docsprague

Just bought a 04 screw and the bed caps are in bad shape. For some reason the bed caps and the fender flares (FX4) black paint is pealing and fading. I am going to have the flares repainted but I was wanting to buy new bed caps because they are banged up. Anyone know a good place to buy them cheap?

5.4FX4

They shouldn't be "peeling" unless they have previously been painted by the original owner...fading is typical of these parts at this age. You can try and dye them or you can do what many of us have done and that would be to remove them and paint with a Krylon Fusion type paint intended for use on plastics. Has worked well for me!

ca3sar

Painting them has worked for me so far, do your wiper cowl at the same time.

3p0x1fx4

Definitely paint. Easy and looks great.

bambo2888

+1 for painting. Can't find any aftermarket rails, and I'm in the business. Paint them for sure, they turn out great.

docsprague

If I take on the bed caps, I might as well do the fender flares. I was orginally going to have a shop do them but the more I think about it maybe I should give it a try. Can any one advise on how the fender flares are held in place? How about the best way to take them off and put them back on? Can the proper paint (that will last for several years in the Texas heat/sun) be found in a spray can application?

Mod (Ret.)

Pull out the inner plastic "plugs" (I used a pair of snips to cut them; NAPA sells the replacement plugs). Then pull straight back on the flairs, as they also snap into the sides of the fender. These are re-usable. The front factory flares also have a two bolts at the very front of the flare; remove these as well. The rears do not.

I'd get some blue 3M tape and mask off the sides and paint the flairs while on the truck. If you mask everything carefully, it can be done while they are on the truck.

bambo2888

for what its worth, i would try taking the fenders off of the truck to paint them. it's a headache avoided.

jtrow

Putco makes some stainless steel replacements. http://www.putco.com/products.cfm?ac...f-7ae1f0baef34 They use to make plastic ones, not sure if they are still available.