4 Wheel Parts Bed Stiffener Install

I think I’m getting an F-Bomb stiffy!

 

Damn I’ve been hiding under a rock just finding out about this inside-install bed stiffener.

 

count me in

 

Thinking I'll cut this tomorrow



I'll have to buy some steel soon though because I'm running out of the thin stuff I normally use for mock-up

Will use these cut outs on Saturday to confirm @outershell new hole setup

 

How's it all gonna fit though

 

Because I am a poorly regulated ADHD (diagnosed by Dr. Internet) Juvenile with passing CAD skills...


Each one has it's own manufacturing and assembly problems. The F needs to be mirrored for the other side. The um... other one will almost certainly lead to spilled beverages. I didn't get too lost in the weeds drawing it, as I'm sure you can modify your existing CAD to make this one work.

The actual size and shape of the bottle top catch on the F model will need prototyping, I don't have a bottle or a similar unit to check measurements on.

 

This looks awesome! Put me down for one.

 

I'll be deviating from this thread and making my own, thanks again for the valuable information @outershell

We'll be in touch via PM

 

I have had a set of these hanging out in my garage for over 2 years now. I am getting ready to finally install them, and did a quick search to see what pointers I could pick up. I had no idea they were unavailable, but this custom rebirth is fun to watch.

Kwikvette, let me know if you need to confirm any measurements.

 

Really appreciate you chiming in!

If I could ask anything of you, it would simply be to measure the thickness of the internal components and post what they are here

 

The triple nut piece is thinner, as its not really structural, you could probably get away with nuts and washers in place of that piece (12227).

 

This helps a ton!

Powdercoat is never fully even, and buying mild steel can have tolerances as much as al hundredth of an inch

So fair to say the first and second pieces are 7 gauge (3/16"), but I wonder if they actually used thinner steel for that last piece like 8 gauge (11/64")

7 gauge sheet around here is roughly $240 for a 4' x 8'

 

I wonder if, when making these in large quantities, they save money by punching these glorified washers / nut holders out of thinner steel.

 

Happy to help! It's funny, I read this entire thread this morning, starting from the OP. I saw it was 9 pages long, and figured it would go off topic at some point, but I was shocked to discover it is a viable conversation still today as I made it to the end! Glad to chip in, even though I obviously won't need a set personally.

I was pressing the calipers closed excessively hard in order to hold it steady while taking a photo with the other hand. Those calipers go to about -0.015" when mashed closed if calibrated to zero at a normal force. It's gotta be 3/16" for the two primary brackets. That triple nut holder bracket is likely 11/64", as you suggested, but if you end up with scrap 3/16" from the other parts, I don't see a reason to use thinner material. You could probably just tap the 3/16 and skip welding the nuts all together.

 

That is a possibility on tapping the long strip for sure, and yeah "left over" 3/16" is where I would be cutting those remaining parts from

At this point, it becomes a simple "is it worth it"

So for everyone reading, I can tell you this -

It will come out to $167 to go through Send Cut Send before taxes, with free shipping



That puts you at just over what 4WP was selling their kit for

The mock up parts, material used, test fitting, and another member coming over, will be time/work we're volunteering just to ensure I can make a piece that is easily repeatable for a small batch

However, I need to be realistic in what it'll all cost to make, not to mention there is the labor for purchasing said material, cutting said material (plasma cutting uses consumables), bending the necessary parts, as well as purchasing some hardware and welding and/or tapping parts

Then the real question being - how many people will actually buy a set come pre-order time? Cause it'd be hard to justify spending all that money only to end up with extra hardware and material I won't use

 

Although, reading back earlier in this thread I think that quote above is $12-13 short.

Someone had mentioned a small bend on the large L brackets, and at over $6 per bend, that puts the quote at $180 before tax.

 

Plus you would need to weld nuts on.

 

We'll still get you a set made, just won't be the day you come but we can probably cut a few "final parts" out of the little 3/16" I have left

Also, the "nuts" I added in the Send Cut Send cart are smaller than M10 as M8 is the largest they carry