Cargo panel pictures

[Green Monster]

Ahhh... the panels don't fit easily.

I had to cheat there. The carpeted wheel tubs actually prevent the panel from fitting properly. To work around this I used a round file to elongate the screw holes on the chrome strips the attaches to the bed rail. Attached the chrome strip to th bed so you have the strip sitting up above the bed about 3/16" all the way across the bed rail. I did not want to go any further than that because I did not want the strip to stop the fiberglass top from sitting properly if I ever decide to install it again. I was able get about 3/16 of an inch to work with so I could fit the panel in.

Then I used a file to "expand" the end of the chrome strip that the the panel slides into. I moistend the back side of the panel with water to promote bending. Carefully bend but be careful not too bend too much or the panel will start to crack. Then I placed the plastic from the packaging on the panel where the panel would fit into the part of chrome strip that I filed to prevent vinyl from getting damaged. Lubricate the top of the vinyl panel with a light oil like WD-40 so the panel will better fit into the chrome strip. The new panels are a bit thicker than the originals so vinyl wraping on the panels was not sliding up into the chrome strip. I had a pucker of material from front to back. I had to use a wonder bar press by pressing on the panel and up at the same time to "help" push the vinyl up into the chrome strip so the panel looked good and tight otherwise the vinyl would have been bunched up between the top and the top line of stitching.

I have to re-glue the vinyl to the backing panel at the rear of the driver side near the tailgate. The Velcro is holding but the wrapped vinyl is pulling from the backing. You can see the panel is bulging a little bit in the picture. The passenger side is holding well.