Reusing bed bolts?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
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They are defined as one time use but members on this forum have reused them and reported no problems. You could reuse the bolts after installing 5th wheel kit and then replace them with the bolts that came with the kit after the bed liner is applied.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2018
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
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It has nothing to do with the age of the bolts. I don't know the specifics of the Ford design but there are bolts that achieve the designed clamping force by stretching. Once stretched the bolt cannot be stretched again. That doesn't mean you can't reinstall the used bolt and tighten it. The reused bolt will not provide the intended clamping force. Whether that will become an issue or not for the bed attachment is unknown. You have new bolts as part of the 5th wheel kit, why not use them?
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Fleet Mechanic
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It has nothing to do with the age of the bolts. I don't know the specifics of the Ford design but there are bolts that achieve the designed clamping force by stretching. Once stretched the bolt cannot be stretched again. That doesn't mean you can't reinstall the used bolt and tighten it. The reused bolt will not provide the intended clamping force. Whether that will become an issue or not for the bed attachment is unknown. You have new bolts as part of the 5th wheel kit, why not use them?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
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From: Ridgway, CO
I swapped beds on my 2012 truck, then proceeded to use it as always with no problems over several years. I personally wouldn't be the least bit concerned re-using the bolts BUT, if they sent new ones, I would install those. I am not sure why they would have to come out again for a bedliner...
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
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Yes the service manual says to discard the bed bolts after removal, and it has been discussed on the forums, with speculations made as to why that might be. There are several theories.
I don't think those 5th wheel prep kits used to come with new bolts, also I don't think the instructions for the prep kit said anything about replacing those bolts in the past. There are Ford techs who acknowledge reusing the bed bolts. You mentioned Line-X, as you know, many of them remove and reuse the bed bolts and have done so on thousands of these trucks (mine included). Knowing that there are thousands of trucks on the road that have had their bed bolts reused by the owners, bed liner techs, and even Ford techs, has anyone ever heard of one that had a problem associated with it? I have not......but if they included new bolts, I see no reason not to use them.
I don't think those 5th wheel prep kits used to come with new bolts, also I don't think the instructions for the prep kit said anything about replacing those bolts in the past. There are Ford techs who acknowledge reusing the bed bolts. You mentioned Line-X, as you know, many of them remove and reuse the bed bolts and have done so on thousands of these trucks (mine included). Knowing that there are thousands of trucks on the road that have had their bed bolts reused by the owners, bed liner techs, and even Ford techs, has anyone ever heard of one that had a problem associated with it? I have not......but if they included new bolts, I see no reason not to use them.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 413
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From: N. Appalachistan
It doesn't seem like the truck bed would ever encounter upward loads significant enough to require new bolts, but then again I am neither a Ford engineer nor their liability attorney.
I personally wouldn't hesitate to reuse bolts, although if I had new ones I can't think of a reason not to use them.
I personally wouldn't hesitate to reuse bolts, although if I had new ones I can't think of a reason not to use them.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,651
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Not the same thing. Just like a grade 2 and a grade 8 bolt are not the same thing. Not saying reusing the bed bolts can't be done without issue. Many, many have been reused. A reused bolt is not going to fail and result in the bed coming off but any reduced clamping force may eventually allow movement between the bed and frame that could result in excessive wear at the interface.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
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If it was really that dire wouldn't they use a grade 8 bolt ? I'm not sure what grade they are but whatever it is they'd hold up to being tightened again.
This is simply a liability issue. if they don't supply new bolts and some idiot doesn't get the old ones tight then the lawyers would blame it on the bolts. if they give you new ones then anything that goes wrong is on you.
This is simply a liability issue. if they don't supply new bolts and some idiot doesn't get the old ones tight then the lawyers would blame it on the bolts. if they give you new ones then anything that goes wrong is on you.