Home Made Bed Rail Mount Brackets

So I got an AMAZING deal on a Bakflip G2. Only problem, no mounting hardware with it. I'm too impatient to order from Bakflip and spend many times more to wait for a longer install. Time to go to the hardware store. I needed a bolt head in the rail with the ability to hold itself in place for tightening.

After a few fails with fitment and multiple trips to the store, I had success. I was trying to figure out how to seat a carriage bolt in the bed rail. Enter u-bolt top plates. Found a 3/8 plate that was a perfect fit in the rail. Bought 6 of em along with carriage bolts, nuts, and washers. Install at home only to find out 3/8 is too big for the Bak Rail Mounts, they won't fit. I knew the 5/16 top plate was too small. Defeated, I almost ordered $30+ in parts ready to wait out shipping.

Then I realized I could seat the carriage bolt in 5/16 and hold the mount in the rail with a 3/8 top plate. Back to the hardware store. End result, success! I'm pretty sure you could also use this to mount shovels, hi-lift jacks, etc. All for less than $2 a pop.

Now I just need a Pop-n-Lock to secure the bed. I've got some ideas how to improve security on the cover (so you can't open it with a coat hanger). Will Update when it happens.

 

Budman, I know it has been a while since you posted the above information, but thanks for posting it, I was wondering what the size of the rail openings were, and this gives me the required information

 

@t.hornstra

 

We'll just bump this every couple years.

 

@T4RFTMFW Ah! I knew someone in Norcal had mentioned it. Thanks bromigo

 

This is such a simple no-nonsense solution. It would be easy to throw on some plastic knurled finger knobs too instead of standard nuts.

One could think of lots of ways to customize this too, for fitment of various things at different heights inside the bed. I’m almost ashamed that I have paid $50 or $60 for custom mounts for different items. Bravo.