Giant star drive screws

In the bottom of the bed of my 2017 access cab showing above the bedlineer are six giant star drive screws. I don't mean the black ones holding the D-rings in place, I mean the galvanized-looking ones on the right side of the photo.

Three questions about these:

1) What is their purpose?
2) The two middle ones are in precisely the spots where I need D-rings. Is there a product with a large enough mounting hole that would cleanly attach D-rings to these screws?
3) Is a nut going to fall off underneath if I unscrew one?

 

Lol those are what holds the ass of your truck together. Without them you would have left your bed at the dealership.

Yes you can remove them and put a D ring on them and re install. Plenty of threads on it, just search D-ring relocation or adding more tie downs etc.

I have never removed mine but I believe they are through bolts so yes a nut will probbably need to be held and "fall off" on thr bottom side.

Lastly they're called Torxs heads bolts and I believe the size is 55 for the bed bolts.

Don't quote me though...

 

Also, that's not a bed liner, you have a FRP bed Fibreglass reinforced plastic. All 2006+ Tacoma have the "tupperware" bed. Don't let that scare you though, glock was once seen as crap because it is polymer/frp.

 

Hi Chad!

 

I can confirm the bolts are T55 size.

 

The bed is definitely tougher than youd think!

 

no nut to fall off,, unscrew, rescrew..

 

Don't be defensive, I like it even more now. But I have to admit I thought I was getting a free bedliner.

So the entire bed, sides, wheelwells, etc. is made of this material?

 

It’s a big plastic box with steel bedsides on it.

 

If you are going to remove the bed anchor bolts you will more than likely need to use a breaker bar as they are very tight. Shop around for D rings, I’ve seen a post where someone modified the mounting plates so you may have to get creative.

 

given I literally just finished removing some as I was installing my bed stiffeners

55 Torx for the larger one.
30 Torx for the smaller one on the D rings


and holy shit just realized I should take the D rings that I had to remove for the stiffeners and put them in the front.

 

2005+ amigo!

 

that's what I expected but tried it with a 1/2 drive ratchet, regular length as most are, no where close to a breaker bar. Came loose pretty easy, just keep one hand on the top to keep force down on the socket so the Torx bit doesn't come out.

Otherwise not as tight as I expect, or I'm just a lot stronger than I though lol.

I was trying to find a torque spec for them in the repair manual but can't find anything

 

and if you need bigger bolts there for some reason, i once figured out the thread size/pitch. Don't remember now. Think i posted it in a DIY bed stiffener thread.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-free-mods.4838/#post-45406

Post #3 - D-rings mod.

 

Before putting the bolts back in put some anti-seize on them. You'll be glad you did if you ever have to take them out again.

 

If you lay under the truck you can see the nuts welded to the frame. Might be a good idea to give the threads a shot of oil to help loosen things.
Good luck! I put d rings on all my bolts and I use the 2 front ones the most.

 

Not having much luck finding a thread on this topic. Those terms turn up everything under the sun including tinting, winches, swaybars, etc. At least one is 6,000 posts long!

Any clues on where in these forums I might find info on something that might work? I found the OEM D-rings on eBay, but on my truck the D-ring bolts look to be smaller in diameter than the giant star drive bolts in question.

BTW, I'm opposed to drilling new holes, at least in metal. Past experiences with rust tell me no.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-free-mods.4838/#post-45406

 

As found higher in this thread.

Use a drill press to drill out the mounting plate of the d-ring to fit the bed bolt.