I just purchased and took delivery of a ******* X2000 tonneau cover. This is the clamp on model. Unfortunately, there are no dealers for at least 300 miles, so the installation will be a do-it-youselfer. Not a problem, good instructions, but... the instructions call for a stiffener bar (aluminum flat bar) to be placed inside of the most interior channel of both bed rails. This will require that I carefully pry the bed rails loose and then re-attach later.

Has anyone ever removed the bed rails and re-installed them without damaging the plastic? What tools are needed and what technique is used ? If I mess them up, the dealer quoted me a smooth $60 a pair for replacement. As understand it, I only need to pry the ends up by the cab about 24".

Thanks for any help. BTW, this is for a SuperCrew, but any late model short bed F-150 would probably have identical bed rails. I will also post this on the Appearance Products message board.

 

Crewser,

I've never removed the bed rail caps, but I looked up the removal instructions for you on my Ford Manual CD and it says the following:

"ROTATE THE CAP FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE STARTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE PICKUP BED"

There is also a diagram with this instruction. To best explain the diagram, if you were standing at the back end of the rail cap on the left (driver's side) of the bed, the rail cap rotates off counterclokwise. For the passenger side, it would rotate off clockwise of course. I can only assume there's 'tongue' clips (or plastic extrusions) along the rail cap that slip into slots in the metal body top of the side wall.

I hope this helps...and please let us know if you're successful.

Kevin