The new Cheby body pannels are PLASTIC!!!!

[JConley]

I walked over to a new 3500HD dually Cheby that I saw parked, and I wondered how they got the dually flares to blend in with the bed so smooth. The way GM got the fender flares to blend in so well, is because the external sides of the bed are PLASTIC!!!! The external body panels of the truck beds are one piece plastic from cab to tail light. I couldnt believe it!! What idiot would spend 40 grand for a truck, with plastic body pannels. This just blows my mind


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98 QC 2500 2WD 12 Valve Automatic, 3. 54 Mag-Hytec transmission pan. DTT Valve Body. Wrap around black Grill Guard (BIG solid steel one. AFC controller adjusted, Mopar mud flaps, Camper package, 2001 Tow mirrors, Cat ran away, No Muff
My Mustang
My Ram
The Wrecking Crew web site for Junkyard Wars
Go Aggies!!!

 

[NVR FNSH]

Let's see - those plastic panels don't rust, are dent resistant, don't resonate, are lighter weight, probably made from recycled material and cost less to manufacture. What was GM thinking... ... Sure am glad DC is sooo much smarter than GM.

Brian

 

[joesoot]

Did anyone happen to catch that car chase a few months back... i think it was in Atlanta, anyway, it was a 3500HD, I guess the cops chased the dude for quite sometime... well getting to the aftermath, the plastic part of the bed just shattered.
Not really my idea of a truck... more car than it is a truck.

 

[tgbol]

If you order the factory bed liner you get a plastic bed instead of the steel floor not just the fenders

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01. 5 QC ETH/DEE 4X4 LB intense blue sport, everything but leather and cab lights. Trailer and Camper Packages. DC brush guard, missing turbo ring, amber rear turn signals and real back-up lights, K&N re-0880

 

[Texas Diesel]

GM should have made the engine block out of plastic instead of iron that way it would last as long as the recycled beer can heads will #ad

WHAT WAS DC THINKING WHEN THEY USED IRON HEADS????????? LOOK AT ALL THE WEIGHT THEY COULD HAVE SAVED BY USING RECYCLED BEER CANS.
Boy I wish my bed was made from plastic too #ad
Cant wait till the 'ole sun makes dem beds brittle...

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2001. 5 SLT QC SB 4X3 (open front diff), 6 speed, HO, LSD, 241HD, 3. 54, camper special, power everything, trip thingy, REAL bumpers, green/silver, CD, Nerf Bars, Vent Visors, trailer tow pkg, nicknamed "house payment"

 

[Dieselnerd]

You Texas guys don't realize just how bad salt eats up a nice truck. Plastic parts are great in this part of the country and as for sun damage, sun doesn't shine that much here and when it does it's nothing like down south. Maybe they need a "Rust Belt" model and a "Sun Belt" model... ... Hmmm

 

[Joe G.]

When was the last time you saw a rusty or dented Corvette? I have some dingies in my truck bed that I would not have if it was plastic.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,DTT TC/VB,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver, KDP 160,000-NM-WT Insurance

 

[Lil' Dog]

Plastic and the cold north don't mix. Can't wait to see some oil rigger toss a pipe in the back of his truck at -40 and see his fender turn into plastic toothpicks...
Truely NOT a work truck. Supped up El Cameno...

J-eh

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Jason Hoffman
93 D250LE CC 5 spd 3. 54 LSD. K&N. Banks Pyro/Boost gauges. E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. Cummins Power Booster member.
185,000 Km (115,625 Mi)

FOR SALE - 89 D250LE 5 Spd 3. 54 LSD Reg Cab. "tweaked pump", BD Injectors, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight.
237,500 miles (380,000 Kms) 7850 Hrs.
89 Pics/March 2001

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I think the ONLY advantage to plastic body panels is the fact that they dont rust and they are dent resistant. But i agree, they dont belong on a truck.

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01' 4x4 QC SB Auto Intense Blue. JRE Exhaust, Psychotty, Autometer Sport Comp Trans Temp, 0-35psi Boost and Pre Turbo EGT Gauges, Rhinoliner, PIAA 520 Fogs, Stull "Diamond wire" grill, Smittybuilt stainless bars and bumper mount. Hella B/U Lights, Tint, Pioneer audio, JL Audio 12" Sub in center seat. SEAL TITE crossover box. Amsoil dual bypass with the "CPFF" Adaptor. Husky liner mudflaps. Motorola Spectra Locomotive radio. Mag-Hytecs Soon.

 

[Lil' Dog]

Well, a disgruntled non-member emailed me to voice his concern. #ad
...

Did anyone else get the same message??
"Seems my plastic car made it thru 14 winters and still ain't rusted.
Redneck bliss must be hell"

#ad
yahukk

 

[NVR FNSH]

uh, take a look at the ding in the wheel and then tell me that a fiberglass extension/steel bed side would have fared a whole lot better. How does GM attach the plastic bed side? Might be easier/cheaper to replace an entire side than repair a steel bedside?

