are SS bed strip kits worth double the price of steel?

[68GRNK20]

Like the title says, trying to figure out if its worth it to pay the extra cash for stainless, I actually like the look of painted strips better and maybe just get stainless bolts. The idea of 338 rusty bolts next time I have to change the wood doesn't appeal to me.

[custom10nut]

I'm with you. The body color paint and stainless bolts (or even Zinc coated) will look good, and won't break the bank. Another plus, unless the truck is strictly for show, you won't be so afraid to putting things on the bed, for fear of scratch things..
I'm going with body color strips and going to paint the zinc bolts the same color, the spray them with clear bed liner to protect the finish.

[68GRNK20]

Do you know if the steel strip kits come coated with anything? or are they bare steel? I've been looking at LMC but the don't list what they are

[GR8-68]

I just bought mine they are bare steel, I chose them as they were much cheaper plus I don't have shiny stuff on my truck. Coat them with some good paint and you are good for years

[RenoKeene]

I went with SS, fit my build style. Looks good with min maintenance. So, in my case they were worth the money.

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by firedemon

use anti sieze on that stainless hardware you would be surprised how easily it galls the threads and make it way harder to take apart than rusty steel

Heed this advice! If you look at those stainless bolts wrong they will gall, then when you try to back it out it will slip, spin the offset washer that holds it in the cutout on the wood and mess up the fresh paint & clear you just laid down on your wood bed. Not that I've actually done it or anything...

[67 chevelle]

Originally Posted by firedemon

use anti sieze on that stainless hardware you would be surprised how easily it galls the threads and make it way harder to take apart than rusty steel

another amen to this without antisieze they are one time use

[Zeroman]

I went with SS, also.

RenoKeene, I thought you stole my pic, hahaha

[davepl]

I went stainless as well. I think if I had it to do over again, and if the budget allowed it, I would use my steel originals and have them chrome plated. Then they'd at least be:

a) The original part, if not finish
b) Thicker and Stronger
c) More durable finish

[68GRNK20]

Originally Posted by BossHogg69

Heed this advice! If you look at those stainless bolts wrong they will gall, then when you try to back it out it will slip, spin the offset washer that holds it in the cutout on the wood and mess up the fresh paint & clear you just laid down on your wood bed. Not that I've actually done it or anything...

Ah yes you are right, I remember one place I worked every time we used stainless bolts we had to put grease on them so they wouldn't gall, forgot about that.

[68bowtie]

i bought steel strips from mar-k. great quality. had them powdercoated black, they did not require any prep work and turned out show quality.

[engineer_gregh]

RenoKeene your truck looks horrible. You should just sell it to me:-))

Its my favorite truck on this board!

[jeffahart]

I painted Steel strips. They seemed the same gauge as the originals, so I had no issues with the quality. I used a Zinc bolt kit. Oiled yellow pine, because I use the bed and want easy maintenance.

[Steve-W]

painted steel originals, with SS bolts. It was a lot of work (so I was told by my friend who did all the work) but the result speaks for itself

[Leonard1]

If you use a carbon steel nut, it won't gall the ss bolt. They are under the bed and won't be seen, but you can paint them silver and nobody but you will ever know.