Installed D-Rings in the Bed (Pics)

Got my swiveling!










So this size was perfect. The bearings were cheap. This functions 100% and I have 360 degree swiveling on each D-ring and I'm happy.

**However, I toasted a bearing trying to torque it down with a torque wrench. Is should have known, but the bearing deformed under the pressure, it widened and it smooshed down which hindered the swiveling function. My solution was to give them several good, quick blasts with an impact gun, but avoid the slow torquing pressure the torque wrench provided.

So I'll pick up my search for a harder metal/material bearing of the exact same size so I can swap them out and torque them to spec.

But this solution is just what I was looking for and the huge (albeit perfect) holes I cut in my OEM bed mat now have a purpose!

 

You should of used steel instead of brass/bronze , it would be a lot stronger and you could torque it to the proper spec

 

I have been planning to do this and was going to use a steel or SS spacer without a flange from McMaster. I'm no engineer.. what is the purpose of the flange in this application? As long as the spacer touches the bottom of the bolt head and the top of the washer, it doesn't seem necessary to have a flange. I think it would be much easier/cheaper to find a steel spacer than the flanged version.

 

Take a second to read my post.

 

I just jumped on and chased an idea another poster referenced with the flanged-type bearing. The flange bit may* be better for load distribution (?), but I do think a regular, non-flanged, spacer would work and serve the same purpose.

Would probably be much easier to find as well.

Let me know what you end up finding and how it goes.

 

nice!

 

Nice job OP nice clean install, that bead mat is sweet to too. thanks for the idea

 

For anyone that installed rings in the composite bed itself (not the bed bolts), I'd like to see pics of the locations you chose.

 

I did turned out great!
Check my build

 

Great idea! Nicely done. Good luck finding steel bushings. Not sure if you have any Taylor’s DIY Centers near you but if you do, they have a good hardware section with lots of random misc stuff.

 

With a harder material like steel, I don't think that you would need the flange, mostly because the sleeves under the bolt don't have them. I did some looking on McMaster Carr. While they have some spacers (straight or flanged) that would work, the prices are pretty high. Around $1.00 each, like the brass bushings, feels right.

 

Sub'd

 

After ten years I finally put a BAKFLIP bed cover on and just put in four D-rings my 2008 Tacoma. The whole project was pretty easy, used a hand drill and vise to widen the ring base holes to 1/2" (couldn't hold them down well enough with my drill press), and it took seconds with a Dremel to remove the enigmatic thread from the bolts to get the washers off. Even the bolt removal was easy (though I pre-sprayed WD-40 on the thread of the bolts a few hours before attempting). Some people had to shave an edge off their washers, but it seems to me it's better to have the washers against the bed, not the ring base, and with that config no shaving is necessary. Thanks for everyone here for the pointers.

 

@scrapedface Doesn't get enough credit for this idea .
I did the same thing, and it works out great because the washer acts as a "bearing" as the bolt spins, which lets you put a good amount of pressure with a file. It took a whole 30 seconds per bolt to grind down those ribs.

Anywho... First mod done Bolts were ok, only one of the gave me some grief, but nothing a bit of WD-40 couldn't solve.

I went with the army surplus d-rings, and ended up doing all six bed bolts (I like having options). Instead of cutting holes, I just did slits, so I can hide the rings when not in use. (The mat also serves to muffle any rattling).

Hidden:


Deployed:

 

Nice. I plan to go the same route. I'm thinking about drilling two 1/4" (or 1/2") holes in the mat for each ring, with a single slit cut between the two holes. So when the ring is "up", each side of the ring will protrude through a hole. Make sense? I thought I'd put a wood block under the mat to drill.

 

Nice. Try one without the holes first. The mat is pretty thick and can hold up the ring quite straight (provided you cut the slit truly parallel to the ring)

If you don't like it, you can always poke holes later

 

Where is everyone getting the factory D-rings? Any dealer or is there someplace online that has a best price?

 

I just went to my local Dodge dealer and gave them the part number and they had them in a couple days with no shipping charge.

 

how are you guys getting the bolt through the ring base? It won't slide through the bolt because the ring base hole seems to be barely wide enough.