In the event that you're looking at your 2008 silverado truck bed and seeing more scratches, dents, or even rust spots than actual paint, you're definitely not on your own. These trucks were built to be the backbone associated with American job websites, and after over fifteen years on the highway, most of them have some tales to tell. Whether or not you've got the short box, the particular standard bed, or the long eight-footer, that cargo area is the most used—and usually the most abused—part of the automobile.
Let's be honest, the 2008 Chevy Silverado was portion of that will "GMT900" generation that will really nailed the appearance and the power, but the beds possess a few eccentricities we need to discuss. If you're looking to restore yours, protect it through further damage, or even just allow it to be more functional for the everyday life, there's a great deal you can do without spending a fortune.
Understanding the Different Bed Dimensions
Before a person go ordering components or a brand-new liner, you've got to be 100% sure which 2008 silverado truck bed size a person actually have. Chevy didn't make it one-size-fits-all back after that.
Usually, you're looking at three main options. There's the short bed, which is about 5 feet eight inches—mostly found upon Crew Cabs. After that you possess the regular bed at six feet 6 ins, which shows up on Extended Cabs and some Regular Cabs. Finally, there's the particular 8-foot long bed for the men who actually need to haul full sheets of plywood with the tail gate up.
It sounds easy, but you'd be surprised how a lot of people purchase a tonneau cover or a drop-in liner simply to understand they're off by a few ins. Always pull out the tape measure before you decide to hit "buy" on an expensive accessory. Measure from the inside of the bulkhead to the inside of the particular tailgate.
The Elephant in the particular Room: Rust Problems
We can't talk about the 2008 Chevy without talking about the particular "Chevy Rot. " In case you live in the salt belt, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The region right over the trunk wheel curve for the 2008 silverado truck bed is notorious intended for bubbling up and eventually evolving into the hole you are able to stay your hand via.
It generally starts from the particular inside out. Grime and salt obtain trapped in the particular lip of the fender well, hold moisture contrary to the steel, and just eat away at it. If you've caught it early in support of see small bubbles, you might become able to fine sand it down and hit it with some touch-up paint or perhaps a clear coat.
But in case the metal will be already crunchy? You've got two genuine choices. You can buy fender flares to hide the particular shame—which is the particular "quick fix" most people go for—or you can welds in repair panels. If you're actually handy, cutting away the metal plus welding in a patch will be the right way to get it done, but for the lot of all of us, some bolt-on flares does the work and looks good too.
Safeguarding the Bed Flooring
If your bed is still within relatively good shape, you would like to keep this that way. The factory paint within the 2008 silverado truck bed wasn't exactly bulletproof.
The Benefits and Cons of Drop-in Liners
Many of these trucks arrived with those black plastic drop-in line. They're perfect for moving heavy pallets in and out, but they have a filthy little secret: they will vibrate. While you drive, the plastic rubs against the paint from the bed ground, eventually wearing this down to bare metal. Moisture gets caught underneath, and abruptly your bed flooring is really a rusted clutter. When you have one associated with these, it's a good idea to pop it out there once a 12 months and spray out the gunk.
Spray-on Liners: The Gold Standard
If you may swing the price, the spray-on liner like Line-X or Rhino Liner is a video game changer. It a genuine directly to the metal, so simply no water can get beneath it. Plus, it's got that grippy texture that will keep your gear from sliding around each time you consider a turn. To have an older truck like a 2008, it can also hide a lot of existing scratches and minor dings, making the particular whole back associated with the truck appear years newer.
Tailgate Maintenance and Upgrades
The tailgate is the particular most moving component of your 2008 silverado truck bed , and it generally shows its age first. If yours feels heavy or even the massive clunk when a person open it, there are a couple of cheap fixes.
First, check the support wires. They are known to fray and breeze over time. In case one snaps whilst you're loading some thing heavy, it can twist your tailgate and ruin the hinges. Replacing them is a five-minute work and costs quite little.
While you're in it, consider adding a tailgate support shock. It's a small gas swagger that hides at the rear of the taillight plus allows the tailgate to lower slowly and smoothly rather of just banging down. It's among those "why didn't I do this years back? " upgrades.
Adding a Tonneau Cover
When you're tired associated with your groceries obtaining soaked or your tools being on display for everybody within the parking lot, a bed cover up is the way in order to go. For a 2008 silverado truck bed , you possess endless options due to the fact the aftermarket assistance for this era is massive.
- Soft Roll-up Covers: These are the nearly all affordable. They maintain things dry plus out of sight, and you could roll them all the best way to the particular cab when you need in order to haul something tall.
- Difficult Folding Covers: These offer way more security. They're usually made of aluminum or even heavy-duty composite. They're harder to break into, that is great if you maintain expensive gear in the back.
- Snap-on Covers: Just don't. They were popular back in the day, but they're a discomfort in the neck of the guitar when the climate gets cold and the vinyl shrinks.
Better Lighting for Late Nights
The factory valuables light on the back of the particular cab is alright. But it doesn't do much for those who have a bed cover or if you're trying to find a small device in the dark corners of the 2008 silverado truck bed .
One of the best "bang for your buck" mods is an LED light remove kit. You can run these along the inside associated with the bed track. Most kits lift directly into your own 12V system or even run off a small battery pack. Becoming able to turn a switch and see the entire bed floor clearly at 10 PM will be a luxury you'll appreciate the extremely first time you use it.
Dealing with a Totaled Bed
Sometimes, destruction is just too much. Maybe the earlier owner hauled the load of rocks that bowed the floor, or the rust has finally gained the war. If your 2008 silverado truck bed is beyond saving, you might be looking for a replacement.
The good thing is that mattresses from 2007 (the New Body Style) through 2013 are usually generally interchangeable intended for the 1500 collection. If you may find a "take-off" bed from a local salvage yard or someone that swapped their bed for a flatbed, you can frequently bolt it best on. Just be prepared to spend some time matching the paint, or simply accept the two-tone look if it's the dedicated work truck.
Final Ideas on Upkeep
All in all, your 2008 silverado truck bed is the tool. It's meant to be used. But a very little bit of maintenance—cleaning out those drain holes near the particular cab, touching up the paint just before rust sets in, and keeping the tailgate hinges lubed—will go a lengthy way. These trucks are famous intended for hitting 300, 500 miles on the particular odometer; you just want to create sure the bed lasts as long as the engine does.
Whether you're simply keeping it functional for weekend journeys to the equipment store or turning it into the pristine show truck, taking care of the cargo region is the greatest way to keep your Silverado feeling such as a solid, reliable machine.