Rough Country molle panel/ bed cover install questions.

[starrskream]

Got the rough country hard tri fold and molle panels today. Well I got one molle panel...xtreme terrain only shipped 1 ...the other they said is coming soon...

PRO TIP: if installing both >>>INSTALL MOLLE PANELS FIRST<<< that last clamp by the tailgate is in the way of the screw hole for the top bracket.

The two clamp/ screw things that go through the bed cover. They leak like crazy, are they tightened wrong, or should i just go get some rubber washers for the top?

also, on the molle panels. Yeah i have to drill and install nutserts. Im ok with that, ive seen videos where guys just threw a self tapping bolt headed screw in there
similar to this:

are those more, less or as secure as drilling and using a nutsert?
If i drill im going to put touch up paint in the holes and use some black RTV to keep it as dry as possible.

I'll do a build thread when its all buttoned up. I honestly thing the rough country tri fold is pretty solid. The instructions suck sweaty Ba...s. Took me a minute to realize you need to remove the installed clamps and put on the other set if you do not have the trail rail system lol.
Also, it was missing one if the mounting bolts for the clamps(the top two that go through the clamp).

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[DarthAWM]

I used the nutserts when I installed mine, and given the number of times I've taken mine out to rearrange the things on them I definitely prefer them to self tappers

 

[starrskream]

I used the nutserts when I installed mine, and given the number of times I've taken mine out to rearrange the things on them I definitely prefer them to self tappers

thanks, I don’t plan to remove them. I did order the tool to do nutserts. Likely a more stable hole and less prone to ripping out.

I also figured out the black screw things. My stupid a** left the washer on the top.
I did add a 3/8 runner fender washer to the top and a zinc 3/8 fender washer and rubber fender washer to the inside as well. Just in case. If it leaks now I’ll just throw some black etc on the top rubber fender washer.

 

[DarthAWM]

Well I did have to get my fat hands behind the panels to mount and then re mount my Rotopax cans

 

[starrskream]

Well I did have to get my fat hands behind the panels to mount and then re mount my Rotopax cans

Yeesh, every time you take them off?
gotta be a better way than that nonsense.

 

[DarthAWM]

Yeesh, every time you take them off?
gotta be a better way than that nonsense.

No, just when I moved the hard mounts, had them on the back against the cab but moved them to behind the wheel wells

 

[Zero_Accel]

No, just when I moved the hard mounts, had them on the back against the cab but moved them to behind the wheel wells

I mounted mine the same way. In fact I'm thinking of removing the hard mounts one last time so that I can put RivNuts so that I can remove them without taking the molle panels off, if I need the bed space for some reason.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I would use nutserts over self tappers. You just never know when you might have to remove one. Like when you drop something behind it and you can’t get it out.

 

[starrskream]

I would use nutserts over self tappers. You just never know when you might have to remove one. Like when you drop something behind it and you can’t get it out.

im definitely going with the nutserts at this point.
These panels are pretty darn solid. Great bang for the buck.

 

[Camaroboi13]

im definitely going with the nutserts at this point.
These panels are pretty darn solid. Great bang for the buck.

I’m going back and forth between these and the Putco ones. Not sure there is a ton of difference between the two, as long as it gets the job done. Other companies that sell for 500 plus dollars need their heads checked.

 

[Zero_Accel]

I’m going back and forth between these and the Putco ones. Not sure there is a ton of difference between the two, as long as it gets the job done. Other companies that sell for 500 plus dollars need their heads checked.

I wish I had seen these before I got the Rough Country's, but Barnes has a full set for around $400 all said and done. Best part is they're no drill, unlike RC.

Biggest things are they say "sold out" but you can call for production times. And I'm not sure if they're even powder coated, and they're steel to boot.

 

[Camaroboi13]

$320 for the whole set

https://a.co/d/hrfBI7Y

 

[starrskream]

I wish I had seen these before I got the Rough Country's, but Barnes has a full set for around $400 all said and done. Best part is they're no drill, unlike RC.

Biggest things are they say "sold out" but you can call for production times. And I'm not sure if they're even powder coated, and they're steel to boot.

The drilling kind of bugs me too, I only have 600 miles on my truck. though I'm going to drill them, put touch up paint in the holes, let it dry, then some black rtv under the lip and around the nutsert before putting it in. About as much moisture protection as i can think.

 

[starrskream]

I’m going back and forth between these and the Putco ones. Not sure there is a ton of difference between the two, as long as it gets the job done. Other companies that sell for 500 plus dollars need their heads checked.

I was too, settled on the RC ones. they are quite thick.

 

[aqcjeepGlad]

I wish I had seen these before I got the Rough Country's, but Barnes has a full set for around $400 all said and done. Best part is they're no drill, unlike RC.

Biggest things are they say "sold out" but you can call for production times. And I'm not sure if they're even powder coated, and they're steel to boot.

I know this is an old post but for others reading this. You don't have to drill mount the Rough Country panels, you can let them hang from the top mounts just like these pictured above. But mounting the bottom gives it so much more stability and I'm sure those pictured above would benefit from some bottom mounts too.
BTW the rough country panels are great and priced right. They even include a bolt and nut to set the rivnuts without a tool, just don't drill the whole too big.

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