Rock62
Well-Known Member
FWIW. I would suspect the lighter gauge steel on the front skid was for a couple reasons.
1.) Reduce weight to help meet the Federal Fleet Fuel mileage requirements. My stock truck tips the scales above 4000 lbs. It takes fuel to move the weight down the road.
2.) Reduce cost to manufacture the part. Likely a side benefit to meeting the Fed requirements.
12 years without maintenance.....yeah, I'd expect the bolts to be difficult to remove.
Shoot, I've got a couple of bed bolts that have only been in since 2018 (frame replacement recall) that reject any attempt to loosen them. They've been soaked numerous times with PBBlaster and hit with an air impact wrench. Next step is to attempt with a torch to heat the female threads. Maybe they will break loose so I can install the D-rings at the front of the bed.
1.) Reduce weight to help meet the Federal Fleet Fuel mileage requirements. My stock truck tips the scales above 4000 lbs. It takes fuel to move the weight down the road.
2.) Reduce cost to manufacture the part. Likely a side benefit to meeting the Fed requirements.
12 years without maintenance.....yeah, I'd expect the bolts to be difficult to remove.
Shoot, I've got a couple of bed bolts that have only been in since 2018 (frame replacement recall) that reject any attempt to loosen them. They've been soaked numerous times with PBBlaster and hit with an air impact wrench. Next step is to attempt with a torch to heat the female threads. Maybe they will break loose so I can install the D-rings at the front of the bed.