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No clamps for ARE topper install on Gladiator

cmh

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my new ARE topper finally came in but without clamps. ARE says they are back-ordered and they do not know when they will be here. I asked what kind of clamp will work. ARE acts like it is a special clamp made to fit the Gladiator? I looked at Youtube and it looks like a C clamp to me installed in each corner, ARE says if I do not use their clamp, the topper will not be covered by warranty, but they can"t get them. Is there some kind of special camp for the Gladiator?
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rharr

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i will sell you mine. I elected to drill and bolt my ARE cap down.
 
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cmh

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I do not have the trail rail. Thought about drilling and bolting Too. How many bolts and size did you use on each side?
 

rharr

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2 flanged 10.9 bolts on each side, about 3/8 in size, large fender washers tops and bottom. I used the existing holes in the cap used in shipping. But my OCD drives me nuts cause ARE didn't make the holes symmetrical to each other, if i did it again I would drill new holes. Had to grind the sides off the fender washers for the bottom to fit flush underneath.

I would also remove the cap, drill the holes in the cap, put it back on, mark the holes on the bed, remove the cap and drill. Pay attention to how the under side of the bed rail is, I drilled through a lapped seam and lower fold distorted and I had to squish it flush again with a bolt, washer and nut.

Also look up fiberglass drill bits, they are pointier and don't chewy fiberglass up as bad as a chisel tip bit.

I asked the local ARE guy who has sold thousands of these things over the years and he thought 4 bolts would work fine.

These are basically what came with the cap
https://www.homedepot.com/p/CALHOME...llation-Set-of-8-Clamps-K-8pcs-3LBS/315807469
 

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Ted Striker

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Apparently, these are the same style clamps Softopper uses for theirs and mine has been backordered for two months because of it. Whatever company makes these clamps is hurting a lot of other businesses by not getting them produced fast enough.
 

rharr

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I still have mine, I should post them in the classified section for sale.
 

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Is there a clamp system that mounts to the trail rail?
 

WhyNotJeep

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When bolting it to the bed a large size plate, top and bottom would be a good idea to spread out the pressure. Caps built but no way to mount it to the bed that doesn't void warranty, cool, is that a plan.
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