Difference between revisions of "2012 Nissan Frontier: Strut Channel Install"
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| − | This article details the design & installation of a 5' section of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strut_channel Strut Channel] into the bed of my 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SV 4x4. This is a functional (although different) stand-in for the [http://www.nissanusa.com/innovations/utili-track.article.html Utili-Track™] that comes as an option on some Nissan Frontiers. Frontiers that did not come standard with the Utili-Track™ cannot have it easily installed because the bed-frame is different. Inspiration for this project came from [http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f23/diy-writeup-utilitrack-unistrut-34948/ Tyson Cook's DIY Writeup - Utilitrack with Unistrut] over at the [http://www.clubfrontier.org/ Club Frontier Forums]. I chose to install this Strut Channel because it gives a good base (that does not permanently modify the vehicle) to mount a Ham Radio Antenna (which I'll add to the bottom of this article as soon as it is done). After a parts order from [http://www.mcmaster.com/ McMaster-Carr] and 5 trips to various Home Depots & Lowe's I finally had what I needed. I'll try to streamline the process for anyone wanting to follow my example. | + | This article details the design & installation of a 5' section of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strut_channel Strut Channel] into the bed of my 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SV 4x4. This is a functional (although different) stand-in for the [http://www.nissanusa.com/innovations/utili-track.article.html Utili-Track™] that comes as an option on some Nissan Frontiers. Frontiers that did not come standard with the Utili-Track™ cannot have it easily installed because the bed-frame is different. Inspiration for this project came from [http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f23/diy-writeup-utilitrack-unistrut-34948/ Tyson Cook's DIY Writeup - Utilitrack with Unistrut] over at the [http://www.clubfrontier.org/ Club Frontier Forums]. I chose to install this Strut Channel because it gives a good base (that does not permanently modify the vehicle) to mount a Ham Radio Antenna (which I'll add to the bottom of this article as soon as it is done). After a parts order from [http://www.mcmaster.com/ McMaster-Carr] (who doesn't show shipping costs up front, but has really good shipping rates... my order was $6 shipping) and 5 trips to various Home Depots & Lowe's I finally had what I needed. I'll try to streamline the process for anyone wanting to follow my example. |
==Assumptions== | ==Assumptions== | ||
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==Grocery List== | ==Grocery List== | ||
| − | *[http://www.mcmaster.com/#strut-channel-systems/ | + | *1 section of [http://www.mcmaster.com/#strut-channel-systems/ Strut Channel] |
| − | * | + | **1 5/8" depth (& width) |
**5' length (fits perfectly) | **5' length (fits perfectly) | ||
**Solid (slotted will cause the section to be off-center but requires no drilling) | **Solid (slotted will cause the section to be off-center but requires no drilling) | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
*5 M8 split washers (lock washers) | *5 M8 split washers (lock washers) | ||
*10 M8 flat washers | *10 M8 flat washers | ||
| − | *Glue (I used [http://www.gorillatough.com/index.php?page=anti-clog Gorilla Glue because that is what I had lying around but other adhesives like Super Glue should work just fine) | + | *Glue (I used [http://www.gorillatough.com/index.php?page=anti-clog Gorilla Glue] because that is what I had lying around but other adhesives like Super Glue should work just fine) |
*7/8" Spade Bit | *7/8" Spade Bit | ||
*23/64" Drill Bit | *23/64" Drill Bit | ||
*Small Drill Bit (smallest you've got: for pilot holes) | *Small Drill Bit (smallest you've got: for pilot holes) | ||
*Metric Ruler with at least 30mm (preferably 60mm) of marked length | *Metric Ruler with at least 30mm (preferably 60mm) of marked length | ||
| + | *13mm Socket + Ratchet with Extension | ||
| + | *Utility Knife | ||
| + | *[http://www.homedepot.com/buy/brasscraft-deburring-tool-t090.html#.UJZttcVuSQE Deburring Tool] | ||
| + | *(optional) [http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Plumbing-Tools-Brushes/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbqnb/R-100342840/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UJZunsVuSQE Fitting Brush] | ||
*(optional) Drill Press | *(optional) Drill Press | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Basic Information== | ||
| + | *The wall of the bed of your Frontier should have 5 evenly spaced bolts in it, a few inches from the top lip. | ||
