Rear lift gate support

[daddycreswell]

Ok, I have racked my brain to come up with an idea but no luck. I put my top on the other day and my hard top didn't have the post, so I have nothing to bolt the lift gate support are to, short of taking it somewhere to have bolts nuts welded on the hard top, whats the best way to attach this? Your ideas please....

 

[Skiddy]

nutserts maybe

 

[daddycreswell]

nutserts maybe

Didn't know there was such a thing, I learned something. I guess I'll ease by Lowes on the way home and see what they got.

 

[badmuttstang]

Dont think you will find them at Lowes at least the ones around here dont have them. I get mine from either Ace hardware or Tacoma screw. I also have the specialty tool for setting these mine is a pop-rivet brand it has interchangeable collars for different sizes. Some people use a nut and bolt to set them I have never had any luck with this so do a search on this before you spend the money on the nutserts. One other thing dont waste your money on the aluminum inserts they are cr@%.

 

[Broncofreak74]

Check with your local Weatherguard toolbox distributor for what they call here in AL. Plus nuts. Insert them in hole then use a simple tool that comes with pack of plus nuts that seat the nut and will not turn as you tighten the bolts down. Bout $30-35 for 8 or so for nuts bolts, washers, and tool.

 

[bobzilla]

yeah wish i would have known that tip about the crap aluminum nutzerts. I just installed them along the bed rail for mounting the top. put the top on and broke 3 of them.

 

[Crawdad]

Not to sound like an ass, but have you thought about finding a replacement post? I asked on here and it didn't take long at all before someone responded. In fact a fella bronco owner had a set and gave them to me, all I did was pay him $15 for shipping. I sandblasted them and primered. Had them for months but not installed yet. In fact I stuck a piece of wood (1x2) up in the post hole and I screwed in wood screws so that the liftgate would work. It works well for now, just haven't found the time to lift the top up yet to install posts. I think nutserts would be the worst idea for a hinge point. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Skiddy]

Not to sound like an ass, but have you thought about finding a replacement post? I asked on here and it didn't take long at all before someone responded. In fact a fella bronco owner had a set and gave them to me, all I did was pay him $15 for shipping. I sandblasted them and primered. Had them for months but not installed yet. In fact I stuck a piece of wood (1x2) up in the post hole and I screwed in wood screws so that the liftgate would work. It works well for now, just haven't found the time to lift the top up yet to install posts. I think nutserts would be the worst idea for a hinge point. Just my 2 cents worth.

and then there are some that are too slow the get the posts out for someone but the bolts broke off in the posts:-[

 

[daddycreswell]

Not to sound like an ass, but have you thought about finding a replacement post? I asked on here and it didn't take long at all before someone responded. In fact a fella bronco owner had a set and gave them to me, all I did was pay him $15 for shipping. I sandblasted them and primered. Had them for months but not installed yet. In fact I stuck a piece of wood (1x2) up in the post hole and I screwed in wood screws so that the liftgate would work. It works well for now, just haven't found the time to lift the top up yet to install posts. I think nutserts would be the worst idea for a hinge point. Just my 2 cents worth.

Your not sounding like an ass, it is a good idea, I don't really want the post to be honest, pain in the ass to put the top on with them. I'll figure out something, thinking about taking the OEM support off and putting on new and improved on anyways. I'm sure I will have to fab something up for it.

 

[Crawdad]

and then there are some that are too slow the get the posts out for someone but the bolts broke off in the posts:-[

Don't worry about that brother!!! Its all good!;D There's another brother out there that may need a set of posts if you still have them???? Don't think daddycreswell that far from you. He may not need any but I'm sure he will chime in if he does.

 

[Crawdad]

Your not sounding like an ass, it is a good idea, I don't really want the post to be honest, pain in the ass to put the top on with them. I'll figure out something, thinking about taking the OEM support off and putting on new and improved on anyways. I'm sure I will have to fab something up for it.

If you do have posts and don't like the two peckers that hang down, I would cut them off and use the upper half in the hardtop and bolt to your liftgate. That may help solve the issues of installing ur hard top. I used two pieces of pine as a temp fix. I should have used oak bc pine is starting to split, liftgate can be pretty heavy. But now I have a good excuse to bolt the posts on. Good luck!

 

[daddycreswell]

I will live with it like it is this winter, prob wont be in the back much anyway, when I pull it off in the spring I'll either cut the post in half or I'll slide a couple of nuts from underneath and bolt it on.

 

[badmuttstang]

The other thing you could do is take a piece of flat stock and drill the holes weld some nuts on the back side. To hold it in place you could weld it in or weld two more nuts in place and use some counter sunk bolts to attach it in place for good.