DIY Hi-Lift and Tool Mounts

One I kinda just threw together for less than $150 for everything.

 

Took a couple runs back and forth to Lowes to suss out the right hardware, but I finally got it mounted. I might have to get a longer bolt for the rear mount as there wasn't enough to leave the base plate on. Which is fine, because I need to get a new pin for the base plate anyway. The rusty bolt it came with does not instill trust. The jack was $30 at a local pawn shop. The mounts are 1.5" wide by 1/8" thick alum. Painting to occur later. Used t-nuts from

TN-560BP 9/16" T-Slot Nuts - 3/8-16 Thread (PACK OF 8 NUTS)

here. Near perfect fit, thought the bolts listed in this thread were too short to seriously engage. I got 1.25" bolts to secure the mount to the t-nuts. Probably could've even gone to 1.5". The real challenge was to mount it low enough the arms of my tonneau could fit. I have very little lee-way, but it all fits.

 

Not really a tool mount per say, but close...

 

Initial planning stages for something similar for an antenna mount...

 

I can't be the only one to use a single T-nut to mount the hi lift vertically right? (Disregard the shovel quickfist mount, it's getting redone.)

 

Four years later and IMHO this is still by far the most intelligently designed Hi-lift mount. Like the bed rail system, this concept ought to be adopted natively by manufacturers, or at least mass-produced by aftermarket manufacturers until then. Space-saving, secure, low-profile. I would love to do this on my 3rd gen.

 

Subscribed!

 

Im a noob here but where does everyone get the bolt/wing nut combo with the hole at the end of the bolt to stick a lock through? Thanks!

 

Is there a reason why you can’t use the quick fist for the hi lift as well?

 

You just need something a little heavier duty since the hi lift is so heavy. In a big accident I don't think the quickfists would do well.

 

@Benson X hey thanks for all the details. Not sure if this came up in the 26 pages of this thread but the measurements in the OP won’t work with tonneau covers . In my case I have a Toyota tri fold and that drops my bed rails 1” from their original position. So the flat steel bars needed to be cut 1” shorter all around.

In my case I cut them before checking (genius I know), but when I saw they were too long I just gave them an extra bend on the bottom.

Just figured the tonneau cover crowd would appreciate it if this was noted in the OP.
Thanks again for the great write up!

 

That's a great observation! Something to take under consideration. I cut bent painted and installed my brackets, not thikthing about the cover at all...
I have a Truxedo which is raised approx 1½" over bedsides, so my shovel fits perfectly.

 

Id think you could. I dont know why they wouldnt hold on any different than another.

 

Nice set up, gave me some good ideas for mine!

 

was able to make mounts for escaper buddies using this thread
3/8 6 inch bolt
hex nut
1/4 pvc drilled out 3/8 in the middle
lowes turn knobs

 

That's pretty slick. My boards were too long so I had to mount them along the rails and put the high lift across the front.

 

Resurrecting this thread because of how sweet this was, and it was my first time bending steel & fabricating (even though I roughly followed this thread) so it's cool to make something and mount it knowing you made it from scratch!

The tool mounts:














Then the fire extinguisher mount:

 

Are your boards mounted to a front bed rail using the T nut or did you come up with another way of attaching these to the bed of the truck? I also have the escaper buddies and am trying to figure out how to attach them.

 

Glad you got rid of that splitting maul and bought an actual axe, you would have a helluva time chopping anything with that! lol