Help! Lost screw from cargo light (3rd brake light)

[Return Ranger]

In the course of my installation of the trailer brake controller, I dropped one of the screws from the cargo light (3rd brake light) between the bed and cab. I can't locate it/retrieve it. Does anyone know the size off hand?

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[Rinn69]

Not trying to be a smartass, but did you lose one of 2 ? Just pull the other one and check it. (I have no idea if there's one or 2 screws holding it in place.)

 

[Trigganometry]

Try a magnet on a wand if you got one. Might get lucky

 

[Return Ranger]

Not trying to be a smartass, but did you lose one of 2 ? Just pull the other one and check it. (I have no idea if there's one or 2 screws holding it in place.)

Yes. Problem is that my local hardware stores are terrible for fasteners. Couldn't find anything close.

It gets worse. The screws are not magnetic. I fished around and knocked it out, but it fell into a strange spot. As I tried to pull it out, I believe it fell into one if the small holes of the frame tube. I can hear it rattle as I drive ?.
I'm giving up for tonight.

 

[Trigganometry]

Yes. Problem is that my local hardware stores are terrible for fasteners. Couldn't find anything close.

It gets worse. The screws are not magnetic. I fished around and knocked it out, but it fell into a strange spot. As I tried to pull it out, I believe it fell into one if the small holes of the frame tube. I can hear it rattle as I drive ?.
I'm giving up for tonight.

You say non magnetic but, unless it’s a nonferrous metal like aluminum a neodymium magnet will hold ferrous metals like stainless. Good luck!

 

[Return Ranger]

You say non magnetic but, unless it’s a nonferrous metal like aluminum a neodymium magnet will hold ferrous metals like stainless. Good luck!

Actually, some stainless is not magnetic. The other 3 are not - I tried. They may have slight magnetism, but not enough to pick up or slide.

 

[Return Ranger]

UPDATE!

Went for a drive today to check out a trailer, and noticed that I was not hearing the rattling like I did last night. When I got back I ran my hand along the bottom of the frame rail and could hear it and slightly feel it as I came to this slot.

When I got up under there it was dangling threads down. With a stick, I pushed it a bit toward the larger hole to the left, which I could get my finger through to recover it. ??

Voila!

 

[Radioman]

UPDATE!

Went for a drive today to check out a trailer, and noticed that I was not hearing the rattling like I did last night. When I got back I ran my hand along the bottom of the frame rail and could hear it and slightly feel it as I came to this slot.

When I got up under there it was dangling threads down. With a stick, I pushed it a bit toward the larger hole to the left, which I could get my finger through to recover it. ??

Voila!

Some people have all the luck. I'm glad you were able to recover the screw. If it had been me, the screw would have fallen to the ground and I would have run over it giving me a flat tire.

 

[Fawnbuster]

So apparently someone had a loose screw ??

 

[Tom_C]

When I was installing my weathertech spash guards, I dropped a clip down in the front fender. I heard the famous click click clunk when it fell inside. I tried to get it out and finally just gave up.

I haven't heard the rattling, so I hope it just wedges itself somewhere.

I actually dreamt about that afterwards, so I hope it doesn't come back to bite me.

 

[Return Ranger]

Some people have all the luck. I'm glad you were able to recover the screw. If it had been me, the screw would have fallen to the ground and I would have run over it giving me a flat tire.

That's what I was expecting!

 

[Tracy Bowman]

UPDATE!

Went for a drive today to check out a trailer, and noticed that I was not hearing the rattling like I did last night. When I got back I ran my hand along the bottom of the frame rail and could hear it and slightly feel it as I came to this slot.

When I got up under there it was dangling threads down. With a stick, I pushed it a bit toward the larger hole to the left, which I could get my finger through to recover it. ??

Voila!

 

[Return Ranger]

So apparently someone had a loose screw ??

I've just learned to block out THAT rattle ??

 

[troutspinner]

Nice job recovering it. One time I did a stereo system install in my F150 and lost a screw in the dash. Searched and searched but never found it. I ended up using one from a spare collection I keep. 5 years later I went to trade it in and returned the truck to stock, wouldn’t you know, I found that screw then. The odds....I should play the lottery.

 

[Return Ranger]

im curious how you have such good hearing to hear that screw in that position from inside the truck driving.

You would be surprised how much noise it made. Maybe because of the metal on metal, but it sounded like was in the cab. My daughter thought so, too.

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