[Vloggingadventureswithrob]

Never notice this until this morning:
https://youtu.be/IacqaFjLZy0

 

[TheGreatRam]

I think it's a combination of both reasons you've listed. The gap is there so the bed won't rub up against the cab and the weather strip is just there to hide the large gap while preventing debris from getting inside.

 

[johnj]

Read a bit a while back that said the strip is also there to reduce air flow and turbulence along the side of the truck, reducing drag and helping mileage a bit. Not sure how true that is, but it does make some sense.

 

[VaderRebel]

It's not as noticeable on the darker trucks. I never even considered it to be odd till I looked closer at the lighter colored Rebels.

 

[johnj]

I've seen it for years on Rams. My 2010 had it. And a neighbor's 2008 Ford has it. He asked Ford and they told him it also helps cut cabin noise.

BTW, there's also a horizontal strip across the bottom of the bed, if you haven't noticed.

 

[Lynwood]

The rubber strip is to reduce wind noise. My Tacoma has the same thing.

 

[rebel_mike]

The gap size on the Rebel is identical to the gap that was on my 2015 Tradesman. It's also identical to the gap that is on my girlfriend's Laramie. And all of them have the rubber strip. The gap does seem bigger than the gap that was on any of my previous GM pick-ups. It was large enough that I noticed it right away after I bought the Tradesman and got it home.

 

[rebel man]

Lovin the accent lol