Traveler gas tank or skid plate removal

[Mark Nokes]

Okay I'm down to removing and cleaning my gas tank but...I can't get the back two bolts out. They go thru the frame where the bumper mounts and I can not get to the top of them to hold them while I remove the nut, what am I missing? This is on my 1979 traveler.


Thank you,

Mark

[Mark Ashford]

Grind them off.


Be smart about it and you should have no "boom" issues. Or use a sawsall, or even a nut-cracker if your really paranoid. I'd just grind it.

[Super Scout]

Are these the skid plate bolts or gas tank bolts ? Skid plate grind or sawzall them off. The gas tank strap bolts have a hook and don't need to be held down. Just spin em off.

[Mark Nokes]

I assume it is a skid plate over the gas tank. Either that or it is the strangest gas tank I've seen.

[Mark Ashford]

Originally Posted by Mark Nokes

I assume it is a skid plate over the gas tank. Either that or it is the strangest gas tank I've seen.

Take a picture.


Many aftermarket 33 gallon tanks have built-in skid plates, some of them bolt to the frame, some bolt to the body.

[jrmtx]

If you cut or grind the bolts off, how are you supposed to replace them if you still do not have acces to the top of the bolt?

[joker51]

If they are the same 3 bolts I am thinking of, they are just carriage bolts. Once you grind/crack off the nuts the bolt will just push through the top and then you can get to the "J" bolts on the tank strap.

Joker51

[Scott Hickman]

Cut them off. New tank straps & J-bolts are a dime-a-dozen.
It is not woth your time trying to save them.

[BigRock]

Tank straps are expensive

[jrmtx]

Just an FYI...I had to remove the skid plate from my Terra and was having trouble with the back bolts as well . Everyone here says to cut or grind them off. Not necessary. If you look closely, between the skid plate and frame, there is a nut. You need to put a thim open end wrench on this nut to keep the bolt from spinning so you can remove the bottom nuts holding the skid plate on.

If you cut or grind them off, you are defeating your purpose. You will never be able to get new bolts to work (unless you cut a hole in the frame to access the head of the bolt) without double nuting them.

Be wise...inspect before you leap.

Jim