Here's a shower thought for the evening

All these aftermarket bolt on things like sliders, bed rack etc have SAE (standard) sized nuts and bolts. Would it be too much to ask when you order these items to be fitted with metric hardware? I was just thinking it would be more convenient to have one set of sockets and wrenches that are the same as our trucks; which are metric instead of carrying both.

Is it due to cost? Accessibility?

 

This might be just part of the reason, but pretty much every fabricator or machinist based out of the US is going to design and build in good ol' freedom units. Factor in a US customer, and it's almost guaranteed. Generally, anyone other than an engineer will give you sh*t if it's metric.

It's industry culture & convenience more than cost or accessibility.

 

You could always replace those bolts with metric stainless steel just a thought

 

Well shit, that never did occur to me lol

 

take longer showers

 

... and photos

 

Just know the metric/standard equivalent sizes. No need to carry both.

 

Another option would be a set of these or similar

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/5DSaaA-ytA4

 

This doesn't always workout. Sometimes you get lucky, 15/16ths is 24mm for instance, but it's better to carry both to avoid stripping anything.

 

Please... we've moved past serious answers and are now well on our way to locking this thread with inappropriate shower related shit. Get on board or kindly find a different thread to spew your relevant and actually helpful info that you took time to find for the OP. Almost makes me sick how awesome you are.

 

I've never stripped a bolt using a metric socket on a standard bolt/nut. If you use the equivalent size you will be fine.

http://extension.missouri.edu/webster/wrench-chart.aspx

 

Well, guess I'll be picking this up later today to have in the truck.

 

Had to read that twice At first I was like damn.. but well played

Those are slick!

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-49-...ic-Mechanic-s-Tool-Set-with-Hard-Case/3694342

not $50 unfortunately...

 

Eh this is an OK garage reference, but i would never use it on anything I cared about. For example, a 13mm almost never fits a 1/2" well enough to use, and most 12 point sockets this does not work at all. If the conversions were this clean, there wouldn't be 2 unit systems.

 

Ya. $79.99. Still, I'm tired of emptying my garage toolbox for when I want to go wheel or on a trip.
Probably still get a set.

 

I have this set, have had it for years, and it has been a good set and I use it all the time. I have had to replace the 1/2 ratchet once and the 1/4 ratchet once but Lowe's did the exchange for me no problem. Well, there was a bit of a problem for the 1/4 inch because they stopped selling the kit in the stores in my area so I couldn't just walk in with the broken ratchet and get a new one like I did for the 1/2 inch. But, they still sold them online so I just had to order the whole kit online and then take the kit back to Lowe's and they gave me a full refund on the kit and switched out the "broken" 1/4 inch ratchet for the new one out of the kit. What was cool was the "broken" 1/4 ratchet still worked, its just that the selector switch to change drive directions was not working perfectly so I had to fiddle with it to get it to change direction, which is why I decided to trade it in. So, right after switching out the ratchets, they offered to sell me the whole kit for $10. So, I ended up with two complete kits, one that has a bit of a jacked up 1/4/ ratchet that works and one that is new. I keep one in my garage and one in the truck now.

 

Using SAE wrenches works for most metric bolts/nuts, but not the other way around.

 

In my garage I wouldn't do it either, but that's where my tool chest is so I don't have to. A 6pt socket of either variety will work fine on a standard or metric bolt when you're fixing stuff in the woods or on the side of the road. It's a lot easier than stuffing a full set of everything in the truck.