Side Rail Replacement

[stiffler4444]

As strange as it sounds, one of the features that always boggles people's already boggled minds is the wooden side rails. They think the truck must be from the 40's or something.........I couldn't possibly do away with them. Also, not that I can prove this in any way, but they seem to draw any moisture away from my truck, as I have not even a spot of corrosion under there.

Besides, women love wood.

[audiocontr]

Mine are growing fungus. I pick it off one side all the time.

The new 712 coming in does not have side rails, but I plan on mounting my rack on the replacements. Question: do people make a L support to hold the weight of a roof rack or can mounting it to the wood rail bolts work?

[mopar]

I added the steel 3" structural C channel myself. Probably as expensive as getting wood ones made of oak for my 712. I never have to remake them though and when I tell people I made them they say they look like that was how it would come from the factory. I upgraded my nutserts and bolts to m10 becasue a bunch of my were rusted and buggered with snapped bolts. They Make a great platform to stand on and could easily hold a rack. Fairly Easy Job. Cut to size and angle with sawzall ground down with 4" grinder to smooth edges. Hardest part was drilling the holes as they are not exact on the truck.

[texas pinzgauer]

I'm sure there are purists out there that must have wooden replacement rub rails but making replacements out of steel is so easy and efficient and probably a bunch cheaper (it was for me), this is the way to go in my opinion.

[krick3tt]

Mopar,

That is truly a good looking pinz. Very clean and brisk. I am especially envious of your head lights.

Morris

[Douwe]

Mine were falling apart as well a few years ago and I replaced them with pressure treated wood. I simply took a pressure treated 2x4 and cut it to the same dimensions as the old one and installed it.

[berger]

I am in the process of replacing my rotten wood rails. I went a different route for the mounts, 'cause rivnuts were not going to happen...... I also went with aluminum rub rails. I got a great deal on 1.5"x1"x10' for each side, and the lighter weight will aid my mounts.

[mopar]

Be careful of rust using dissimilar metals(galvanic corrosion).

[TechMOGogy]

I would just use some rubber washers and there will be no issue

[4x4Pinz]

this is why I like Tim's rails. Although this is not my truck I went through here first. This was many of the "rubs" we had this day with our 710's. You can see it is supported by the rail, the front tire is lifted off the ground. It was up about 2' at its highest just hanging by the rail.

[bonefish635]

I had the wooden ones when I bought my Pinz but discovered they were largely composed of a paint monocoque. The wood inside was in poor shape.

I bought an 8'x4' sheet of 35mm Delrin and had replacements cut out from that. Delrin beats rubber in that it doesn't tend to bunch up when scraped along something ese, like a tree. Plus I think Delrin is second only to cockroaches for long term durability. No maintenance of any sort required.

Tony

[berger]

I know I won't be going through the rocks like some of you guys do, so I figured aluminum would suffice...and it looks good too!

The main reason I didn't go with the rivnuts was because many of the old holes became misshapen after the removal of the screws and old nuts, and I have read that rivnuts can be finicky to install at the best of times and if the hole isn't close to perfect, forget about it. I had to replace 18 of the 24. While in a great local fastener shop ...one where they have EVERYTHING on the wall...scoping out my options, I told they guy working there what I was intending to do, and he went and grabbed a co-worker who has experience 4x4ing. This guy directed me to 1/4-20 rubber well-nuts. "Rubber?" I asked, and he said "Yup!" He then took me out back to the parking lot to show me his "jeep." This thing was a rock crawlers dream! He proceeded to show me the lizard skin and large flared fenders he had installed...all with well-nuts. He had tried to use rivnuts and gave up on them and went with well-nuts. I asked again about their strength and he told me his have stood up to some serious scrapes, not to mention he can stand on his fenders...he wasn't my size, but about 190lbs. He also likes the fact that they can be removed and re-used.

Anyway, they aren't cheap, and I did have to widen the 10MM holes to 12.7MM (1/2") to fit the well nuts, but they went on great! Now, can they hold my weight if I stood on them? Probably not, but I found a website that tests these types of fasteners, and the tensile strength was listed at 280lbs! What I also like about them is that they completely seal up the holes....being rubber and all...and they leave a nice gap between the truck and the rail, allowing water to pass through. I will get some pics up shortly.

[berger]

Some pics of the rails....I am now trying to decide if I should paint them black, or leave as is...

[TechMOGogy]

I was not sure what a well-nut was
Interesting and there are a lot that have higher failure specs
http://www.thread-rite.com/pop_nuts/wel ... andard.htm
Nice find!
I would paint them

[berger]

I was not sure what a well-nut was
Interesting and there are a lot that have higher failure specs
http://www.thread-rite.com/pop_nuts/wel ... andard.htm
Nice find!
I would paint them

Thanks! Ya, they seem really resilient...and that is the website I was reading.

I think I will paint the rails. The black contrast looks good on the truck.