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Getting my truck's box links in was difficult for me too. I found that while sliding the tie down base up, I had to hold the tie down base plate exactly perfect parallel to the receiver plate and exactly perpendicular too. After serial failed attempts I was ready for the hammer but found in this case finess was better than force. One good thing with the box links super tight fit is the box links won't rattle.
For my last few trucks, I found it exponentially easier to just take the plates off the truck with a T30, put the cleats in place while applying the directional pressure to the inside, then re-mounting.
Kind of irritating, but at least I know they shouldn't be going anywhere.
They do in fact come with the 22 xl/stx. But you have to order them with it if your special ordering your truck. I put it on my order, and I love em. 2022 350 xl/stx
Ford uses a lot of Taptite screws https://taptite.com/products/taptite-pro all over their vehicles. They are trilobular self taping best installed with a power driver. If they are already installed and are removed, insure that you hand start each screw to insure you are running down the existing threads or you run the risk of forming another thread cylinder and will not be as strong a joint.
this is likely the correct answer. I had to buy one pack of these fasteners after the bedliner slackers lost one. I knew it looked different, but it does NOT cut threads.