Just messing around on www.car-part.com this morning and found composite beds for sale in the $1000-2000 range. I don't think it would be worth the money for the average truck guy, but figured that some of the more hardcore guys might be down for a little weight redux.

Has anyone ever nailed down the weight difference between the two?

 

I 'heard' it was 100lbs. Maybe as much as 150.

 

How much do our beds weigh ?

 

Here is some info that I dug up:

The box's fenders and outer tailgate panel are made of reinforced reaction injection molded (RRIM) materials, chiefly polyurea with mica filler. The one-piece inner panel and the inside of the tailgate are formed by a structural reaction injection molding (SRIM) process and consist of a 50/50 mix of urethane and glass fiber. The interior of the box and tailgate are painted with a dark gray "spatter paint" that provides a tough, pebbly surface as well as protection from ultraviolet rays.

The use of composite materials reduces the total weight of the truck by approximately 50 lbs., which improves fuel economy and payload carrying capability. The tailgate alone is 15 lbs. lighter than a current steel tailgate.

The outer panels not only withstand denting, but also are twice as damage resistant as composite panels used on cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro. If a fender is damaged, it can be removed in less than 10 minutes, repaired in a matter of hours -- rather than days -- and re-installed with a minimum of downtime. Most scratches on the inside of the box or tailgate can be polished out with a common commercial silicone cleanser.


Hope it helps!

 

were these used on some trucks already or soemthing?

 

...........

 

sounds like 35lb's for the box and 15 for the gate wich a lot of people take off at the track.

35lb's would be nice but not worth the cost. anyone make a light weight(just for looks) box?

 

I thought remember reading that the Pro-Tek trucks had a payload of about 100-150lbs more than a standard metal boxed truck. I always assumed it was a difference in bed-weight.

 

just buy two bed side skins & a gate skin,weld together & put on a sheet madel cover!

 

This would have to be for a SERIOUS race-only truck, but there is a lot of cool stuff here:

http://www.gtsfiberglass.com/

BigJ posted a link to this site earlier this year. Looks like they're mostly for truck pull bodies though.