| + | *These holes are spaced 30cm apart from each other and are centered in the bed (left to right) | ||
| + | *These holes are size M8x1.25 (a metric bolt meaning an 8mm diameter with 1.25mm thread spacing. Don't get M8x1.0 bolts by mistake) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Directions== | ||
| + | ===Prepping The Truck=== | ||
| + | #Pull up the front lip of the bed liner. I simply had to pull up & out on the middle of the top lip to get it to come free. I probably pulled it off and put it back on 20 times during the install to check fit. | ||
| + | #<span style="color:#55E439">'''This is probably the trickest part of the whole install'''</span>: You need to drill pilot holes in your bed-liner that line up with the factory bolts on the Frontier. I basically had to eyeball my first hole. From there I measured as best I could (although this was made difficult but the uneven surface of the bed-liner) I haven't come up with a better solution but this worked for me. | ||
| + | ##With the bed-liner pulled off (and the factory bolts in place) I eyeballed the first hole and used the smallest drill bit I had to drill a hole through the bed-liner. | ||
| + | ##I then reinstalled the bed-liner, stuck my drill bit back in the hole, and ran it against the factory bolt for a second to, intentionally, leave a scratch mark. | ||
Revision as of 08:42, 4 November 2012
This article details the design & installation of a 5' section of Strut Channel into the bed of my 2012 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SV 4x4. This is a functional (although different) stand-in for the Utili-Track™ that comes as an option on some Nissan Frontiers. Frontiers that did not come standard with the Utili-Track™ cannot have it easily installed because the bed-frame is different. Inspiration for this project came from Tyson Cook's DIY Writeup - Utilitrack with Unistrut over at the Club Frontier Forums. I chose to install this Strut Channel because it gives a good base (that does not permanently modify the vehicle) to mount a Ham Radio Antenna (which I'll add to the bottom of this article as soon as it is done). After a parts order from McMaster-Carr (who doesn't show shipping costs up front, but has really good shipping rates... my order was $6 shipping) and 5 trips to various Home Depots & Lowe's I finally had what I needed. I'll try to streamline the process for anyone wanting to follow my example.
Assumptions
- You want a really clean looking install and are willing to put in a bit of extra work
- You have a drop-in bed-liner
- You don't want to make any permenant modifications to the vehicle
Grocery List
- 1 section of Strut Channel
- 1 5/8" depth (& width)
- 5' length (fits perfectly)
- Solid (slotted will cause the section to be off-center but requires no drilling)
- Aluminium (we don't want it to rust)
- 5 M8x1.25 45mm Hex Bolts
- 5 3/8" x 1/2" x 1" Steel Spacers (only Lowes had these, not Home Depot)
- 5 M8 split washers (lock washers)
- 10 M8 flat washers
- Glue (I used Gorilla Glue because that is what I had lying around but other adhesives like Super Glue should work just fine)
- 7/8" Spade Bit
- 23/64" Drill Bit
- Small Drill Bit (smallest you've got: for pilot holes)
- Metric Ruler with at least 30mm (preferably 60mm) of marked length
- 13mm Socket + Ratchet with Extension
- Utility Knife
- Deburring Tool
- (optional) Fitting Brush
- (optional) Drill Press
Basic Information
- The wall of the bed of your Frontier should have 5 evenly spaced bolts in it, a few inches from the top lip.
- These holes are spaced 30cm apart from each other and are centered in the bed (left to right)
- These holes are size M8x1.25 (a metric bolt meaning an 8mm diameter with 1.25mm thread spacing. Don't get M8x1.0 bolts by mistake)
Directions
Prepping The Truck
- Pull up the front lip of the bed liner. I simply had to pull up & out on the middle of the top lip to get it to come free. I probably pulled it off and put it back on 20 times during the install to check fit.
- This is probably the trickest part of the whole install: You need to drill pilot holes in your bed-liner that line up with the factory bolts on the Frontier. I basically had to eyeball my first hole. From there I measured as best I could (although this was made difficult but the uneven surface of the bed-liner) I haven't come up with a better solution but this worked for me.
- With the bed-liner pulled off (and the factory bolts in place) I eyeballed the first hole and used the smallest drill bit I had to drill a hole through the bed-liner.
- I then reinstalled the bed-liner, stuck my drill bit back in the hole, and ran it against the factory bolt for a second to, intentionally, leave a scratch mark.
