Replacing wood slats on M101A2

[dennisS]

I'm getting ready to replace the wood slats on the side of my trailer. They appear to be fastened (most of them) with a rivet-type bolt. Has anyone removed these and if so is there an easy way without causing a lot of damage. I don't want to do a lot of grinding if there is another way to do it.

Thanks,

Dennis

 

[Ripcord01]

Drill them out.

 

[ca1517]

I would say to drill them as well.

 

[pctrans]

All the ones I've seen are carriage bolts. Use some PB Blaster on the nuts, grab the head with some good vise-grips, and air ratchet the nuts off. When you replace the bolts, use stainless hex bolts, washers, lockwashers, and hex nuts. Makes it easier in the future.

 

[Nonotagain]

The racks on one of my M101 trailers with wood slats are installed with Jo-bolts.

Basically Jo-bolts are a fastener with a small section that is reduced in diameter that uses a collar instead of a nut. A gun pulls on the "bolt" and once the torque is reached the collar crushes, the "bolt" breaks, locking the fastener in place. They are a one time installation fastener.

They are like a snow-blower shear bolt without the ability to remove the nut.

The collars are hard. I use a radiac wheel to cut the collar free and then replace the fastener with a carriage bolt, flat washer and nut.

 

[dennisS]

I think that I have the "Jo bolts" on my trailer given your description and I am planning on replacing them with conventional bolts, nuts and washers.

Dennis