Pictoral How To: Bed Anchor Install in Center Drain Hole

Hi -

I just added a seventh bed anchor to my rig. I have the two stock ones, four on my bed bolts and now one in the front center. Here's how I did it:

Step 1: Conclude that there is a problem. Oh wait, we're not at AA.

Step 2: Engineer solution. In this case, I chose to use the center drain hole, combined with a strong backing plate to distribute the load.

Step 3: Gather materials.


Parkrose Hardware of NE Portland has a nice stash of scrap materials and a fine selection of metric stainless steel hardware. Strictly speaking, I didn't NEED metric, but I have few SAE tools. I also can't stand having both systems on one vehicle.

I found a nice section of aluminum channel, sized 2.5" by 3", with a 2" vertical section. I suppose I didn't need the channeled stuff, but it looked like it would add at least a little structure. I settled on using a 10mm shaft size for the bolt, or the biggest that would fit through the eye of the armysurpluswarehouse.com D-rings. I also picked a series of increasingly large fender washers.

Full list of materials:

• 1x 2.5" x 3" x 2" Channeled Aluminum chunk
• 1x 10mm x 15 stainless steel bolt, 40mm long
• 1x 10mm SS fender washer
• 1x 12mm SS fender washer
• 1x 16mm SS fender washer
• 1x D-ring
• 1x 10mm SS locking washer
• 1x 10mm SS flanged nut

Stack of aluminum, washers and flanged nut in mock-up:



Step 4: Add 1/2" hole to aluminum or steel block. When milling aluminum, take your time and try to make it chip. If you get it too hot, it will stick to your tools. (Machinists, chip in if I'm wrong.)






Step 5: Bore out center drain hole to accomodate bolt. I used a 3/8" drill bit with a little wiggling to get it just right.




Step 6: Modify one of the washers to fit neatly on the D-ring using a grinder. Safety up!




All Better:




How it sits:




Assembled stack of hardware:




Step 7: Install top-side hardware:




Add underside hardware, stacking the 12mm and 16mm fender washer to distribute the force.



Tighten the hardware. I had to borrow an eight year old to hold the wrench on the topside while I tightened from below. Her mother didn't seem to mind the child labor.

 

Nice write up. One question... why so many tie downs?

Will

 

Boy Scout's motto: Be Prepared. I haul lots of whitewater gear, and the always come through in odd shapes. Lots of options for tying things down had revealed itself as a need.

 

I don't think you need the double washer set up.

 

Nice job! Good idea on that backing plate!

 

You are probably right for the load ranges I expect to see. However, considering the penalty for failure, things like a torn bed, I'd rather be safe.

 

Um, what about the water? I know, I know, it will drain out the back when you take off

 

I left the left and right holes open, and it is rare that I'm parked all that level.

 

ok, I forgot there were 3 drain plugs.. on another note.. the bed mat I put in the truck slides all the way to the front of the bed and the mat is jammed up against the bed wall and keeps the drain plugs from working.