replacing toolbox on my truck(question)

[RollingsFarms]

i have a 2004 Silverado Z71 and when i bought it i had side boxes installed on it instead of the 'traditional' toolbox. what i was wanting to do was take the sideboxes off, put in a spray-in bedliner and then put on a regular toolbox. what i can't figure out is what am i going to do about all the holes in the bed from where the sideboxes were. is this even possible to accomplish?? am i just going to have to keep the sideboxes on and live with it?? i hope i've explained clearly enough as to what i'm asking, and hope that someone can offer me an opinion.

 

[DieselPower]

Weld them shut and grind smooth. No more holes.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Weld them shut and grind smooth. No more holes.

i thought about that, but wasnt sure who to ask to do that for me, much less how much theyd charge. i wouldn't bother with painting back over the welds as i'd be getting that spray-in liner.

 

[davkir]

Well, it's a truck so the holes will just look like they belong there. I would just grind them smooth and spray the liner right over them.
You might put short carriage bolts in to fill the holes and spray over them, or you could use S/S bolts, or you could buy bed rail caps, or tie down rails or......

 

[RollingsFarms]

Well, it's a truck so the holes will just look like they belong there. I would just grind them smooth and spray the liner right over them.
You might put short carriage bolts in to fill the holes and spray over them, or you could use S/S bolts, or you could buy bed rail caps, or tie down rails or......

the guy that does the Rhino liner in my town also does body work(i think) so i was going to go by there tomorrow and ask him about it. your ideas sound really good though, i guess i'm just trying to figure out the final route to go. out of all those options, which do you think would be the best?

 

[DieselPower]

Depending on how many holes you have to fill in and how big they are I doubt mig or tig welding them closed would cost you much. Like you said, you don't have to worry about painting them since your getting it lined anyhow.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Depending on how many holes you have to fill in and how big they are I doubt mig or tig welding them closed would cost you much. Like you said, you don't have to worry about painting them since your getting it lined anyhow.

there are 5 holes on each box (3 along the bed rail and 2 at the base of the support legs, or one per leg, that is drilled into the bed itself). so that would be 10 holes total. not sure what size bolts they have, they arent that big really. the ones along the rail are the hardest to figure out what to do with. keep the suggestions coming, ill find out what my options are tomorrow and keep everyone posted. been wanting to do this for awhile, just never really talked myself into it. side boxes are great, and mine have served me very well, but i just don't need them anymore and they are a hindrance with reaching over into the bed(impossible to do).

 

[ultrarunner]

I use Carriage bolts when I want to cosmetically cover a sheet metal hole... either in stainless steel or you can dip the bolt heads in paint to match.

 

[MrJimi]

I would just leave the holes there and let the bed liner cover them and if you ever want to use them, they are there
If you get into body work and paint it could start costing ya more $$
Jim

 

[2manyrocks]

could put rivets in the holes. If you need a larger size rivet than what you find in a box store, try a speciality fastner store.