what size bolts for bed strips??

[72step]

I'm going to be doing my own bed floor out of trex composite and was wondering if I can just pickup all the carriage bolts at the hardware store? If so what size?? I think the angle strips bolts are a size bigger??? Thanks!

[donthekawguy]

Are you using new strips or original? The new ones will use carriage bolts and the original strips use a bolt with with vertical grooves in it. Not sure on the size you need but get them at least an inch and a half long. One of the problems I ran into was some of the bolts were too short to use a washer on when the others fit fine. There is a lot of variation in the bed. Plus the kit I got was missing some bolts. lol

[PGSigns]

1/4 20 X 1 1/2 and 5/16 18 X 1 1/2 is what is in mine. Factory 5/16 bolts are carrage and you will need to look at the bed strips. Do a count and look for a local bolt supplier. Will get a much better price than a hardware or box store.
Jimmy

[1963c-10]

And if you get stainless steel...you can easily polish them up at home and save a ton of $$.

[72step]

Thanks for the info guys. I was looking at my bed strips last night again and they have rust and those grooved bolts I had to cut off are all stuck in there. Then I did kinda messed up the angle strips a little when I was dealing with those rusty bolts so I'm just gonna spend a little money and get the stainless bolt kit and stainless angle strip covers and stainless unpolished strips. Might as well put a more permanent solution onto composite which will make my bedfloor 100% maintenance free. This bed floor business is a lot of work and I only want to do it once. Thanks....Matt