Honest Question: with metric truck why include SAE hardware?

I've got a non-snarky, serious question that aggravates the $&#! outta my OCD:

Why do vendors/fabricators/aftermarket parts companies include SAE hardware for a metric truck? The metric hardware section of my local ACE is as extensive as the SAE section. Is grade 8 stronger than 10.9 and 12.9? Is there another reason that out weighs the need to dig up and dust off my long forgotten SAE sockets and wrenches to install the goods, not to mention adding another set of tools to my already heavy and bulging trail kit?

 

Good point. Probably a lot cheaper to use good 'ol "US of A" hardware....

 

Shopping at ACE (which I have done extensively for both metric vehicles and SAE classic cars), the retail price is the same. Seems McMaster Carr is too.

Owned an F-350 last year which was metric and worked on my buddy's Cummins truck (Metric) and seems to be the direction the world is going but not everyone.

Is it just laziness?

 

Not a great answer, but it seems that usually the sae hardware that comes with aftermarket parts is usually interchangable with metric. I.e., 9/16 - 14mm; 3/4 - 19mm etc

 

But not the thread pitch.

But you're right, for trail tools, metric will get me by.

 

On a side note, I find it amusing that after fighting a war for independence from the Britts that we still use a unit of measurement concocted from the size of the king’s foot.

Anyhow, back to the topic.

 

Good point. Hadn’t considered that sometimes the nut is welded etc to the truck in some instances.

 

Ive thought about this before too. Kind of annoying to have to consider what SAE tools to bring along on a trip

 

Anyone know?

 

It's because of the manufacturing process. For a lathe to cut or bore metric threads, you have to have a set of metric gears. You can't just buy two, it's has to be the whole set and they are VERY expensive. Also professional grade metric taps and dyes tend to be more as well.

 

No, grade 12.9 is the hardest of the hard. The tensile strength is through the roof. The bolts on the trd tow hooks are 12.9. $27 a piece at the stealership

 

That’s what I thought. They feel and sound way harder than grade 8.

 

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Makes sense from a manufacturing standpoint, but if you're a small manufacturer adding a bag of hardware to bolt-on your product, isn't it just the same to include metric over SAE.

My Firestone bags, RCI sliders & skids, ICON UCA's and Total Chaos bedside reinforcement plates all included SAE hardware. Drives me freakin' nuts (pun not intended) and am just curious what the thought process is other than the fact they aren't as OCD as I am.

 

write your congressman and demand change

 

Thanks. Thanks for that.

I will. You just wait and see

 

Would be a better use of time to just hand cut your own hardware with files and a vise.

 

^^^^Hahaha! Truth

 

Honestly I think its just that. Its not a consideration they make. Looking on McMaster the prices from SAE to Metric in a similar size, pitch, and material isnt really that much different.

 

Nobody buying in quantity buys at Ace. Way too expensive. Wholesale price, SAE is way cheaper than metric.

 

Back off topic...this is hilarious. And is it just me or is metric also way easier? 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 vs 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16...crap I lost count.

On topic once again, it could also just be habit and stubbornness. Change is hard for some people...