DIY Axe Mount on Bedrails

I got bored so I decided to make an axe mount for my bed rails.

Here it goes.

What's required:

- A mounting plate (I bought a roof joist from LOWES for $4 a piece. It would've been ideal to find a flatter piece but I was focused on doing minimal work as possible. So I found ones pictured below which had drilled holes that were the perfect size for my application.)
- Large bolt+washer+nuts X2 for $3 (This is to slide through the rails and hold the plate. I can't recall what exact sizes these were, but I'm pretty sure some can provide a link to a different thread with the measurements.
- Screws 8-32 x 3/4 (x2) $2 (For mounting the quickfist on to the plate)
- Nuts 8-32 (x2) $2 (For securing the screws that mount the quickfist on to the plate)
- Medium Quickfist clamps x2 (this $30 pack is a great deal

$33 END OF ROAD 8 piece Quick Fist Clamp Mounting Kit - 90010

https://www.amazon.com/piece-Quick-...d=1518313769&sr=8-2&keywords=quickfist+clamps)

I won't do a step by step as it is pretty self explanatory but I will add my 2 cents:
- I primed and painted the plates with some rattle cans that I had left over for rust prevention and a better cosmetic look.
- The closer the mounts are to each other towards the centre of the axe the better the axe fits as the handle gets thicker towards the head and makes the clamp too tight.
- After fit testing on the passenger side as seen in picture, I decided to move it to the driver's side for easier accessibility when I get out of the truck.
*Please excuse the plates appearing to be a little crooked, it was only for fit test purposes.

If you are curious about the axe, it is a Fiskars X27. This thing is a beast,splits wood like butter. My friend was bitching why I would spend $50 on an axe. Needless to say once he tried it out, he asked me where he could get one. lol

 

Looks like it works well. You wrote: "It would've been ideal to find a flatter piece but I was focused on doing minimal work as possible."

If I recall, the flat roofing plates should be located right there with those angled ones you bought... for future reference.

But that bent mount would also make a good axe and shovel holder if you put a second set of quick fists on there.

 

Lol as embarassing as it is to say, I've only been to a hardware store a handful of times in my lifetime. Just grabbed what I could find

 

Okay maybe a little bit exaggerated lol. But I've only starting being a bit more "handy" or motivated to "DIY" since recently buying my taco and buying a house with more workspace. Slowly getting my Man Card since owning this beauty. haha

 

You’ll be buying man stuff and filling up your workspace soon

Dang, my wife came with more tools than me, but that didnt last long when we moved between a True Value and Harbor Freight!

 

Will be trying out this setup this weekend. Bought all the screws etc. Guess we will find out if the bolts I bought are the right size.

Thanks for the idea for a cheap alternative!

 

Nice. Post pics after install. I've realized you can shave down the edges of the bolt to make it slide on the bed rail a bit smoother. Shave it like so it ends up looking like ( ) this.

 

Does anyone know what size bolt heads would fit in the bedrail?

 

I have used these as they come with the Hex bolts,

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Tacom...768018?hash=item2f12141192:g:g34AAOSwbtNaR~ix

 

I like this mod but I’m a bit impatient with painting so mine are a little special. But I liked using these joist so the shovel sit off the side of the bed and doesn’t scratch the bed.

 

When all your paint flakes off the galvanized metal, wash them down with some white vinegar to etch them, then rinse, dry, and repaint.

 

Just what I was looking for, I've been trying to figure out how to mount this axe ( same one that you are showing ). I know this is a older post but Thank you for it.

 

Pretty neat solution. Sub'd to find out what size bolt/nut/washer combo others used in the bedrails. Bless everyone who can just "wing it" at the hardware store, I'm not that competent yet.

 

Thanks to OP I was able to build some as well. Similar to what he did but I added 3” bolt with a cap and spacers to add some rigidity. I had to drill one of the holes a bit larger but besides that I followed OPs idea to a T.
.

 

Just finished mine up. worked out pretty well. Not sure if I'll keep the set up this way or change the brackets out. So far no movement, no rattling.

 

Aluminum Z-bars, stainless steel hardware. Quick fists, right board for shovel, left for the axe. Job done!