a decade, and that you've encountered at least one hostile platoon of US Marines.
2) "It's a $60k truck, and nicer than most luxury vehicles. I'm gonna shell out another $7k for a utility trailer and beat the crap out of that while using my bed like a big toolbox."
The end result of this is that you have to deal with the cost, hassle and space of a utility trailer, but you get way more "dispatchable" space from an item that can vanish without making you cry.

I'm not saying that either one is correct for all of us. A 10 year old XL 2WD regular cab long bed that your cousin's friend's company was off-loading really belongs in camp 1. A new Limited probably belongs in camp 2. My truck is a 302A XLT PB with a lot of money pumped into it.....I chose camp 2.

Oh scratches in the bed ain't a problem. I just want to know the recommended weight limits to avoid collapsing the walls. I've seen MANY collapsed tailgates from too much weight sitting on them in the upright and locked position. Usually it's wood that's the culprit.

 

[amschind]

Oh scratches in the bed ain't a problem. I just want to know the recommended weight limits to avoid collapsing the walls. I've seen MANY collapsed tailgates from too much weight sitting on them in the upright and locked position. Usually it's wood that's the culprit.

I think that if you're getting anywhere close to the weight limits, you're going to wind up with dents along the bed rails and tailgate. The issue is that if you're close to the weight limit and gravity accelerates the item because you dropped it, all of a sudden you are WAY over the static weight limit. A heavy item that is likely to do damage if dropped is the same heavy item that is hard hold at odd angles and avoid dropping. Again, all of that is fine as long as you know what you're choosing at the outset.

I will also submit that Home Depot will rent you a utility trailer for $100 a day and they aren't gonna complain if you dent it or scratch the paint.

 

[Pedaldude]

If adding an aa gun to your pickup; vibration is an issue as well in addition to the previously mentioned dynamic loads.

You’re probably better off with a Superduty in this application if you don’t have access to the solid front axle Landcruisers that dominate the technical market.

 

[Sneezy]

Apparently the new favorite Taliban truck is the Ford Ranger. The US military bought over 43000 of the global version over the span of deployment and didn’t bring them back.

https://www.f150online.com/articles/ford-rangers-desert-transport-afghanistan/

In all seriousness you should be able to load up at least 1,000lbs on the bed rails. Contractors have ladder racks or canopies with ladder racks on top of those which can be a fair bit of weight. The fiberglass canopies can weigh in around 400-500lbs then if a contractor loads up some lumber on top of his rack it can get pretty heavy

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

Apparently the new favorite Taliban truck is the Ford Ranger. The US military bought over 43000 of the global version over the span of deployment and didn’t bring them back.

https://www.f150online.com/articles/ford-rangers-desert-transport-afghanistan/

In all seriousness you should be able to load up at least 1,000lbs on the bed rails. Contractors have ladder racks or canopies with ladder racks on top of those which can be a fair bit of weight. The fiberglass canopies can weigh in around 400-500lbs then if a contractor loads up some lumber on top of his rack it can get pretty heavy

So a few people sitting on them for a ride won't be even close to a problem. Perfect.

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