Drilling into bed

What is the difference between a Jack nut and a plusnut?

 

I have never done so honest question: how difficult is it to remove the bed bolts and raise it up and support with 2x4's? Would this give enough clearance under the bed to reach in from the sides or wheel wells with a wrench? Would this work or be worth it?

 

I believe they are the same, just different names.

 

Not needed, if your using bolts and nuts, you need 2 people. One under the bed and one in the bed. The only area you run into issues is near the front of the bed on the drivers side where the gas tank is.

 

Where did you find those “o tracks”.
I’m going to mount a bike rack in the bed of my truck and i’m considering using something like that. Do they sit flush with the raised rib of the bed floor? I’ve seen the airplane track all over the internet, but none that look like the one you have. Most are taller and would be end up taller than the rib.Where did you find it?
Thanks

 

I got mine at fleetfarm, I had to bevel the bottoms of them to fit into the channels to get them to fit right.

 

Thanks!

 

Where are you guys buying these mythical jack nuts and the mounting tool? I'm in California and the only thing I can find is weird shit from Amazon.

 

Thats the problem

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=plus+nut&crid=305VFDGPZ7MK1&sprefix=plus+nut,aps,83&ref=nb_sb_noss

Use plus nuts for the bed, they have a much larger flange surface than rivet nuts.

 

im going to get these to use on my bed. Says that they are specifically for plastic and composite. And I don’t think you need a special tool to install if you read on the description on McMaster carr.
https://www.mcmaster.com/nuts/rivet-nuts-for-plastic-and-composites/

 

Don’t bet on it, internal combustion engines are near their useful end in the US- you just might outlive your truck!

 

Jack nuts are known, in the state of California, to cause cancer.

 

I have used rivnuts in the past…..but I haven’t ever heard of jack nuts. I had to google them and my safe search was off. Got some interesting results

 

Take a quick look at what Toyota has used on the rear side access panels of your truck. Very similar to what you have called out from McMaster Carr. Perhaps Toyota has them available too.

 

As others have said, be careful around the gas tank. Something else to consider, the bed has structural runners built into the composite running left to right and diagonally. Just look out to make sure you don't drill into one. Nothing will happen, other than you wont be able to use your mounting methods without clearing some of the composite around the nut. It gets tricky making it flush with the bottom of the bed.

Here is a screen shot from my DIY Bed Tire Install video where you can see them. Not the best pic as a screen shot.

 

That's what I used last year (1/4-20) :

https://www.mcmaster.com/97217A393/

This is the video I used to avoid buying a $40 tool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxNAFlSzLcY
FFW to about 4:47 to get to the bolt/washer hack this guy uses. I bought a few cheapo bolts from Home Depot to make this work. About $5 all in, as opposed to $30 or $40 or whatever the specialized tool costs.

Finally, I would second what others have said about watching out for the support ribs under the bed. I measured them (best I could) underneath and tried to transpose them to the bed itself, to avoid drilling into them. Attached a few photos, but unfortunately I don't recall the measurements of each rib. This should give you a good idea of where they are though (on a 3rd gen DCSB anyway.)

 

When I installed mine, I drilled right into a few of the ribs. I ended up having to get under the truck with a grinder and dig out pockets in the ribs for my plus nuts to fit and expand properly.

 

M

McMaster Carr has everything

 

How's it holding up still? The rivnut.

 

Rivets did not work for me. composite bed was too thick and not ridged enough. I installed O-tracks too and I used stainless bolts and washers. I just checked the clearance under the bed to as not to hit anything. So convenience to have tie down everywhere.