Bed Bolts
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2020
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Bed Bolts
I purchased a used 2017 F350 and noticed that one of the bed bolts is loose and one is not even secured, so it can be pulled out of the bed easily. It is too late to take it back to the dealership. The spray in bed liner was new when I bought the truck, so they removed the bolts and reused them and didn't worry about the fact that one of the bolts wasn't even secured. Will a new set of bed bolts simply screw in or is there a nut on the other end? The bolt that can be removed is the second bolt from the cab on the driver side. I would prefer to correct this problem myself, because local shops that I have called want to charge 100+ dollars to put new bolts in. Any advice is much appreciated!
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2020
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I would use them, but I found a pdf online from Ford which says never to reuse the bolts. They are a one time use. I have never worked with bed bolts, so I am also not sure if there is a nut on the other end.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2019
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Im unsure about the nut, if its a captured nut or what. I do know that the majority of spray in bed liner companies, reuse the bed bolts without failure. Including my own truck. Yes, Ford considers them to be one time use, but there has not been any definitive reason why. There are 8 bed bolts with a torque spec of 129 lb ft., I dont think reusing the bolts will hurt you or anyone else. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Ford techs reuse them whenever the bed needs to be lifted.
Will that one bolt that you can pull out, not tighten?
Will that one bolt that you can pull out, not tighten?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2020
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I have tried to look from underneath during the day so light would be coming through, but still cannot see where the bolt hole is. From what I can tell your right though, there should be a "nut" of some sort to hold the bolt in place. I am concerned that it somehow fell when they removed the bolt and they decided not to worry about fixing it.
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Junior User
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Ask the author of this thread. He removed the bed, installed a hitch prep, and reinstalled the bed.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...z-5f057-b.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...z-5f057-b.html
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,866
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From: Rainier OR
My OPINION on why they are considered single use bolts is they have a locking thread design.
The tread are is slightly squared and not perfectly round.
Naturally, to cove their buts, ford doesn't want the liability of a bed bolt(s) coming loose on causing a problem that could injure someon.
The locking feature might not work after they have been used once so Ford recommends replacing them.
The locking feature can also change the torque required to get them tight AND not case damage to the bed structure.
I regular bolt without locking theads might distort of deform the bed if torqued to the same ammount as the locking bolt.
I used blue loctite when I reused mine. And just got them tight.
The tread are is slightly squared and not perfectly round.
Naturally, to cove their buts, ford doesn't want the liability of a bed bolt(s) coming loose on causing a problem that could injure someon.
The locking feature might not work after they have been used once so Ford recommends replacing them.
The locking feature can also change the torque required to get them tight AND not case damage to the bed structure.
I regular bolt without locking theads might distort of deform the bed if torqued to the same ammount as the locking bolt.
I used blue loctite when I reused mine. And just got them tight.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2017
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
I looked this up and posted on this subject in the past but since then the company that made these fasteners for Ford has taken the link down. From what I remember the main reason for the trilobular design was to form threads on the assembly line making for faster installation while avoiding cross threading. Along the same lines of bobv60’s post these bolts are also vibration resistant and should not come loose. Here is a wiki link for pentalobular screw thread but it is the same concept.
Also look at this past post from this forum post17978054
Also look at this past post from this forum post17978054
Last edited by Steelcity; Mar 25, 2020 at 03:24 PM. Reason: Added an old post link.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2019
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So it sounds like if one was truly concerned about re using the bolts, you would have to not only replace the bolts, but the clips/nuts whatever they are, too.
Using only new bolts, doesn't seem much different than re-using the existing.
Using only new bolts, doesn't seem much different than re-using the existing.
