Installed D-Rings in the Bed (Pics)

Corrosion is a bitch... I just struggled to get the first of four of the bed bolts out. Ended up stripping the torx head after making about 1/2" of progress, but was able to get it out with a pipe wrench on the head. However, looks like I'm pretty hosed on the second one: the head stripped while breaking it loose with a breaker bar. What's the best way to get this bastard out with a stripped torx head?

I swear I sprayed everything with pb blaster thoroughly!

Already ordered 4 new bed bolts from the dealer...

 

Cut a slot with an angle grinder and use a large flathead screwdriver or chisel. Use one with flats on the side so that you can attach a wrench/vice grips to for more torque. An impact wrench or driver is also an option.

 

Man, this is not my night. I dremeled out a slot for a chisel, but I can't get enough torque on it before it pops out of the slot. Tried the other two bolts, and the heads started to strip before they budged. Apparently the first one was the easiest!

I'm thinking I can find someone to weld some nuts on the top of the bolts...should I be worried about melting the bed in that process?

 

What they're going to have to do is, make a really short weld and then cool it immediately with a wet rag. Repeat several times. Then to get the bolts out, spray the threads under the bed, and then work the bolt back and forth 215 times. At 1st it will feel like the bolt isn't moving. Keep working it. Eventually, it will start moving. Keep going back and forth.

 

215 times back and forth should do it all right.

 

At least you didn’t break a bolt like I did. The bolts sit in a “well” that’s molded into the bed. Once you remove the bolt, you’ll see the well under the washer. The bolt has about 1.5 inches of shank open in the well which holds water.

As a surfer who throws their wetsuit and board in the bed, my bolts must’ve soaked in salt water for years before I attempted this mod.

The bolt that broke was rusted nearly through. The rest were all partially rusted through but held.

I ended up drilling the broken bolt out, bit by bit (literally).

 

I live in a salt free environment and was able to get mine out without issue - but before I put then back in I hit them with a wire brush, rustoleum, and lithium grease hoping that they will come out agin if needed in the future.

 

Which d-rings did you use, and what diameter washers did you use?

 

Get d rings from a dodge sprinter van. No need to drill them out and they’re a little beefier then the ones from Toyota. The washer is the stock washer off the bolt just have to file the retaining ribs off the bolt to get it off.



Installed with front bed bolts

 

Bought the rings on

$27 DC Cargo V-Ring Tie-Down Anchors |10 Pack | 2" Diameter Steel Bolt-on D-Rings for Cargo on Trucks, Pickups, Trailers |Flush Mount Tie-Down Anchor, Replacement for D-Ring Tie-Down w/Plastic Pan Fitting

Amazon (link). There are cheaper ones I only paid about $19 for them at the time. Don't know what size the washers were, they came out of a Mercedes engine I took apart and they just fit. I am sure if you take one of the bolts out and go to the hardware store you can find a size that works. You just need to make sure you have enough of them to space the bolt head away from the large washer so the D-rings can swivel if you want that.

 

The catch is I'm looking for d-rings that have a tab large enough that there is room to drill out the hole to accommodate small diameter washers in order to maintain the swivel capability. The Mopar rings, while they are a well built item, look to have a tab that would not leave much material around the bolt hole if I drill them out to accommodate the swivel-enabling small washers.

 

You probably won’t find ones with large enough tabs , you will have to make the washer/spacer on a lathe

 

See my post drilled and swivel.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/installed-d-rings-in-the-bed-pics.28533/page-36#post-19446115

 

How did you attach the D-rings to the bed rails? I like what you did, I need to get on this.

Edit: Did you use the factory bolts that attach the rails? if so is there enough clearance for the ring to move?

 

Plenty of room!

 

I stand wrong lol good post

 

I used these and they are amaze-balls:

https://armysurpluswarehouse.com/military-issue-vehicle-cargo-tie-down/

 

reading the thread now

is there a best D-ring?

I see mention of many different ones, at different prices
-Amazon: $14 for 4
-military surplus, $6 for 5, plus shipping = ~$14
-Dodge sprinter van ones, expensive
-OEM Toyota rings, expensive, like $50 for 4

 

I really like the Dodge Sprinter D rings. They fit the bed bolts perfectly. They have a nice coating on them. They're tight so that they don't rattle. I have no experience with the other ones, but I'm happy I spent the money for the Dodge ones.

 

I just read somewhere that they naturally return/spring back to the down position, if that's what stops rattle. Which sounds good and better than the Amazon ones.
Otherwise it may have been the Amazon ones where someone cut a piece of lawn mower line to put inside (to reduce D-ring movement) and melted the ends.

edit: never mind, just found this ad selling packs of 6 for $14. That's 2 more than the Amazon one for the same price

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-S...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

which leaves me with 2 extra,
but I hear the stock 2 (by the tailgate) D-rings don't fold all the way down whereas these do,
so to use up all 6, maybe I'll also replace those to match them all



just gotta decide on the other parts now such as installation
including how to cut the bed mat; ie slits vs. hole-saw circle cuts, etc.