Bed to frame bolts, Part I

[_Ogre]

can't really say for sure, but 1/8'' and 1/8'' add up to 1/4'' of slop in your plan
i'd drill them the exact side of the washer and bolt, tap them in if needed
the washer is eccentrically drilled so you can use the square stove bolt and lock it in from turning
do a test hole in scrap oak or cherry to see if your plan is doable, as is, i think the head will turn

typically the bed rails are above the bed wood as a shovel guide (shudder )
so as your shoveling gravel (ouch) or asphalt (gross) out of the bed the shovel doesn't dig into the bed wood
if you painted the strips and bolts, recess the strips and bolts a bit under the surface of the bed wood



this is a little deeper than the plans on the bed wood site



and if you sprayed the bed strips... did they take as much paint as half your truck or what???

[thumper56]

Thanks for reply Ogre- I'm all set with the dados for the bed rails. Mine stand about 1/16" proud of top of wood surface. Don't plan on shoveling much gravel or sand, but may haul some manure and have to use an iron rake in the bed-ha!

My worry is with the bolts in the two second from outside boards that pass through the frame and secure the bed, understand the idea of the eccentric punched washers, as if they are in a recess, they will hold the bolts square "under-head" from turning as it is tightened.

The only way I can think to do this is to cut the recess with a fostner first- then drill the bolt hole off center to match the washer. This will require very accurate measurement and marking. If I drill the bolt hole first, I fear the fostner will "walk" if it's center point is on the edge of that bolt hole.

I'll try a piece of scrap when the new hardware arrives- if I'm lucky, the bolt hole is off center enough that this won't be an issue.

Thanks again and Happy New Year!