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Tailgate cap/cover - trouble finding a way to fasten it / bolt it

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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 04:21 PM
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Default Tailgate cap/cover - trouble finding a way to fasten it / bolt it

hey- a few months ago my tail gate cover/cap came off ..got loose and the bolts ended up coming off...
so the cap came off with it..
now - time comes i want to put it back on - thinking i just needed some screws and screw it in
but i look. and there is nothing for the screws to screw into and fasten it there, its just a bunch of holes....any suggestions on types of bolts i can get that i can use? like some sort of butter fly bolt or something?? i went to canadian tire and had a look in the bolt sections, there was a few viable options....but i wasnt going to waste my money on them because even if they do work it wont be very secure..any one have an suggestions or know a solution?
pics are added! thanks!
 

Last edited by calixdakota; Apr 17, 2013 at 11:34 PM.
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 06:16 PM
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Dzus fasteners
 
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 08:35 PM
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My OEM one was held on with "Push Pins"
 
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 10:52 PM
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where would i buy the dzus fasteners? lol im sure a quick google search...will that work for what i need exactly??? is there different size ones? and push pin?? whats that? just a soft plastic screw?lol
 
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 11:04 PM
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you know what- I thin mine were originally held in with push pins as well
 
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 11:19 PM
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i got a feeling after reading online - im gonna have trouble finding these if i dont order from the internet...ill check out princess auto first...
 
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Old Apr 8, 2013 | 11:20 PM
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My all star cover was put on with self drilling screws. I had to replace a few because they weren't holding properly. I used thicker stainless steel self drilling ones.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2013 | 08:32 AM
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Canadian Tire has the push pins. Most automotive stores have them too, in different sizes. You may have trouble finding ones big enough, though, that has been my problems.

I don't think PAuto has them, but I haven't searched through their fastening section.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2013 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by calixdakota
hey- a few months ago my tail gate cover/cap came off ..got loose and the bolts ended up coming off...
so the cap came off with it..
now - time comes i want to put it back on - thinking i just needed some screws and screw it in
but i look. and there is nothing for the screws to screw into and fasten it there, its just a bunch of holes....any suggestions on types of bolts i can get that i can use? like some sort of butter fly bolt or something?? i went to canadian tire and had a look in the bolt sections, there was a few viable options....but i wasnt going to waste my money on them because even if they do work it wont be very secure..any one have an suggestions or know a solution?
pics are added! thanks!
That tail gate cover you show in your picture looks like a generic cover for a mid sized pickup. The ones I've seen & what I have on mine, have a recessed area that fits flat against the area with the 3 bolts that hold the latch assembly. At least one of those bolts is used to hold the cover in place against the tail gate and then the push-pins do the rest in 2 lines - 1 across the top and 1 across the bottom. Since you don't have something to hold the cover tightly in place, I would go with some coated or stainless self tapping screws across the top and bottom (you shouldn't need more than 4 or 5 evenly spaced in each line.

If you leave the cover held on only by the push pins, you'll find that there's enough movement to the cover to rub/vibrate against the tail gate and this will "sand paper" the paint off that surface fairly quickly - I found this out on a previous pickup. If you plan to keep the cover on permanently, you can use a few dabs of RTV to hole the cover to the gate (along with a few screws). Once the RTV sets, that cover will be really hard to remove.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2013 | 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Alfons
That tail gate cover you show in your picture looks like a generic cover for a mid sized pickup. The ones I've seen & what I have on mine, have a recessed area that fits flat against the area with the 3 bolts that hold the latch assembly. At least one of those bolts is used to hold the cover in place against the tail gate and then the push-pins do the rest in 2 lines - 1 across the top and 1 across the bottom. Since you don't have something to hold the cover tightly in place, I would go with some coated or stainless self tapping screws across the top and bottom (you shouldn't need more than 4 or 5 evenly spaced in each line.

If you leave the cover held on only by the push pins, you'll find that there's enough movement to the cover to rub/vibrate against the tail gate and this will "sand paper" the paint off that surface fairly quickly - I found this out on a previous pickup. If you plan to keep the cover on permanently, you can use a few dabs of RTV to hole the cover to the gate (along with a few screws). Once the RTV sets, that cover will be really hard to remove.
I would say if you to worried about the paint rubbing (Mine did, but not to bare metal and mine was on with Push Pins for 6-7 Years.

Again if your that worried, Get the Tailgate done in Bed Liner. Then never worry again, haha
 
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