Where did the composite truck bed go?

52621 Views 38 Replies 30 Participants Last post by LIKAROK, Jul 5, 2020

likearock00

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2008 (Edited)

Back during the GMT800 series, Chevy came out with a composite truck bed in 2001. I guess it was made of the same plastic that Saturn used for their dingless doors. Anyway, I saw one today and wondered why they ever got rid of it? It seemed like it was a pretty neat idea but never took off. Does anyone know why Chevy discontinued it?

1 - 20 of 39 Posts

AndrewGS

· #2 · Apr 21, 2008

Funny you mention this as I saw a Z71 with the Protec box just last week. I hadn't seen one in years.

I think they got rid of it because there weren't many takers, but as usual with GM it was more expensive and only offered on certain models for a short period if time, so it was destined to fail, just like Quadrasteer.

Reactions: 1

FenwickHockey65

· #3 · Apr 21, 2008

Does anyone remember the Bedrug liners? At least I think that's what they were called.
Are those still available?

bouda

· #4 · Apr 21, 2008

I've only ever seen two on the road. I don't think the average pickup guy wants something designed by Tupperware.

Tiger

· #5 · Apr 21, 2008

Rumor had it there was no $ (read: incentive) for GM dealers. Had to be special order more or less.

1. Chevy's Avalanche has had a composite tailgate since its introduction.
2. Ford's Explorer Sport-Trac does have one currently.
3. Toyota's Tacoma beds are all composite, made in Mexico and shipped to the US.
(Failures have been reported on the Tacoma's BTW.)

member12

· #6 · Apr 21, 2008

The composite box and the four wheel steering should have stayed....at least on the Denali line.

Uzzy

· #7 · Apr 21, 2008

bouda said:
I've only ever seen two on the road. I don't think the average pickup guy wants something designed by Tupperware.

I'm the average truck guy (currently own a 2004 Z71 and had 2 S-10s before it) and I've also owned a plastic Saturn and the plastic was great. In fact, I wish my current truck had the composite box, since last week I noticed a pretty sizeable door ding in the side of my metal box!

Reactions: 1

HomeDepotChevy

· #8 · Apr 21, 2008

bouda said:
I've only ever seen two on the road. I don't think the average pickup guy wants something designed by Tupperware.

I have see a good amount of them since they came out. I mean as many as you can see of something that was out for only a year. But I do see them and I would consider the option for my next truck if it was still around. Seems like for average pickup guy or the "use my truck everyday for work" guy would like something that would take just about everything from an ower, punishmentwise, that any other truck box would get dented from and soon start to rust. I think if you lower the price of the option, and make it more accessable across the borad, not just one trim level on one configuration, you will sell more if you are GM.

sklunk

· #9 · Apr 21, 2008

FenwickHockey65 said:
Does anyone remember the Bedrug liners? At least I think that's what they were called.
Are those still available?

http://www.bedrug.com

They are also available directly from your GM dealer for the 2007 and up body style.

pinch a loaf

· #10 · Apr 21, 2008

I think the Protec bed is/was an awesome idea. But why does GM think they can charge an arm and leg for it? Just like Quadrasteer. It was very poorly marketed, advertised, and way overpriced. If they are going to be innovative, they also need to be affordable in order to get people to bite. I wish I could still get the Protec, but there is no way in hell I am paying thousands to get it!!

Uzzy

· #11 · Apr 21, 2008

pinch a loaf said:
I think the Protec bed is/was an awesome idea. But why does GM think they can charge an arm and leg for it? Just like Quadrasteer. It was very poorly marketed, advertised, and way overpriced. If they are going to be innovative, they also need to be affordable in order to get people to bite. I wish I could still get the Protec, but there is no way in hell I am paying thousands to get it!!

Right! And the key to affordability is volume. The more of them they make, the cheaper they are to make. I've never even heard of this bed before actually. The only non metal beds Iknew about were the step-sides that most manufacturers switched to in the '90s. Was this Protec on the fleet side trucks? Is there really any advantage to the steel side beds? Are they more rigid? Is it by that much more?

Base Model

· #12 · Apr 22, 2008

From June 2002
http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_boxed/

From Oct 2003
http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_boxed_2/

HomeDepotChevy

· #13 · Apr 23, 2008

Base Model said:
From June 2002
http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_boxed/

From Oct 2003
http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_boxed_2/

Again, a very good, solid product that was over priced by GM and not willing to let the dealer get a piece of the action. Like the article said, why try to force something on the buyer when the dealer and just order in the standard box and not worry about the $850 that is the premium for the Protec. With a little smaller number in behind the dollar sign, and more ads about it showing how it would be a great idea for someone in the Construction field, you would still see this composite box around. IIRC, this was also something that was just on the 1/2 ton trucks right? If so, wouldn't this be a great idea to put on the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks; the trucks that get the most use on a job site?

AndrewGS

· #14 · Apr 23, 2008

DuraMax Hammer said:
Again, a very good, solid product that was over priced by GM and not willing to let the dealer get a piece of the action. Like the article said, why try to force something on the buyer when the dealer and just order in the standard box and not worry about the $850 that is the premium for the Protec. With a little smaller number in behind the dollar sign, and more ads about it showing how it would be a great idea for someone in the Construction field, you would still see this composite box around. IIRC, this was also something that was just on the 1/2 ton trucks right? If so, wouldn't this be a great idea to put on the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks; the trucks that get the most use on a job site?

It was only available on uplevel half-tons. It was not marketed further than a couple of pages on the brochure. Stubborn dealers wouldn't stock it. It was only offered for two years.

Another $100,000,000 wasted (estimate considering design and production).

moman

· #15 · Apr 23, 2008

Interesting, as I was thinking the same last week following a 800 with the Protec bed. Always thought the tailgate was kinda cool and reminded me of the old chevys.

Uzzy

· #16 · Apr 23, 2008

moman said:
Interesting, as I was thinking the same last week following a 800 with the Protec bed. Always thought the tailgate was kinda cool and reminded me of the old chevys.

What did they look like? Maybe I've never seen it.

AndrewGS

· #17 · Apr 23, 2008

Uzzy said:
What did they look like? Maybe I've never seen it.

From the outside they look just like steel beds with rail protectors, but the tailgate has "CHEVROLET" molded into the tailgate and has a "Pro-Tec" emblem in place of the "Chevrolet" emblem on the lower right corner.

Uzzy

· #18 · Apr 23, 2008

AndrewGS said:
From the outside they look just like steel beds with rail protectors, but the tailgate has "CHEVROLET" molded into the tailgate and has a "Pro-Tec" emblem in place of the "Chevrolet" emblem on the lower right corner.

I don't recall ever seeing that.

HomeDepotChevy

· #19 · Apr 23, 2008

AndrewGS said:
From the outside they look just like steel beds with rail protectors, but the tailgate has "CHEVROLET" molded into the tailgate and has a "Pro-Tec" emblem in place of the "Chevrolet" emblem on the lower right corner.

I liked it a lot as well. Like moman said, it had that look of the old Chevy tailgate with CHEVROLET molded in the tailgate. I thought that at the very least they could have stuck with the design of how the name was molded into the tailgate.

vortec94

· #20 · May 6, 2008

i think gm can blame themselves for low sales on both the composite bed and quadrasteer. both were underadvertized, imo. i saw them at car shows and autoshow in motion but rarely in commercials.

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