Make your own Maverick bed tie-downs: DIY bed side rail tutorial by Ford

[Barracuda340]

Some better pix of this setup. As stated earlier, when I measured the hole spacing on the bed, these 4 holes are the only holes that are perfectly in line with one another and that meet the 1" on center spacing requirements for a clean install of this track. After my first track install, another truck club member drew the blueprint for these up. My drawing only had the hole spacing required.

If you follow the blueprint, and oversize the drill holes for the bolt shanks slightly to allow for slight variation in spot welded nutplate position in the 4 spots on each side, these bolt right up. One bed side on mine, the bed nutplates were slightly off center. After enlarging the holes on the tracks a little, the screws threaded in straight with no binding

I get all 4 screws started before running any of them down tight. I also used anti seize compound on the threads. If they try to bind up, STOP!! If you continue, then your probably cross threading the bolt, and will break the nutplate off the bedside.

Another option instead of countersink bolts is a button head torx bolt. Then you only need to drill the mount holes, and no countersinking. However with this, you lose a couple spots on the track to lock your tiedowns into.

I hope this helps.
Matt

Sponsored

 

[gschmoel]

M8 is the proper size. We put DIY bed rails in our XLT, and M8 is it.

You were right it was the M8!

 

[KdeB]

You were right it was the M8!

Yep! Wish Ford would fix its video. The mistake has been pointed out many times on the forum, but of course people keep finding the video …

 

[son of a ..sven]

I have not read very many of the postings here on bed tie downs. With that in mind, I may be missing something. So, my I am asking...is it possible to bolt in D rings into the existing threaded inserts in the sides of the bed and not use the bar that people use? Is that possible or is there damage that may happen to the truck ?

 

[Bkonick]

Any suggestions on where I can buy extra tie down cleats for the bed side tracks? Trying to find ones that are cheaper than the ones from Ford. Theirs are $100 for a pair.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

I have not read very many of the postings here on bed tie downs. With that in mind, I may be missing something. So, my I am asking...is it possible to bolt in D rings into the existing threaded inserts in the sides of the bed and not use the bar that people use? Is that possible or is there damage that may happen to the truck ?

Short answer-YES that could possibly hurt the truck.

The fact these trucks are Unibody needs to ALWAYS be a factor. If you read the manual it shows how to tie stuff diagonally across the bed rather than straight across- to prevent truck damage.

I would GUESS that the rail is far superior because it spreads the stress of pulling. Just a D-ring may have chance of bending/ hurting the bed.

 

[Erwin]

There are threaded holes in the bedsides, but the holes were threaded before the bed was painted. So chase the holes with a tap if you don't want to break off a bolt in the holes.

 

[pistonRecirculator]

Video from the OP is now private. Does anyone have a link to it that's still up or a transcript or something?

 

[huunvubu]

Found these:
https://realtruck.com/p/core-trax-tie-down-track-system/v/ford/maverick/2022/

JamesC said:

Thanks, looks good. 36 or 48 inches, what’s the length of the stock rail?

Not sure. But the Maverick bed from the specs sheet is 4 1/2 ft. When I get mine, will see where the stock tie downs are and then decide which length to order.

Did you end up ordering these?

If you did order these then:

What length did you order?

Were these easy to install?

Did the mounting holes match up with the holes in the Maverick BED?

What is your impression of them?

Thanks

 

[huunvubu]

4 Foot L-Track Aluminum (myteeproducts.com)
L-Track Stud with Stainless Steel Ring (myteeproducts.com)

Did you end up ordering these?

If you did order these then:

Were these easy to install?

Did the mounting holes match up with the holes in the Maverick BED?

What is your impression of them?

Thanks

 

[RDRahn]

Relocated this video from Ford:

https://www.ford.com/support/vehicl...8474503001?name=build-your-own-bed-side-rail/

be sure to note comments in this thread regarding M8 vs. M6 bolts as shown in video.

 

[Bbisis13]

I liked the idea but didn’t feel I needed infinite flexibility for the ring attachment points for my use. I used Stainless lock washers to give myself the flexiblity of having them oriented the same way.

 

[Barracuda340]

Its not so much a

I liked the idea but didn’t feel I needed infinite flexibility for the ring attachment points for my use. I used Stainless lock washers to give myself the flexiblity of having them oriented the same way.

It's not so much about flexibility as it is spreading the load. Those eyelets are only threaded into a welded nutplate attached to thin gage sheetmetal. Just load something heavy and attach it to those eyelets, and if you have to slam on the brakes and that load shifts, it will bend those eyelets, or snap them off right at the threads, and probably bend the bed sheetmetal while doing all of that. The point of the infinite point attachment is the bolted on rail takes the brunt of the shock if the load shifts. Plus the clip in L track rings rotate to maintain inline to your tiedowns preventing side loading of the ring. Even the ford tutorial with the U channel strut material is better than the eyelet setup. Good luck to you.

 

[Bbisis13]

Its not so much a
It's not so much about flexibility as it is spreading the load. Those eyelets are only threaded into a welded nutplate attached to thin gage sheetmetal. Just load something heavy and attach it to those eyelets, and if you have to slam on the brakes and that load shifts, it will bend those eyelets, or snap them off right at the threads, and probably bend the bed sheetmetal while doing all of that. The point of the infinite point attachment is the bolted on rail takes the brunt of the shock if the load shifts. Plus the clip in L track rings rotate to maintain inline to your tiedowns preventing side loading of the ring. Even the ford tutorial with the U channel strut material is better than the eyelet setup. Good luck to you.

I agree with you on the strength issue. I use the slots in bed with 2x’s to keep loads from shifting. I use the eyes to tie down loads like brush and tree limbs.

 

[OneHappyTremor]

Any suggestions on where I can buy extra tie down cleats for the bed side tracks? Trying to find ones that are cheaper than the ones from Ford. Theirs are $100 for a pair.

I just installed 4 of these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B082YTZS6Q/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They are almost a direct bolt-in for the factory accessory cargo rails, but you’ll just need to file/grind about 1.5mm off the four edges of the two crescents on the backside which inserts into the rail tracks (see pics).

I used a course RASP hand file which allowed me to remove material at a fairly level/straight manner (filling two edges at a time). If you have the proper tooth count blade, you might accomplish this with a hacksaw too. Then if you want, you can shoot some black paint to cover the exposed aluminum edges, though they’ll be hidden in the track.

The steel “backing plates” which clamps these hooks to the tracks (inside the tracks) is a nice full height fit - you just hold the plate vertically with your finger in the track as you snug it up until the plate rests between those two crescents, which will then keep the plate in place as you final tighten.

I simply installed these at both ends of my tracks - the forward ones right about where the factory tie-downs used to be before installing these tracks. If you need to move these along the tracks, just loosen slightly and reposition. And if you prefer not to use that big FORD partition, you could even get 6 or 8 of these hooks and use these exclusively.

This is one of the “crescent” edges that must be filed/ground down slightly to fit the tracks. NOTE: File EQUALLY each of the 4 crescent edges so that the end result is that the hook assembly fits CENTERED vertically in the track!

Sponsored