Malcolm Ervin
Member
Use two (2) 5/16 x 3/4 long (1/4-20 threads) Hex Socket Head Shoulder Bolts
and 1/4-20 Weldnuts.<BR>
Two (2) 1/4-20 Hex Head Bolts (1-1/4" long) and four (4) Standard Nuts would
also work. Both are shown here.<P>
I used shoulder bolts and weldnuts and painted them to help keep the rust
away. The advantage of using weldnuts or "T" nuts is that you don't need
needlenose pliers to hold the oblong shaped nut while tightening it because
of the inside curve of the tube. If you don't use a shoulder bolt an extra
nut will be needed on the outside.
Remove the cage from the truck and turn upside down on the ground.
Remove the tube caps from the bottom tubes (closed position).
Drill a 1/4" hole through the bottom of ea of the two plastic lock pin
housings (centered) and into the steel tube. Be careful when penatrating
the tube not to drill the locking pin.
Turn the cage upright and set up onto the tailgate. Thread the bolt thru
the hole and into the nut and tighten. I used my Allen wrench to hold the
nut in place over the hole while turning the bolt with my fingers.
Replace tube caps and re-install cage onto truck bed. The cage must be
installed with the tailgate down and the cage in the open position.
It took me 6 min 27 sec to do this and part of that time was spent on
rescueing my allen wrench from my messy workbench.
and 1/4-20 Weldnuts.<BR>
Two (2) 1/4-20 Hex Head Bolts (1-1/4" long) and four (4) Standard Nuts would
also work. Both are shown here.<P>
I used shoulder bolts and weldnuts and painted them to help keep the rust
away. The advantage of using weldnuts or "T" nuts is that you don't need
needlenose pliers to hold the oblong shaped nut while tightening it because
of the inside curve of the tube. If you don't use a shoulder bolt an extra
nut will be needed on the outside.
Remove the cage from the truck and turn upside down on the ground.
Remove the tube caps from the bottom tubes (closed position).
Drill a 1/4" hole through the bottom of ea of the two plastic lock pin
housings (centered) and into the steel tube. Be careful when penatrating
the tube not to drill the locking pin.
Turn the cage upright and set up onto the tailgate. Thread the bolt thru
the hole and into the nut and tighten. I used my Allen wrench to hold the
nut in place over the hole while turning the bolt with my fingers.
Replace tube caps and re-install cage onto truck bed. The cage must be
installed with the tailgate down and the cage in the open position.
It took me 6 min 27 sec to do this and part of that time was spent on
rescueing my allen wrench from my messy workbench.
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