Extra bed D-rings...

Looks like everyone chooses either the McMaster's version or the army surplus version. Has anyone compared them by seeing them side by side? I notice the surplus rings are rated at 800 lbs and the McMaster's at 500. Other than that, I can't really see a difference. Anybody used them both?

 

OK, no replies, so I'll add this. I flipped a coin and ordered from McMaster. They arrived the next day, although the shipping equaled the total cost of six. It appears to me that they are now carrying the military surplus item. They are not semi-round, as in the illustration on their page, they are roughly pyramidal, like the military. Also, the hole is not as large as the 12 mm Toyota bed bolt. So, plan on drilling each one out, a PITA for six, and also introducing loss of the plating and rust in the perimeter of the hole...

 

I bought six from this guy this week. I havent had a chance to even install them yet but will report back how they work out. Cheap and fast shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370638124647?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

 

gotta get me some of these for the front... so stupid there aren't any down low up front.

 

Isn't it? Makes you wonder...Did anyone at Toyota ever try to haul anything when they were designing the bed? I mean, the cleat system is ok but nothing beats good ol' fashioned d rings!

 

Not everyone. I bought Tacoma OEM d-rings off Amazon for $24 or so with free shipping for a pair. Didn't see a lot of reason to chance it to save $10 when I need the D rings to hold up under load. When a rubber bed mat costs $100, $24 d-rings didn't seem like a big deal.

 

Also a great write-up using the Dodge rings...
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-post4383957.html?highlight=dodge#post4383957

 

That is a good write-up. TBF, I totally forgot about the Dodge rings. OTOH, I didn't expect to have to drill out all the McMaster's rings, either. I also used the BFH method, and he's right - just stick the next one in the hole. I just got through driving an 8' ground rod for my generator the day before, so the hammer and the muscles were handy and warmed up. I'll pick up a 31/64" bit tomorrow. That allows just a slight amount of lash for a 12mm bolt...

 

I decided to add six, since the OEMs won't even flip vertical. I didn't want any more of that design...

 

I have the military style. Had to drill out the center holes and grind flats on them to get them to sit flush. Seem strong, the bases rust more than the oem ones but the d-rings themselves hold up well!

 

Did you try to spray them to retard the rust, or did they just rust all over and not just the drilled-out holes?

 

I used the MOPAR rings... Iirc they were about $6 each and I picked them up from the dealer about 5 miles away so no shipping.

 

I sprayed them but they still rusted all over... Once you break up the factory paint they'll start to rust. That said, the factory paint is pretty tough, my ratchet straps haven't torn the d rings up hardly at all.

 

If I'd known I had to drill out the McMaster rings, I'd've bought the Dodge rings also. A bit further for me, since they're all the way across town, but it would have been worth it...

 

I got the military style, had to drill them out, and then hit them with a rattle can. The fun part was stripping one of the bed bolts that was rusted on. I tried a screw extractor, that broke. Then squared the head with a grinder and hit it with the impact. That broke the nut loose from its weld on the bottom, so I had to grind the head off and punch it out. After doing that, I removed all the bed bolts and coated them with anti-sieze. Just to save having to go through the same thing in the future.

 

Had those not been disturbed since '05? My new one (2012 - replacing the 2007 my wife wrecked), I was prepared for bear, but all I needed was my extra-long ratchet handle. I was frankly surprised at how easy it was, but they hadn't had that long to rust in. I'll post pix. I'm also using 1/2" eye bolts (sawed off) with square nuts in the place of the pricy OEM channel hooks...

 

I can't remember where I bought mine - military surplus variety. I've had them installed a couple years now. They've been great!!

I installed 4 of them (front & middle). We just moved into a new house about a month ago, and my truck was a work horse with probably 20 trips back-n-forth between houses loaded to the gills with crap. These extra rings were GREAT!!!

 

The two closest to the cab were the ones I had problems with. The drivers side is the one I busted off. The passenger side was "loose" when I bought the truck. I kept hearing a klunk behind the cab over bumps, and had my kids help listen for it. We narrowed it down to just behind the back passenger side seat. I went back and lifted up on the bed just behind the cab and found that the bed bolt was backed out about a half inch. It had been that way for awile, because it was rusted in place. It came free with the help of a breaker bar.

 

Got mine last week. Going to put them in soon.

 

Thanks for the link! worked out to 43$ CDN shipped for 6 of them.