Topper to Cab question.

[badmix]

I am having the seals replaced on my topper / cab this week. ONe of the bolts that connects the topper to the front portion of the cab has lost its keeper nut or whatever its called. So there is no nut or bolt in that particular hole. How do I fix this? Was the nut welded into the cab some how? Im sure others had this issue and Id like to correct it.

 

[Airedale719]

I have three that have broken loose. I install the others and it seems to hold well with no air leaks.

 

[lectric80]

They are cage nuts, and I haven't torn into mine yet to see what it is going to take to fix the one that is missing. Mine is down on the driver's side, so it doesn't have much effect on leaks, but I want all the bolts back in when I get the body work done.

To be honest, I don't think there is any way to get into that section of the bed to repair it, at least without cutting a hole through the steel. I may be wrong though, and this is my way of subscribing to see any information on this repair.

 

[RudyO]

Rivnuts?

 

[lectric80]

I don't know if they make them big enough to work for the bolts that hold the top on, but I admit I have never looked. It would still most likely require a weld in patch then drilling to allow the rivnuts to hold, since I doubt the hole that is already there is going to be the right size for them.

Edit: The other potential problem to using them would be alignment. Originally they were done with cage nuts to help with variances in the top's construction. I think attempting to align a rivnut would be an even greater hassle, especially since being off by just a small amount will make the work required to get it installed, worthless. Just my opinion of course!