quick bed bolts question
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 619
Likes: 1
quick bed bolts question
Ordered the bed bolts set from Dennis Carpenter. They are all the same length, which didn't seem to be a problem, except that the two bolts closest to the cab are only 3.75" long, whereas the Ford OEM longest bolts are 4.25". I thought someone on the forum had said that the DC bolts were all of the longest variety (e.g. 4.25"). The ones closest to the cab won't work - they are too short. Anyone else have this issue?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 12
From: KY
Just put my bed on yesterday and front bolts are to short as well, I did manage to get the nuts on an flat washer but not the lock washer and the nut is not quite flush to bottom of bolt,,mine came from Dennis Carpenter as well
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
all mine are the same length . came from carpenter. tried to get carriage bolts , which i could but the head is wrong. too small diameter.
they have made in china on them and have the long square shank. probably hard to match. lowes didnt have them either. going to contact carpenter
and see if they have addressed this before. post if you find a solution. checked fastenal as well, nothing there.
thanks
they have made in china on them and have the long square shank. probably hard to match. lowes didnt have them either. going to contact carpenter
and see if they have addressed this before. post if you find a solution. checked fastenal as well, nothing there.
thanks
New User
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
Ordered the Carpenter set for my Highboy because they said they fit all models. WRONG. My truck had longer bolts in the front and rear holes. The Carpenter bolts are all 3 3/4" long which is fine for the center four spots but Highboys need 4 1/4" for the other four (rear and front). Took four to a local machine shop and they made them longer for me. Cost me a lot to bolt the bed down properly
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 6
From: Knoxville, TN
I got all my carriage bolts at the local ACE hardware. I saw no point in paying what DC wants for them when the same thing is way cheaper and local.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 853
Likes: 62
From: Oxnard
Throwing this out there, because this happened to me, which might be a possible solution.
Back in 2008 I bought my 1995 F-150, which had front end accident damage (not salvaged), bought another 95 F-150 for the body parts, it was a retirement project at that time. Anyway, over the last 20 plus years I developed a relationship W/a particular local Ford Dealership parts guy and one day while I was talking W/him at the Parts counter, I mentioned I wanted to paint the bed bolts on my 1995 F-150, but two of them were really pitted. He told me to wait, he went into the shop and returned W/a large plastic container of bed bolts, he referred to them as "pre-expended" and he asked me which two bolts were rusty, he picked two out and gave them to me. Obviously, he knew the lengths would be what I needed.
You might take one of your bolts to your local Ford dealership and ask if they have the lengths you need, it's worth a shot.
Back in 2008 I bought my 1995 F-150, which had front end accident damage (not salvaged), bought another 95 F-150 for the body parts, it was a retirement project at that time. Anyway, over the last 20 plus years I developed a relationship W/a particular local Ford Dealership parts guy and one day while I was talking W/him at the Parts counter, I mentioned I wanted to paint the bed bolts on my 1995 F-150, but two of them were really pitted. He told me to wait, he went into the shop and returned W/a large plastic container of bed bolts, he referred to them as "pre-expended" and he asked me which two bolts were rusty, he picked two out and gave them to me. Obviously, he knew the lengths would be what I needed.
You might take one of your bolts to your local Ford dealership and ask if they have the lengths you need, it's worth a shot.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 232
That's odd. Why would you have a shop, or rather why would a shop add length to a shaft of a common carriage bolt? I would like to think any company would turn you away and send you to the local hardware shop.
I got all my carriage bolts at the local ACE hardware. I saw no point in paying what DC wants for them when the same thing is way cheaper and local.
I got all my carriage bolts at the local ACE hardware. I saw no point in paying what DC wants for them when the same thing is way cheaper and local.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 898
Likes: 70
From: Coos Bay
Throwing this out there, because this happened to me, which might be a possible solution.
Back in 2008 I bought my 1995 F-150, which had front end accident damage (not salvaged), bought another 95 F-150 for the body parts, it was a retirement project at that time. Anyway, over the last 20 plus years I developed a relationship W/a particular local Ford Dealership parts guy and one day while I was talking W/him at the Parts counter, I mentioned I wanted to paint the bed bolts on my 1995 F-150, but two of them were really pitted. He told me to wait, he went into the shop and returned W/a large plastic container of bed bolts, he referred to them as "pre-expended" and he asked me which two bolts were rusty, he picked two out and gave them to me. Obviously, he knew the lengths would be what I needed.
You might take one of your bolts to your local Ford dealership and ask if they have the lengths you need, it's worth a shot.
Back in 2008 I bought my 1995 F-150, which had front end accident damage (not salvaged), bought another 95 F-150 for the body parts, it was a retirement project at that time. Anyway, over the last 20 plus years I developed a relationship W/a particular local Ford Dealership parts guy and one day while I was talking W/him at the Parts counter, I mentioned I wanted to paint the bed bolts on my 1995 F-150, but two of them were really pitted. He told me to wait, he went into the shop and returned W/a large plastic container of bed bolts, he referred to them as "pre-expended" and he asked me which two bolts were rusty, he picked two out and gave them to me. Obviously, he knew the lengths would be what I needed.
You might take one of your bolts to your local Ford dealership and ask if they have the lengths you need, it's worth a shot.
Sorry for the release, seemed like the right spot.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 232
The lazy S.O.B is probably the first to cry “nobody buys original parts, everybody wants cheap”, but will not get off their dead *** to help you buy original Ford parts. Sad part is it is highly probable you were looking at the parts manager! 
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 6
From: Knoxville, TN
I am assuming he meant the length of the bolt directly under the head of the bolt. They are a lot longer there than most carriage bolt you can buy at the local hardware store. The longer ones go in the front and rear and the shorter in the middle. These are original Ford bolts off of my 73 highboy laid out just like I removed them.
All my bolts were long shoulder carriage bolts. Like I said, got'em at the local ACE store. Tractor or Farm supply shops usually carry them around here.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 12
From: KY
Still, I do not understand why a shop would do this. Adding metal then grinding to square? Just sounds like a lot of crap to go through but I guess if that's all you got......
All my bolts were long shoulder carriage bolts. Like I said, got'em at the local ACE store. Tractor or Farm supply shops usually carry them around here.
All my bolts were long shoulder carriage bolts. Like I said, got'em at the local ACE store. Tractor or Farm supply shops usually carry them around here.