How heavy rain can affect bed rail clearance

[Vulcaneer]

Just returned from a 2500 mile trip to Shipshewana and back. Heavy rain, flooding, tornados, everywhere during the trip. But other than ST tire blowouts, (and 5 tire replacements) we managed to avoid any real trauma. Until backing into our driveway...that is.

Like everywhere else,our home was also hit by massive thunderstorms, and heavy rains. Lightening strikes cause 3 televisions to blow, lost 2 garage door openers, 4 cordless phones gone, etc., But we arrive home on a beautiful 85 degree sunny day. Backing in to our parking place, next to the driveway, the tires sink into the grass covered mud. Sink about 9 inches. Problem is the bed rail clearance on our new truck is 6 inches. So the underside edge of the fivers overhang squeezes the left side bed rail (was turning at the time) down about an inch. And causes the outside of the bed to bow out. This all happens with out a crash. One of those things that is slow...but too fast to do anything about. So I watch it all happen from the comfort of the airconditioned driver seat...and watching the mirror.

UGH...DW is directing me in and has no idea this has happened. Body shop estimates $1200 repair. Gotta love that 3 stage, metallic paint.

Moral of the story...you can't always have enough bed rail clearance. Hope it doesn't happen to you.

[ependydad]

I had the exact same thing happen at a campground last week. Against my wife's better judgement, we agreed for me to go off the side of the gravel pad and into the grass. Sunk a good 8" and made contact between the truck and fifth wheel (typically a good 6" of clearance). I got lucky and didn't end up with any permanent damage other than a ding on the under-side of the camper.

Pulling out, we put a 2x12 x 4' long under the tire and that kicked up and busted up one of my pull handles (fortunately, just the handle itself- no actual damage to the workings). Ended up using 2x12s x 2' turned sideways to pull onto.

It was a first for me. Sorry to hear you had damage. 😞