DIY Bed Rails - 14 gauge vs. 12 gauge strut channel

[MidnightMavFX4]

I just picked up my 2025 Maverick and am getting ready to add my own bed rails. After reading up on the many write-ups and how-to's and then visiting my local Lowes/ HD I am left with 1 question:

Is there a reason everyone uses the 12 gauge instead of the 14 gauge strut channel?

Personally I would prefer the smaller profile of the 14 gauge, but I don't want to go buying and cutting to only find out it does work because....?

So can anyone shed some light on what I probably missed or purposely ignored to further my own preferences?

Thanks!

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[Emmett Hebert]

The 12ga is deeper to allow for attaching eye bolts. That's what I found

 

[MidnightMavFX4]

The 12ga is deeper to allow for attaching eye bolts. That's what I found

Looking at all the pieces it just seemed the strut cone nut needed to fit in the space. The "eye" part of the bolt was along the outside.

If I am wrong, please let me know.

 

[Gray Goose]

I also couldn't decide on the many possible options for bed rails. I ended up bolting D-rings directly to the mounting holes as a temporary solution. A year later, I haven't found a reason to change them.

 

[MidnightMavFX4]

I also couldn't decide on the many possible options for bed rails. I ended up bolting D-rings directly to the mounting holes as a temporary solution. A year later, I haven't found a reason to change them.

I thought about doing something similar. Mounting the D-rings and actually just threating a pipe through all the rings if I need more areas to mount/tie things down.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Here's a thought:

Use full size (not half height) UNISTRUT and mount it HOLES UP.

My trailer:

Would you rather have two or three slide-able Eyes for tie downs? Or 50 holes per side with 50 options?

THE S HOOKS of ratchet straps fit perfectly.

I was going to go slot up in my trailer, even bought a dozen eye bolts. But day of install I had an epiphany.

No eyes to trip over or snag now either.

Not a great shot but all I had in my phone right now.
Same idea applies to the Maverick.

 

[The Real Maverick]

PS you can mount the UNISTRUT holes up, and STILL add a couple eye bolts if you want, maybe easier for the few times you use rope, and STILL have 48 holes for ratchet straps. Win Win.

(I'm guessing on the holes it could be 36 but still pretty awesome.)

 

[chiko]

I went to Lowe's today to do the DIY project. I accidentally made a mistake but I think I am just going to live with. I am NOT an engineer of any kind, so this is just a SWAG(Scientific, Wild, Ass, Guess).

I got the 14g 10' half height channel for price and ease of use in the store. Upon returning to home, I now realize that the mounting bolts to the bed will interfere with sliding the cone nuts. That's OK in my book. It just means the cone nuts cannot pass a mounting bolt and the cone nuts are sold in packs of 5. For maximum flexibility I could put all 5 cone nuts on one size and another set on the other OR a 3/2 split depending on desired outcome.

SWAG: the 14g half height and the 12g full height are approximately equal in strength. The full height presents a greater stress along the depth walls and requires the thicker material. I would opine that the 14g 1/2 is probably even stronger than the full height 12g depending on how the stress force is applied. Against the most likely catch for the cone nut, the 12g is going to be stronger. But considering the sheet metal the channel is mounted to, I really doubt that it matters.

I only got one eye-hook tie down as they only had one 4" x 3/8" in stock. They had a couple more but they were even longer. $56 so far but I will need to add some more eye-hooks for $3 each

 

[chiko]

Pretty happy with how it came out.
3 of 4 bolts lined up with the existing slots. Toward the tailgate, I had to cut the rail to extend the slot and allow the rear bolt to align with the extended slot. Because the channels are half-height, the cones will NOT slide past the mounting bolts but can be removed and reinstalled.

I like how the low-profile rail sits within the divet in the sidewall. The rail is slightly proud of the divet.

Edit - $25 for four stainless eye hooks


P

 

[hibred]

They do make low head or button head bolts that have a shorter head height. Just a thought nice job I like when people do things on their own

 

[Thex]

I used the same 1/2 height strut that you did when I installed mine a few years ago.
I was glad to see I wasn't the only one that cut it "short" from the front to keep the original tie down.

I just posted last week about using the Mabett bed divider, (linked if you are interested.) Even though I got it to work - a lot of mod for their brackets.

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