2019 New vs Legacy GM Truck Body Type – The Differences Explained

While truck body styles stay largely the same year to year, at least within a body generation, there are occasionally differences to be aware of. Even the most minor of differences can make or break whether a certain part or accessory, say a truck bed liner for instance, will fit your truck.

GM has made some alterations to the truck bed style in 2019, with two differing options of the “new” and “legacy” body styles. We’re here to explain what those differences are, and help you be sure that you know what to be looking for when determining fitment on your 2019 GM truck.

2019 “New” Body Style GM Pickup Truck

One of the largest differences of the “new” body style for the GM pickup truck bed is the increase in the number of tie-downs. The new body style features 16 welded-in tie downs, with an additional 9 removeable tie downs, totaling an optional maximum of 25 tie downs within the bed. Three of these tie downs are located directly above the wheel wells in a horizontal row.

• 16 welded-in tie downs
• 9 removeable tie downs
• 25 total available tie downs

In the front, left and right cab end, 3 tie down hooks on each side in a vertical alignment. A box like area pops out of the cab end corners. This causes the bed of the truck to not quite be a perfect rectangle. This is also mirrored in the back of the truck bed in the two tailgate corners.

Meanwhile, the wheel well flattens out on the sides as it meets with the truck bed floor, and has more indentations along the well in the truck, rather than being smooth as it was in previous year truck models. Additionally, the new body style features flatter alignment up towards rail caps, and the siding on the truck follows and wraps around the 3 tie down hooks.

2019 “Legacy” Body Style GM Pickup Truck

The “legacy” style truck bed on the other hand, has a much lower number of available tie downs. This style of GM truck bed featured 4 welded-in tie downs, with an additional 9 removeable tie downs, totaling a optional maximum of 13 tie downs available in the truck bed. Three removeable tie downs are located on each side of the truck bed, just above 3 pillars that lead up to the rail.

• 4 welded-in tie downs
• 9 removeable tie downs
• 13 total available tie downs

The overall shape of the legacy style truck bed is much more rectangular in nature, with a smaller indent signature from the wheel wells. There are also two inverted “wheel well” like indents, which are located on both sides of the truck bed between the removeable tie downs. The wheel wells take on a shape that is overall more similar to the tire in its circular nature along the two sides of the truck bed, and has a smooth surface rather than a more textured one.

So, What’s The Difference?

The main differences from the “new” to “legacy” style GM pickup truck beds are in the number of tie downs, the wheel well design, and the overall bed shape. The new style truck bed features 12 additional welded-in tie downs compared to the legacy style, although both options feature 9 removeable tie downs. Overall this puts the total maximum number of tie downs at 25 for the new bed style compared to just 13 in the legacy style. The new style truck bed also has a less rectangular shape overall, making it less ideal for drop in mats or liners, and tougher to accurately coat a spray-in bedliner. This is due to the nature of the wheel well designs, which standout further and are less circular and smooth textured in their design in the new bed styled compared to the legacy style. Individually, none of these changes are massive, however all-together, they make a big impact on what bed liners, tool boxes, or cargo can fit into the bed of your 2019 GM pickup truck.

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