While short-bed pickups are popular for their improved gas mileage and ease of parking, they are not always so great when it comes to hauling building supplies and other large cargo. The good news is that you can purchase a pickup bed extender to install when you want to move large items from one place to another.
Here are some tips to ensure that you install your new
Avoid Drilling Into Brake and Electrical Lines
When installing your new truck bed extender, you will have to drill some holes
Tape the Mounting Hardware Template to Your Truck with Masking Tape
Use masking tape, because it is easy to remove and will not leave any sticky residue on your truck's paint, and tape the mounting hardware template to your truck before you drill the holes. Taping the template in place will keep it from moving around while you drill, and this will ensure that the holes you drill will be in just the right location for the bed extender to fit into.
Drill Though Your Truck's Bed Liner Without Removing It
If your new truck has a bed liner installed in it, then you should drill through both the liner and the metal frame of the truck. Removing your
Use a Silicone Sealant to Avoid Rust
Finally, when you drill through the metal frame of your truck, you open the area up to the growth of rust. If rust starts to build on your truck, then it can eat through the metal, spread to other areas, and will eventually cause structural damage to your vehicle. To avoid rust in any of your drill holes for your bedxtender, place a silicone sealant into the holes before placing the mounting hardware into them. You should use a marine sealant for this application, and you can purchase it at your local automotive parts store.
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