[Jason521]

How the heck did you guys get through the top 2 holes on TH1 and TH3 wall braces for the Moab bed? I have went through 3 cobalt Bosch bits so far! Tried fast, slow, and slow with some dirtbike oil on it. Also tried a 3/16 cobalt bit and can’t get that through either. Of course the 25/64 bit size is weird and I can’t find it local on cobalt, so I keep having to order them.
This is obviously the boron hardened steel or whatever. I’m getting frustrated with it

 

[Jason521]

Just watch the video - he does it in like five seconds, nothing to it!! 🤣

What's frustrating is that it's so early in the process and they don't give you a heads up, so you think you're doing something wrong and/or it'll take years to finish.

I bought a 3/8 hard metal bit from Home Depot. Get three while you're at it. Use that for most your drilling and save the elusive 25/64 bit to finish each hole, because, while they said they provided good quality bits and you shouldn't need more, that's total b.s.

I then used the smallest bit to drill the first part of the holes, then a Harbor Freight step bit to enlarge. I alternated to the 3/8 as I got closer. Took hours.

Also, there's a hole you have to drill at the bottom of those pieces that they don't ever tell you about. They go on and on describing it for TH2, then they don't mention it for TH3. Just make sure all the holes have a recess area for the screws.

What do u mean by recess area for the screws? The Moab braces seem like it’s all pop rivets and riv nuts. What are the self taping screws for that came with the Moab bed kit?

 

[Jason521]

Screws to hold the L track to the THs go into pimnut holes in a lot of places, but the screws are longer than the holes are deep so they need a void behind it. Most the voids are already there but a handful you have to drill yourself.

I followed the AdWag directions exactly... and had to go and buy shorter screws because once it's all mounted, it's too late to drill the holes they failed to mention. An email to them confirmed they forgot to cover it fully in their videos. Oddly, he says how they forgot to film it for TH2, but makes no mention about TH1

He covers it for TH2 at about the 16:16 mark... but it's applicable to 1-4.

The self tapping screws are to hold the horizontal pieces steady while you're drilling them in. You remove them at the end - I just used clamps instead.

Oh ok yeah I did use a step bit behind all of those. I don’t think my kit has the horizontal pieces since it’s just the bed kit. Although it still came with the self tappers. Idk I’ve never used L track so hopefully the rest is self explanatory.

 

[Jason521]

Progress today on the build. A-frame kit going up. Did struggle with upper C-pillar Boron steel. Not much guidance on how to deal with it from Ad-wagon. Consulted my machinist step-father and he gave me a couple of tips that really work for this area of the van

1 / Use center drill bits to start the hole
2 / Progressively use increasing sizes of cobalt drill bits to work up to 25/64 final hole size.


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This post was a life saver. Worked perfect and my local harbor freight had both in stock.

Can anyone show me how to properly mount the hardware in the L track? I just want to make sure I have it right before trusting our weight over say if our dog walked under the bed. Sorry to take over this thread!