Bolts that secure bed - Need specs

I may need to replace two of the bolts that secure the bed to the frame, because I'm looking at using the two front ones to mount a custom item. The existing bolts may be a bit short. Does anyone know the specs on the existing bolts? All I know is that they require a 55 Torx to remove, but I would need complete specs in order to locate longer bolts.

 

your best bet would be to remove 1 bolt and take it to Lowes... find a nut that threads on and then you'll have the bolt specs.

What are ya going to mount?

 

Or a fastener supply house...
http://www.thomasnet.com/southern-california/automotive-fasteners-27600006-1.html

 

that too...

got a Fastenal around somewhere??

 

You won't find it at Lowe's or Home Depot and I probably not at the "fastener supply house" either. I tried all of that to no avail when I destroyed one while adding D rings: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/19504-truck-bed-bolt.html

If you are able to find an aftermarket one, PLEASE post the info because that would really help others.

 

If it ain't available at a reputable "fastener supply house" (or their sources), it ain't available
It may be possible to get them from your Toyota dealer (read spendy) and if they don't have them, then see if they can check with their nearest Toyota Logistic Services depot for that fastener.
That's pretty much it.

 

^I'd say it's almost a full inch.

I'd make a bet on that one, actually. These are specialized bolts and the only place, after looking for a week online and off, was at the dealership and they had to be ordered.

 

Now that's why I inserted the CYA clause.....Toyota Logistics Services

 

Go to a good hardware store, like ACE or True Value. Lowes and Home Repo doesnt carry enough of anything metric. You probably wont get a torx head but whatever you get make sure it's grade 8, that is the strength of the bolt, grade eight is mucho grande.

 

I'll bet you tell all the girls that!!

Sorry I had to...

Now to add a useful remark to the thread!
You can take in your old one to a person who has a metal lathe and they can build you one! May have a custom head on it.. (not a Torqx but it would work?)

My Dad just sold his lathe last weekend so I can't help out... someone on here might be able to fabricate one?

 

very good information, or if you have a tap and die set, measure it out, and order them online.

 

check with the one of members who recently mounted a spare tire in the bed...probably had to do something similar...

 

I'd go with this... Try am ACE hardware or something....

Worst case you don't end up with a Torx head.... just make sure you get a grade 8 bolt or better...

 

Theirs did not use the factor bed mounting bolts as far as I know. I remember something being said about drilling holes and a custom bottom plate to keep them from pulling through the bed.

 

Yep, just a top and bottom plate for my bed mount tire carrier, nothing to do with the bed bolts. Like Wilson said, there's almost a full inch of thread before they engage. As I recall, those bolts have a very fine metric thread, not a coarse thread, and I'd have to guess it would be very difficult find something to work with. They are only threaded about half the length or so as I remember it.

x2 on what Johnson said. Just take 1 bolt to a local metal shop and see if they can order an oversized length and diameter grade 8 bolt and turn it down to size and match the thread for what your project requires? Or at the least, maybe they can tell you the thread so you can search online?

We all want to know, what is your custom item??

 

you will be looking for a 10.9 mark on top of the bolt for grade 8 strength...obviously, the torx head bolt won't have this designation cause there's a big hole in it. a standard hex head cap screw of metric variety will be marked 8.8 or 10.9. SAE grade bolts 8 should have 5 hash marks around the head pointing in, grade 5 will have three. what you need to find these bolts is the diameter and the thread pitch. it'll be like: 16mmx1.5x50mm. (example) the thread pitch is the crucial (middle)number. the first number is your diameter and the last is the length. there are several pitches for each size of metric fastener...(1.0, 1.5, 1.75 and 2.0 i think) these numbers refer to the number of threads ^^^ per 1 millimeter of length.

if you have a NAPA in your area, check with them...they may be able to identify it for you, even if they don't have it.

does the bolt thread into a mounted nut (on the frame) or just pass through the bed and frame then secure with a nut? (have never looked at mine, though i will face this dilemma in the future when i put my "custom" stuff in.) hope this helps and be sure to report back if you figure it out.

 

I think it threads into the frame, hence the concern with trying to find new ones.

 

^Yes, it threads directly into the frame.