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Rusted Bed Handles?

mmdavidw

Full Member
Joined
May 22, 2002
Messages
4,729
Location
Eureka, MO
I was wondering if anyone else noticed some major rusting on their side bed handles on the rear of the truck?

I have a factory installed luggage rack and have had some problems from the metal shavings rusting. When I got it they detailed it well and got 90% of it cleaned up. From my cleaning since then I've got another 9%.

When I was working on it yesterday I noticed that the screws in the handles were badly rusted so I pulled them out and there was rust all the way up and down each screw and the bottom of the handle has metal tips, which were rusted and so was the area on the truck directly around it... but I didn't notice any problems on the truck after about 1/2" away from the handle.

I cleaned it the best I could and the area on the truck cleaned up really well and I don't see any perminant damage (whew!) but the handle and screws are rusted beyond repair. I left one handle as it was and cleaned the other one so they could see for themselves, I'm going to take it into the dealer today.

I was wondering if anyone else noticed anything like this and if you had the factory luggage rack or not.

David
 
No rust. Luggage rack in the box still
 
mmdavidw:
I have noticed that water does puddle
in the handle screw holes, but no rust as of yet.
I will cross my fingers.
Falcon
 
I have noticed water accumulating and staying on the top of the bolts - and voiced concern over this. ?However not a spot of rust. ?Sounds like they used the wrong bolts or the supplier sent in the wrong ones. ?I'd gritch to the dealer (and I'm going to take a long hard look at my again).
 
I should have pictures for you here soon... searching for some batteries for my battery eating digital camera.

The screws didn't look TOO bad from up top, but when I pulled them out there was rust everywhere. :(

David

 
Now I'm worried. Got to check out my luggage rack first chance I get. Too busy remodeling a bath room right not. Boy, that sucks. Wished I'd done the same as ygmn and ordered mine in a box too. I've got no problem installing it myself.
 
mmdavidw
I have the same thing (rust) on ?the heads of the screws on the drivers side bed handles. Looks like I had better take them off and check under ?both of them. :(
Mine was built on the 5th month of 2001. When was yours built?
 
And we have pictures!

http://www.nitroportal.com/truckasaurus/rust.asp

rust3.jpg


More at the link above...

My truck has a creation date of 6/1/2001.

David

 
Just got back from the dealership... they said it was the screw that was rusting and it was draining down onto the truck.

Suggested cleaning it up well and then paint the screw and it should never happen again. So I'll give that a try and see how it goes...

David

 
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