Closed - Internal Stiffeners

To reiterate for everyone, the internal bracket (bent part) needs its holes pushed outward.

The slots that connect to the L bracket work and fit as is, but are at the end of the slot so I will be moving them out a bit to provide additional clearance.

The nuts welded to the same bracket however, need to move outward to match the exterior bracket mounting so I will be making one more set and sending them out for one last fitment check.

This is the first time we've mocked with 3/16" hence the new discrepancy.

 

I'm glad the pics and descriptions make sense to you two!

 

I had made an adjustment to the 3/16" parts, based on the 16 gauge mock ups, but the change was so minor it wasn't noticeable due to the metal thickness.

I'll be doing a 1/4" adjustment to each set of holes and we'll cross our fingers that's it.

 

Also, one member opted out because these are listed in the 3rd Gen section.

2nd Gen should be exactly the same right?

 

If only they knew 3rd Gen is essentially a 2nd Gen skeleton with an updated interior and exterior beauty body.
The bones, framework, and the base platform is the same or have similar characteristics.

When I get my truck back from the shop I will take some measurements of the area in question.
Should be Monday or Tuesday this week.

 

I mean I'm sure they fit just the same, especially since these were listed as 2005 - 2023.

 

The cause for the change in the hole placement.



Good thing is, the holes measure upward exactly 10 3/16" and 12 7/16".

In order to achieve the 2" over mark, they need to be moved laterally by 3/16" (the thickness of the metal).

 

Y'all thought I was gonna sit on this until tomorrow didn't you

I'm so confident in the adjustment that I went ahead and used the last bit of 3/16" I had to cut a complete set.

Going to bend the necessary pieces, weld on nuts, and send the passenger set (along with driver internal bracket) for final fitment.

This should be it.

 

Can't wait for my air jack to arrive, pumping by hand is out of the question.

 

It’s… glorious…

 

I'm on 30mins of sleep, and at 95 degrees I'll just weld it tomorrow morning

Kiddo did NOT let me sleep one bit last night at the hotel

 

That’s how I felt on the way to Belgrade and from Portland. Take some z time and pass out.

 

I'll get sleep tonight

I'm the type of person where, if something is messed up, I can't leave it alone until it's fixed. Except my truck...I'll fix it later

So after getting settled in I thought I'd knock a set out. Chill the rest of the day.

 

Those look Buuuuuurrly.

 

When you see the "kit" in its entirety it's like 'got damn she's thicc'

 

Can confirm she is thicc.

Can't wait to confirm fitment so we can get this rolling for everyone

 

I was looking at the pics of the parts on page one (that you currently have), and then back to the latest set I cut earlier, and you can tell now how much closer the new holes are to the edge (towards the tailgate).

Also, not sure if I posted it here but I enlarged the holes on the exterior bracket another hundredth of an inch.

I'll be sending you a bottle opener exterior bracket if you want to have one on your driver side.

 

Are the bottle openers an "essential" part of the structural integrity? If possible I'd like to go for the cleanest look possible, I'm just not sure if the bed needs to be "sandwiched" or not.

 

You really need to just hold one of them.

Having a bottle opener or not, does not affect structural integrity whatsoever.



Not sure how to emphasize it's strength...being someone that messes with metal on the daily.

Do you have an aftermarket bumper? Or sliders?

Just about any and all aftermarket, off-road bumpers are made of 3/16" steel. Sliders will use mounting plates, even gussets, out of 3/16" because it's so strong.

But you could be right about the bed not needing to be sandwiched. I'm sure it helps though, seeing as how that's how it's designed. It's really more about bolting the internal bracket to the bed itself though so I'm not sure I'd trust bolts alone to secure the internal bracket to the bed.

So if you opted for something cleaner you could just go for the plain exterior bracket with no tie down and no bottle opener like so.

 

Anyone who thinks steel is weak. Ask them if there is any better material they can think of?

It’s steel! Think about it.