Composite bed partition / divider / gladdy board?

[Dave-in-RI]

I searched around but didn’t find any posts, thought I’d ask. Has anyone made or bought a plastic / composite (not wood, not metal) board for the bed divider notches and plywood support? Ideally it’d be a color match or close approximation, but I have firecracker red and am guessing there are limited options (why would that exist elsewhere, ha), and would settle for just not wood or metal. We recently had a vinyl picket fence put in (pickets on one side, rails on the other; not the slide into the rail kind) and think those would be the perfect concept to get in a larger size. Unlikely they make the size I need, but maybe there’s another use out there that has composite 2x4 shapes perhaps also hollow and lightweight but strong on edge.

Failing that, I’ll probably look toward a molle panel style if they’ll hold sheet goods as well, and maybe a color matched 2x4 for the wheel well piece.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

PS- got my first gladiator yesterday after lurking here for 2 years!

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[Dave-in-RI]

Found this… pricy at around $60 a piece but comes in red and cardinal red (wonder which is the better match), but there’s a time savings here:

https://buyplastic.com/products/tangent-poly-lumber-brights.html

 

[Advntrbound]

Now you have my wheels spinning. A composite, customizable divider! I like it. Beats the poorly cut 1x6 that I'm currently using.

 

[NY JT]

I searched around but didn’t find any posts, thought I’d ask. Has anyone made or bought a plastic / composite (not wood, not metal) board for the bed divider notches and plywood support? Ideally it’d be a color match or close approximation, but I have firecracker red and am guessing there are limited options (why would that exist elsewhere, ha), and would settle for just not wood or metal. We recently had a vinyl picket fence put in (pickets on one side, rails on the other; not the slide into the rail kind) and think those would be the perfect concept to get in a larger size. Unlikely they make the size I need, but maybe there’s another use out there that has composite 2x4 shapes perhaps also hollow and lightweight but strong on edge.

Failing that, I’ll probably look toward a molle panel style if they’ll hold sheet goods as well, and maybe a color matched 2x4 for the wheel well piece.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

PS- got my first gladiator yesterday after lurking here for 2 years!

Mine was simple. Pressure Treated 2x6, painted with a close paint match to my Firecracker Red. looks great, very sturdy and is very functional.....

 

[Pat Witt]

Not sure if this is what you are thinking but if you search polyvinyl panels ie like what bathroom stalls are made out of. This usually comes as a sheet and can be cut with circular saw or table saw. I have made several outdoor projects with this and it withstands anything and comes in colors.

 

[JonMN]

Disclaimer: Retired, a little bored, and had a nice piece of cedar sitting around . . .

 

[AmosMoses]

Disclaimer: Retired, a little bored, and had a nice piece of cedar sitting around . . .

Very nice!

 

[PNWBluebicon]

I stumbled across this https://last-boks.com/products/last-boks-truck-bed-organizer?variant=44993738309871 while looking for a plastic/composite divider. A bit pricey but works great.

 

[Dave-in-RI]

Thanks. I went with 3 cardinal red composite 2x4s from the link I shared earlier. Pricey but I can leave in the open bed without ever having them warp, and I view the upcharge as “my time”. I have a full bedrug to install and will wait to cut them down and potentially wrap the corners (in what? tbd) to avoid friction wears & tears.

I opted for the 2x4 size vs a taller board because composite is heavier and I won’t be the only one moving it around, and because it’s easier to sneak a 2x4 between gear for storage than a 2x”7” (cut down 2x8; a 2x6 wouldn’t be level for plywood). I went with straight boards vs a bed organizer or rail system affixed to wood etc because I have a Fas-top Traveler to install that has rails I’ll be using, and again I wanted something skinny I could slide into the bed around bags when not in use.

Firecracker Red is halfway between cardinal red and red (got free samples), but looked less “plastic”/cheap compared to the brighter “red” color. Will post pics when done.

With shipping it was about $220 for three 72” pieces. That’s the max length for standard shipping: the “buy one long piece” was much less but cost way too much for shipping. So, that’s $73 per board, a steep premium over a stud and some paint, but I’m counting my time not painting or replacing warped wood into that and the “buy once cry once” factor.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Those composite 2x4s should work pretty good.

Did you consider using Starboard?

 

[Dave-in-RI]

Those composite 2x4s should work pretty good.

Did you consider using Starboard?

I did, but wanted something in the same dimensions as the indents, just to make my life easier. My only experience with starboard was with sailboats and it was a sheet good. Maybe they also make wider boards.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I did, but wanted something in the same dimensions as the indents, just to make my life easier. My only experience with starboard was with sailboats and it was a sheet good. Maybe they also make wider boards.

That's a good point. I usually only see Starboard going up to 1" thick.

 

[Dp7]

and potentially wrap the corners (in what? tbd) to avoid friction wears & tears.

I opted for the 2x4 size vs a taller board because composite is heavier and I won’t be the only one moving it around, and because it’s easier to sneak a 2x4 between gear for storage than a 2x”7”

I'd imagine just doing a roundover on the edges/corners would avoid "insertion" damage to your bedrug and making it a very snug fit would limit rubbing/chafing while driving. I don't think plastic-wood-on-plastic-carpet would be very problematic in general.

You may want to join the two stacked 2x4's in some way to keep them from clapping if you're leaving them in place without a load on top... you could do some latches on either side, maybe something like this would be a cool look:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078LW3DB5

 

[Dave-in-RI]

They came today:

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