DIY Trail Rail System Sub $100

[bidingmytime]

If this alredy exists my apologies. I thought I found pieces of this whole thing but not exactly like this build.
I wanted to build my own trail rail system so here's what I have. Hopefully this helps people who were in the same boat as me. I could have made this easier and just used M6 shoulder eye bolts and screwed those into the trail rail mounting locations but I wanted something that could change locations.

I used
M6x25mm Bolts to bolt the
unistrut/superstrut, chanel strut (kindorf), to the beds. (B type half height)
1/4" cone nut inside the strut
1/4" shoulder eye bolts with
3/8" square washers
3/8" shoulder bolt (lifting bolt) 1 1/4" shaft. These required two washers.

Tools I used:
Socket, socket screwdriver handle to tighten.
M12 ratchet to run them out. (Just for speed)
Awl to clean thread chaser/holes

My gladiator has the spray in liner so all the exposed surfaces have been sprayed with bedline and are curing. I'll post pictures once it's ready.

I made a thread chaser from an extra M6 bolt. I also found that using a hair dryer to heat the hole while I ran the thread chaser in and out worked well. Don't over drive it you could definitely break a bolt off. Run it in and out multiple times cleaning the hole out.

I was able to get my Tonneau cover clamps about the bed rails being I used the half height rails. Let me know what you think.

Sponsored

 

[injaneer]

Thinking of doing this same thing. Since my bed has not been sprayed, thinking of getting everything cut and installed. Then remove and have the rails sprayed with the bed liner material. I figured I would be some extra bolts and fill the holes to protect the threads before the bed is sprayed.

 

[bidingmytime]

Thinking of doing this same thing. Since my bed has not been sprayed, thinking of getting everything cut and installed. Then remove and have the rails sprayed with the bed liner material. I figured I would be some extra bolts and fill the holes to protect the threads before the bed is sprayed.

Be careful taking them out and not breaking them. That liner is tough stuff.

 

[injaneer]

Be careful taking them out and not breaking them. That liner is tough stuff.

DO you think it would be better to install them and have them just sprayed all together in place, just pull out all the tie downs, etc ?

 

[bidingmytime]

DO you think it would be better to install them and have them just sprayed all together in place, just pull out all the tie downs, etc ?

No. I would want the bed spayed with nothing attached maybe just the bolts and cut them free. I wouldnt want the rails to have nothing under then though. If you took them off it'd be bare. I'm guessing, purely a guess, it's going to be about the same work either way.

 

[Mac's Tie Downs]

If this alredy exists my apologies. I thought I found pieces of this whole thing but not exactly like this build.
I wanted to build my own trail rail system so here's what I have. Hopefully this helps people who were in the same boat as me. I could have made this easier and just used M6 shoulder eye bolts and screwed those into the trail rail mounting locations but I wanted something that could change locations.

I used
M6x25mm Bolts to bolt the
unistrut/superstrut, chanel strut (kindorf), to the beds. (B type half height)
1/4" cone nut inside the strut
1/4" shoulder eye bolts with
3/8" square washers
3/8" shoulder bolt (lifting bolt) 1 1/4" shaft. These required two washers.

Tools I used:
Socket, socket screwdriver handle to tighten.
M12 ratchet to run them out. (Just for speed)
Awl to clean thread chaser/holes

My gladiator has the spray in liner so all the exposed surfaces have been sprayed with bedline and are curing. I'll post pictures once it's ready.

I made a thread chaser from an extra M6 bolt. I also found that using a hair dryer to heat the hole while I ran the thread chaser in and out worked well. Don't over drive it you could definitely break a bolt off. Run it in and out multiple times cleaning the hole out.

I was able to get my Tonneau cover clamps about the bed rails being I used the half height rails. Let me know what you think.

Mac's Tie Downs has an easy-to-install tie-down system for the Jeep Gladiator. Takes minutes to install and you only need a Philips screwdriver: https://macs.link/3iG4zQ4

 

[bidingmytime]

Mac's Tie Downs has an easy-to-install tie-down system for the Jeep Gladiator. Takes minutes to install and you only need a Philips screwdriver: https://macs.link/3iG4zQ4

I guess the install part would be considered DIY. The purchase would be DIY also unless you had an assistant that you asked buy it for you.

Sponsored