Post by wonk on Dec 29, 2012 20:20:53 GMT -5
Got ambitious today and installed my Christmas present from my wife. As a general rule I have not been real impressed with Smitty Built stuff in the past. Haven't actually owned any but drew this impression from what I've seen on others rigs. Their bumpers are usually rusty and never looked very stout. Their "nerf bars" always looked cheap and pretty much mall crawler. But the G.E.A.R. stuff looked like it might be workable.
Install was very straight forward and simple. I started by taping the Molle "mat" to the tailgate. The screw hole on the left middle lined up very well with the upper tailgate opening latch bolt so I put the bolt in as a starting point. From there I drilled the top left screw hole and installed the self tapping sheet metal screw, then did the bottom left. This is where I had my only problem. I broke the drill bit. I punched it through which got that hole off by just a little but it worked with only a small bit of slack in the mat. I continued along the top, one screw at a time pulling the "mat" as tight as I could as I went. I used a transfer punch of the correct size to center punch the holes. Several of the holes are in a double panel area and took a little effort starting the screws but with patience got them in.
Threading the Molle pouches on was a little tedious but once on they are very secure. I loaded them down with some tools, winch controller, tire repair kit, air pressure gauges, etc, and a new knife my wife thought was cute and bought me when she ordered the cover. So far I really like it. I'll update if it doesn't hold up or gives me any problems.
Zip tie storage. Kinda handy.
Install was very straight forward and simple. I started by taping the Molle "mat" to the tailgate. The screw hole on the left middle lined up very well with the upper tailgate opening latch bolt so I put the bolt in as a starting point. From there I drilled the top left screw hole and installed the self tapping sheet metal screw, then did the bottom left. This is where I had my only problem. I broke the drill bit. I punched it through which got that hole off by just a little but it worked with only a small bit of slack in the mat. I continued along the top, one screw at a time pulling the "mat" as tight as I could as I went. I used a transfer punch of the correct size to center punch the holes. Several of the holes are in a double panel area and took a little effort starting the screws but with patience got them in.
Threading the Molle pouches on was a little tedious but once on they are very secure. I loaded them down with some tools, winch controller, tire repair kit, air pressure gauges, etc, and a new knife my wife thought was cute and bought me when she ordered the cover. So far I really like it. I'll update if it doesn't hold up or gives me any problems.
Zip tie storage. Kinda handy.