Bed Carriage bolt holes

[Camar068]

Is there such a thing as an insert to weld in place of wollered out bed bolt holes? I've got at least 4 that need fixed. Not that it's a pain to put them on, but it's a bitch to get them off cuz the bolts start spinning.

Would like to fix it once and for all.

Thanks In advance

 

[hoagster]

Yes there is! I had to fix my rear shock mount and this is what I used.

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/FIXIT.html

You can probably get them cheaper from a local metal shop/retailer.

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[Camar068]

those look nice, but I mean the square holes that are in the bed itself. I might be a dunce and the holes in the frame are square also lol and rounded holes in the bed floor arent an issue.

Thanks

 

[Doppleganger]

I found my patches at the local hardware store. They were for lag bolts into a wood deck. About the size of a silver dollar with the correct size square hole in it. I had to smash flat the small spikes that were bent for holding into wood - but they worked perfectly.

I'll get a pic of them if you need.

 

[DanMcG]

I found my patches at the local hardware store. They were for lag bolts into a wood deck.

Brilliant!, I didn't know there was such a thing until I googled lag bolt washer. good to know.

 

[75gmck25]

I believe there is a product for this purpose, since I’ve seen them used in a few junkyard trucks.

The washers are larger than the bolt hole and square shaped, like big oval washers with a square cutout in the middle. They look like they might be designed to be tack welded in place, since there is nothing on them to bite into the bed surface and stop from turning. However, the oval shape makes them narrow enough to snug down into the rib inset in the bed floor, and the raised rib keeps them from turning.

 

[Doppleganger]

I guess I should have said carriage bolts. lol

This is what they look like. Several sizes - didn't think they'd have any big enough, but they did. Just take a bolt with you to size it.

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[Camar068]

I guess I should have said carriage bolts. lol

This is what they look like. Several sizes - didn't think they'd have any big enough, but they did. Just take a bolt with you to size it.

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Thanks Dopple and all. I may wait until I take the bed off and weld in underneath.

 

[Raider L]

Wow, those are neat. I'll have to remember them. What I've started shortly after joining this forum was a manila file folder marked the name of the forum. On the inside I keep all these kinds of fixes, shortcuts, parts that make life easy for a Square, etc.. I just copy the particular page with whatever it is. That way if I need something the first place I go is the folder to see if whatever I need is in there.

 

[Allan Abley]

That is what I have used in the past. the only issue is that the ones I found at local hardware store were galvanized. just be careful when welding them as the galvanized give off gas.

 

[RecklessWOT]

That is what I have used in the past. the only issue is that the ones I found at local hardware store were galvanized. just be careful when welding them as the galvanized give off gas.

easy fix, just hit them on a wire wheel before you weld it. The galvanization is only a thin layer on the surface, comes off very easily (especially on something so small like this would take only a couple seconds), the metal underneath is just regular steel and totally safe to weld.

And realistically if I'm just doing a couple tack welds on something galvanized I hold my breath for a few seconds until I can walk away

 

[75gmck25]

In general, these are sold as “square ID hole washers,” or “carriage bolt washer plates,” or “square neck bolt washers,” so there are quite a few sources. However, many are from sources with mail order only and you might have to buy a box.

 

[Doppleganger]

I got mine at a local Do It Best hardware store. There's several sizes - the biggest one they carry is perfect. $1 - 1.50 ea.

 

[Turbo4whl]

That is what I have used in the past. the only issue is that the ones I found at local hardware store were galvanized. just be careful when welding them as the galvanized give off gas.

A professional welder once told me, when ever he needed to weld some galvanized metal, he first drank a pint of milk and never had a problem with the gas.

Don't know if that is the norm.

 

[C10MixMaster]

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Stepside bed washers could be another option