You all have valid points but in general I don't have a problem with plastic body panels. I don't usually load stuff on the outside of the bed anyhow. Now the inside of the bed being plastic is a different story.

Brian

 

[JConley]

I just got an e-mail that said "Plastic dont rust" I didnt know their was such a big problem with the Chevys rusting out. Fact remains that fiberglass and metal can be repaired. These side pannels are damage once, throw away.

In regard to the other post that plastic body pannels are cheaper to manufacture, I agree. Do you honestly think GM passed the savings on to you???? BAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

My neighbors minivan has a plastic moulded bumper cover and she damaged in a 3 MPH bump at the mailboxes. The plastic tore, and it cost over $500. 00 to replace this cover. I would hate to see the cost of a bed side.

 

[Bad340fish]

I would rather have a dent than a hole #ad


I imagine all trucks will be that way soon though #ad
And dually fenders especialy on a CC Dually do get f*cked up no matter how careful someone is sometimes. And tires blow ETC will be interesting to see what they hold up like
Clark

 

[Deezul1]

To bad its not the same plastic that was on the Fiero body, a guy sideswiped mine with a Musdtang and his was dented front to back and other than a ripped off mirror mine was ok after some rubbing compound. 12 years of So Calif parking lots and not one door ding or chip, sure isnt the same stuff thats on these trucks.

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97 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, Ranch Hand front and rear. Gauges, EGT, Boost, fuel pressure, oil temp,indash CB, custom switch mount-6 switches BD brake extra fuel tank 45gal. Oh oh dang cat fell off, took the muff with it. Member NRA/USPSA

 

[MikeR]

Okay,I see some of your points of views... "the plastic won't rust". That's great,but the cab is still metal and it will rust. I think it's cheaper easier to replace a bed than it is to replace a cab.

Another true statement... "have you ever seen a dented Corvette?". No I haven't,but then again I've never seen a Corvette used for farm work or towing a 10,000 lb trailer or even a 2,500 lb payload either. I'd rather have dents and dings.

I think the plastic panel idea on the Saturns is a great idea,but we're talking trucks here and there's gonna be alot of weight being put in there.

-Mike

 

[CumminsPower98]

The Chevy commercials really tick me off the way they tout their truck. "Like a rock" my a**" Plastic bed sides? How is that like a rock??

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Red 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 Quad Cab, CTD 12 Valve, Long Bed, 5-speed, 3. 54 gears, Camper/Tow pkg, 33x12. 50x16. 5 BFG A/T's, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Auto Meter piller mounted Pyrometer, Boost, and Fuel pressure gauges, Tuff Country Leveling Kit, Straight Piped, K&N Air Filter, Silencer Ring Hanging in Shop, Yet to be Bombed, 70K+ Miles. My web site: www.mark74.com

 

[Crash_AF]

Here's the pic from that thread...

#ad


I think plastic panels have a place in the automotive industry, but not on HD trucks. I'm sorry, but I'd rather have a dent in the side of the bed rather than the damage in the pic above.

And before anyone calls me on the point that normal dually extensions are fiberglass, I'd bet even money that a fiberglass extension is a heck of a lot cheaper than an entire bed side.

And in response to the Corvette comment, no, I've never seen one rust out, but I HAVE seen one that was totalled by putting it up on a shop hoist. #ad
The pads on the lift weren't completely level and it cracked the body in ten places. With the stresses that work puts on a truck bed, I wouldn't be surprised to see those sides begin to show stress fractures at the corners after a couple of years of abuse.

Later,
Joe

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Joe Hinson, 93 D-350
3in straight pipe, pump turned up 20%, ISSPRO pyro and boost - For now

 

[Crash_AF]

Well, I bet that rim got bent like that hopping curbs rather than in the impact that damaged the fender. Also, the Cheby commercials with the 4 yard loader dumping gravel in the bed of the dually is another one that has me laughing... I wish they showed the aftermath of that little stunt... can you say, "I can't close the tailgate because the bed sides are at a 45* angle"?

I also agree with Conleyjo. I KNOW they don't pass the savings on to the customer. If they did, the truck wouldn't be so grossly overpriced.

Later,
Joe

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Joe Hinson, 93 D-350
3in straight pipe, pump turned up 20%, ISSPRO pyro and boost - For now

 

[Jeff Clark]

The dually fenders on my truck are plastic.

 

[Joe G.]

I don't really think plastic body parts are all that weak anyway. The nose piece including the front ends of the fenders on our '82 Imperial (future restore project) are plastic. Several years ago my wife hit a deer with it. The front end of the left fender gutted the deer. No damage to the nose piece at all!! The metal part of the fender behind the nose piece was a mess from the body of the deer slamming into the side of it. If the nose piece had been metal it would have been crushed against the front tire and she would have needed a tow truck. The way it was she was able to drive it just fine.