ChiefGearhead

So I finally managed to get the BedBuddy installed on the front of the bed. There was no easy way to do it as there's just no space between the back of the cab and the bed. I found that using longer bolts helped but I still had to feed the plain and lock washers on to the bolt with a bent coat hanger. And yes, I dropped about 20 of them before I got them all on. Getting the nut on wasn't easy either, although the center of the bed has more clearance, so I was able to use the box end of a wrench with tape on one side to keep the nut in place.

Now that the BedBuddy is installed I'm curious about some anchor points. There are some OE loops on the side of the bed right at the front corner, but they don't look like they'll take much weight. I have some nice heavy duty anchors but I'm wondering how much the aluminum bed can handle. I know aluminum is pretty soft stuff and keeping a motorcycle, even a relatively light dirtbike secure does require the ratcheting tie downs get cinched down. Has anyone installed anchors on their bed and had the bed floor bend in such a situation?

-the ChiefGearhead

JoeinGa

I think if this was MY dilemma, I'd opt to bolt the anchors to the bed floor and use fender washers both top and bottom with the bolts. Fender washers are much larger and will give more gripping space around the nuts & bolts on the aluminum.

emerilnut

Just watch out for galvanic oxidation which can happen at that bare contact point between the aluminum bed and the steel bolts/nuts/washers.