Securing M6 / 6mm Bolts in Bed Rail Holes?

[cafecito]

I don't have the factory rail system, so I am just looking at some simple rings or hooks that I can mount in the 6mm holes along the top edge of the side walls.

This morning when I tried to put a bolt in, it felt very wobbly. I suspect it's because the bed wall material is pretty thin, and there's not much for the bolt to grab?

Is there anything like a toggle bolt that would work to secure the bolt more? Or would using a short bolt with a washer make more sense?

I just don't want anything to wiggle loose over time.

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[JeepOfTheseus]

That "hole" is a nut, standard size. Once threaded in properly, it won't wiggle. How far did you actually attempt threading in, because another thing to keep in mind is that the spray-in bedliner tends to mess these up - you have to clean it out (some folks have said to re-tap it first).

 

[j.o.y.ride]

You probably used too small of a bolt but it felt like it was going in properly bc the liner made the hole smaller so the bolt kinda was the right size.

Tap it to clean it out.

 

[cafecito]

That "hole" is a nut, standard size. Once threaded in properly, it won't wiggle. How far did you actually attempt threading in, because another thing to keep in mind is that the spray-in bedliner tends to mess these up - you have to clean it out (some folks have said to re-tap it first).

I had a fairly long M6 volt that I threaded in pretty far. The bed liner guys did a great job of keeping the holes clear on my install. The bolt grabbed right away. It just wasn't super secure.

I found something online called a rivet nut, or jack nut. Maybe that would work?

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

I had a fairly long M6 volt that I threaded in pretty far. The bed liner guys did a great job of keeping the holes clear on my install. The bolt grabbed right away. It just wasn't super secure.

It should be fine once you torque it down to whatever you're trying to secure. edit: maybe share a video of what you're experiencing?

I found something online called a rivet nut, or jack nut. Maybe that would work?

No, because there's literally already a nut there (pretty sure it's welded to the sheet metal). Those would only be applicable if there wasn't a nut and it was just a hole in the sheet metal.

 

[cafecito]

It should be fine once you torque it down to whatever you're trying to secure. edit: maybe share a video of what you're experiencing?



No, because there's literally already a nut there (pretty sure it's welded to the sheet metal). Those would only be applicable if there wasn't a nut and it was just a hole in the sheet metal.

This is the only size bolt I can get into it. One size up won't even bite.

This is about halfway down the threads of the bolt.

https://youtube.com/shorts/BSaEw-ZUVdg

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

This is the only size bolt I can get into it. One size up won't even bite.

This is about halfway down the threads of the bolt.

https://youtube.com/shorts/BSaEw-ZUVdg

I would get an M6x1.0 nut and just be 100% sure the bolt you have is M6x1.0. Like @j.o.y.ride said, it's possible you have something slightly smaller.

Only other option is to look up from underneath, and see if you can spot any abnormalities from there. This particular nut is visible from underneath - there is no cover, it's wide open. See if the nut itself is wobbling (unlikely) or just the bolt. If it's really half-way through, you should see plenty of threads poking out, so it should give you some sense of what's going on (which btw, if it's really half-way through, keep in mind the distance you have till the body panel itself - it's not a lot, so be sure not to give yourself a reverse dent...)

 

[cafecito]

I would get an M6x1.0 nut and just be 100% sure the bolt you have is M6x1.0. Like @j.o.y.ride said, it's possible you have something slightly smaller.

Only other option is to look up from underneath, and see if you can spot any abnormalities from there. This particular nut is visible from underneath - there is no cover, it's wide open. See if the nut itself is wobbling (unlikely) or just the bolt. If it's really half-way through, you should see plenty of threads poking out, so it should give you some sense of what's going on (which btw, if it's really half-way through, keep in mind the distance you have till the body panel itself - it's not a lot, so be sure not to give yourself a reverse dent...)

The bolt I'm using is still in the packaging with the labels. I have several M6 bolts in differing lengths, and they all do the same thing. I even got out a tape measure to make sure they're 1.0, and they are.

 

[Radio Guy]

The bed has very thin sheet metal and I think a single hook with 6mm shank is going to bend the sheet metal if you put much stress on it. The bedrails spread out the load over a large surface area and seem to work ok.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

This is the only size bolt I can get into it. One size up won't even bite.

This is about halfway down the threads of the bolt.

https://youtube.com/shorts/BSaEw-ZUVdg

But that's probably because of the bedliner that's caked up. That's the point I was making is one size smaller might feel kind of right because of the bed liner buildup.

You can also see if somebody has a stock Gladiator you could check

 

[cafecito]

But that's probably because of the bedliner that's caked up. That's the point I was making is one size smaller might feel kind of right because of the bed liner buildup.

You can also see if somebody has a stock Gladiator you could check

The bolt I'm using is the correct size according to multiple sources: M6. How is adding bedliner material to a hole going to make the bolt wiggle? You're losing me.

 

[FloridaJT6MT]

The bolt I'm using is the correct size according to multiple sources: M6. How is adding bedliner material to a hole going to make the bolt wiggle? You're losing me.

Those are the right size bolts. It’s what I used for my molle panels. That nutsert looks loose to me. I didn’t have that issue when I installed my panels and I don’t have a bed liner. Are they all that loose or just that one?

 

[cafecito]

Those are the right size bolts. It’s what I used for my molle panels. That nutsert looks loose to me. I didn’t have that issue when I installed my panels and I don’t have a bed liner. Are they all that loose or just that one?

I tried the first two on the left, and they both do the same. I didn't keep trying after that... :/

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

Get a friend or camera and try to get a visual of what's happening on the other side, that's really your safest option at this point.

 

[cafecito]

Get a friend or camera and try to get a visual of what's happening on the other side, that's really your safest option at this point.

Are you able to see between the bed and exterior panels from underneath? Not sure what you're suggesting.

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