Removing Bed Rails

I just bought a Bakflip Revolver X4s tonneau cover. Step 1 of installation is to remove the factory rails. I am having trouble removing the screws that are holding the rails. It almost is like they are stripped already from the factory. And the more I try to force it the worse it makes it.

anyone else experience this with their rails, and if so, any suggestions on how to remove them?

Thanks!

 

That sucks, I didn't realize those had to have the rail removed for installation. That's a big miss on their part to not just make clamps that fix to the rail like nearly every other brand of cover. Especially when you consider the Tundra has had the deck rail systems for at least a decade. As far as the screws, an easy trick that may work is taking a flat rubber band, not the skinny thread ones, but the wide ones and put it over the screw head. Then try to back it out. I've used that in the past and it usually works if the screw wasn't crazy over torqued. The other option if that doesn't work is to eat the cost of an extractor bit. I read the instructions and it has you reinstall the rail after mounting the clamps. So if you plan to do that, you'll need replacement screws.

 

See my post on page four of this thread. Apparently this is a common issue. I used an oscillating dremel tool with a hacksaw blade to cut a slot, and even then it was truly h*ll to get most of the bolts out.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/stripped-t30-bolt-bed-rails.107653/page-4#post-2780052

 

Reason for rail removal is to relocate them to still be able to use them below the bakflip attachment rail. Only know this because I bought my tundra used and pulled the bakflip a few days later and reinstalled the rails in factory holes.

 

I know why they, being Bakflip require the removal, not confused about that. I just don't understand why they don't just use clamps. I've done three different types of covers on my Tundras, trifolds, single piece, and retractable. None of them required the rails be removed and the rails all still worked for them. They just designed them with clamps that fit your rail system instead of removing them and reinstalling.

 

My bad. I don’t know much about those types of covers. But I agree it is dumb to relocate when you could just clamp on the existing rails.

 

Installed the same thing. T30 Torx bit at 20lbs of torque with a drill did the trick without issue. Pulse it. EDIT: seeing as how you’re saying the heads are already stripping, use some break-free or an equivalent first. Then the drill at a slow/high torque setting.

 

I was able to remove all mine without issue with a screwdriver. I empathize with your situation - I'd be mad if I had to start cutting slots to remove the screws.

 

I had one bolt in the rail that was seized up when I did mine. It was a real pain in the ass. I ended up having to drill it out and retap it then buy a different bolt. Basically doubled my install time.