Glassworks Bedsides

[galaxycrew]

I know that there has been a little talk about how to install them and to use a sawzall. does anyone have a step by step installation guide? one of my main concerns is if i have to use the holding brackets that are holding the stock fenders together. mine have been reduced to just about nothing because of a snowboarding trip with uncooperative tire chains, so using them would require buying new ones....thanks for the help.

[galaxycrew]

bump bump bump?

[kevdizzle]

stock bedside mounts are worthless, you need to make your own.

if your asking how to do this, i suggest getting some who knows how to do this before cutting into your $25000 truck.

[galaxycrew]

Originally Posted by kevdizzle

stock bedside mounts are worthless, you need to make your own.

if your asking how to do this, i suggest getting some who knows how to do this before cutting into your $25000 truck.

awesome, thats what i wanted to hear. i'm thinking that to make my own mounts i would tig them to the frame or bed and bolt them to the glass...am i way off base or what?

[DR Jon]

Here's what I learned, in brief, when installing Glassworks fenders with the goal of maintaining a clean, "factory" look:

1) Remove the tailgate;

2) Remove the fuel filler from the bedside (rubber seal and one bolt);

3) Unbolt the bedside, four bolts, and lift backwards (don't lose the thin rubber spacers between the frame and bed). Peel off the plastic covers on top of the bedsides;

4) Use a spot weld drill bit and drill out all spots, but DON'T drill all the way through the bed (wheel well liner, straight down on top of the bedside, and outside at the front of the bed);

5) Decide how you want to mount the bedsides - I chose to add five 5/16-20x 1/4" bolts and thin fender washers per side by grinding the heads thin and fiberglassing both to the underside of the fenders using about a 3"x5" piece of cloth. The nuts are hidden behind the inside lip;

TIP: add a bead of silicone sealant to the top of the bed, between the bed and bedside, when you bolt it down. It'll keep most of the sand out that would eventually start making noise when the bed flexes.

6) Decide whether you want to keep the tailgate or not - if you do, you'll have to cut out the section of glass that covers that area;

7) Move the bed back into place and bolt it down;

8) Mark the diameter of the fuel filler and cut the hole larger. You'll also have to bend the bracket and move the fuel line some to get it to fit. I couldn't find a replacement fuel filler line anywhere, but made the stock one work. Finally, mount the stock filler door;

9) Fabricate a stiffener - I mounted mine behind the rear wheel using the same bolt that was used for the stock one. You might also consider fastening the section in front of the wheel to the metal piece connected to the bed (right behind the cab);

10) Prep the bedsides for paint, if you're going to have them painted, or make sure the bodyshop knows to spend some time filling low spots and sanding with a long block. You'll have to do some minor work to get the tailights to fit well too. I spent over 20 hours on my bedsides and I still see areas that could have been done better;


I wish I took pictures of the install, but I didn't. If you want some shots of specific areas on the completed project, let me know.

- Jon