How to install bed kit by yourself!

[YOLO]

I tried to come up with a way to install the bed strips by myself. Here is what I did.



I used a 30 lb weight to hold the bolt down from the bed side. On the bottom I used sticky rubber to hold the lock washer on the nut while sitting in the socket. Do what you got to do. It worked and made the job much easier.

[MR Cos]

nice work!

[jayoldschool]

Yep, I did the same tricks. Had to weight down the bolts with bricks. Having cardboard on the driveway considerably sped up the top to bottom transfer. Using a cordless impact was essential.

[YOLO]

Originally Posted by jayoldschool

Yep, I did the same tricks. Had to weight down the bolts with bricks. Having cardboard on the driveway considerably sped up the top to bottom transfer. Using a cordless impact was essential.

Looks great!

[jayoldschool]

I forgot to say that I used two or three nuts in the socket so the first one would grab (instead of your sticky trick).

[YOLO]

Originally Posted by jayoldschool

I forgot to say that I used two or three nuts in the socket so the first one would grab (instead of your sticky trick).

I did that a couple times out of necessity. My dumb self got two nuts on the bolt and made more work. I used the sticky stuff to hold the lock washer on the nut so I could reach up with one arm. The truck is lowered and I did not put it on jack stands. That probably would have made the install easier too.

[rvrfoot]

Yep i need to do that next.

[jbgroby]

You can also use your grand kids to hold the bolts down, cheap labor cost - you pay them in Ice cream.

[YOLO]

Originally Posted by jbgroby

You can also use your grand kids to hold the bolts down, cheap labor cost - you pay them in Ice cream.

Even better idea! That bed looks great. Very classy

[YOLO]

Originally Posted by rvrfoot

Yep i need to do that next.Attachment 1646348

Nice hinges and great color

[midnight rambler]

nice tips I just ordered new stainless for mine.

[jbgroby]

Thank You, been a LONG 10 years

Originally Posted by YOLO

Even better idea! That bed looks great. Very classy

[YOLO]

Originally Posted by midnight rambler

nice tips I just ordered new stainless for mine.

If you are using stainless or chrome strips remember to put something soft between the weight and bed strips. I did not have worry about scratching my bed!

[forestb]

I was using a weight but then I started using tape instead. You can hold down all the bolts at once that way. Also if you start from the sides and lay the boards in one at a time you can just reach around, except for the last 3 boards. I also found that on the cross sills that are more shallow (I have short fat fingers) I could hold the bolt in place with one finger and put the nut on with the other hand. I put a little dab of grease on the washer to hold it onto the bolt and placed a ball of duct tape inside the socket to keep the nut from falling to far into the socket.

[rvrfoot]

Nice job.

[YOLO]

Mounted the tool box today. I need to get the truck on jack stands to get the last few bolts through the bed strips.

[canadian_diesel1964]

Must be a fireman thing...IAFF 142 here...brother! Just a micro buck parts getter

[YOLO]

Originally Posted by canadian_diesel1964

Must be a fireman thing...IAFF 142 here...brother! Just a micro buck parts getter

Looks like a good start to me. Be safe!