11SCREWBall

The bedrail on my 2011 xlt has a plastic cover on it. I want to open up the "stake pockets" to install a trac rack system. Will a standard pocket knife be enough to cut through the plastic or do I need something more?

What have you all used to cut it open?

MadocHandyman

My XLT just has caps that pop out.

venyV

I wish mine had caps that came out. I do not know where to cut to put in the hooks I got.

MadocHandyman

Do you have the 5-1/2' box?
Do they even have pockets?

rob28

The 5-1/2 has pockets underneath but not the pop outs. I'd love to cut mine out to install some tie-downs but I just can't bring myself to break out the Dremmel.

Ford did pretty well with these trucks but this is one thing that annoys me about my truck.

johnwill

You could do it with a pocket knife as it is soft plastic though something bigger is better. I used a utility knife. No problem.

DanAustin

Sweet good to know they are under there lol...Somewhere...

DH3069

I popped the rail covers off, used silly putty to mark the stake pockets on the plastic and used a dremel cut off wheel for plastic. Dropped some tie-downs in and good to go.

tractor man

Can you post some pics. Thinking about doing it, just not sure how clean I can make it.

11SCREWBall

I should have taken some pics to post up, but here is what i did.

1) drilled hole in center of stake pocket
2) used a pocket knife to cut around the square

Yes it was that simple. Any standard pocket or utility knife with a sharp blade will cut through the plastic