Adding drain holes to the bed/tray; how?

[Bobcat Sig]

... The how is using my favorite drill and bit set.

To the point, I need to add some drain holes to the bed/tray of my QM. My truck lives outside, and as I live in the North American Pacific Northwest, it rains. A lot. We average over 40 inches of rain annually. After a recent rainstorm moved through, I had a bathtub forming in the bed of the truck. Several inches of water had pooled up in the bed of the truck, near the back wall, under the window. This was exacerbated by the truck parked on an incline in my driveway.

I placed a call to INEOS Grenadier Customer Service, and while they were eager to answer the phone, they flatly stated that they cannot recommend any modifications to the vehicle. They balked when I requested a line to one of their engineers to discuss such a thing. Which, I understand, even if it's frustrating. They did offer to sell me a tonneau cover, which, while a nice gesture, won't work as the INEOS-branded unit won't fly with my primary use of my truck - hauling motorcycles.

I have a call into my local dealer - RTGT INEOS - and I'm awaiting to hear back.

All of my prior trucks, a few F-150s, GMC, Silverado, a Colorado, and a Tacoma, all had some manner of drain holes in the floor near the back of the bed, under the rear window.

Other than going all cowboy with my favorite drill, how might I go about adding some needed drain holes in the floor of the bed, near the back window? Has anyone attempted such a thing? Areas to avoid?

 

[ADVAW8S]

If you pull those holes, you can then maybe route a tube out of the tub. Or you can buy my canvas cover. And have no water problem. I'm moving to a tray and half box

 

[Major_B]

... This was exacerbated by the truck parked on an incline in my driveway.

Parking it the other way round so the rear is lower ?
Do you have the L rails at the bottom of the bed? If not there are holes where you’re supposed to screw the rails.
Beyond that, not specific recommandation but to treat the holes you’ll drill to avoid corrosion.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Grenadier hot tub?

 

[Rocky]

I feel your pain! I live near Snoqualmie Pass and we get average over 70 inches of rain a year!
Thanks to the pics that ADVAW8S presented, it would appear that there are drain plugs in the forward section of the tub that are hidden under the plastic tub liner. I would just pop the plugs and then drill some holes into the liner.

 

[rob88]

... The how is using my favorite drill and bit set.

To the point, I need to add some drain holes to the bed/tray of my QM. My truck lives outside, and as I live in the North American Pacific Northwest, it rains. A lot. We average over 40 inches of rain annually. After a recent rainstorm moved through, I had a bathtub forming in the bed of the truck. Several inches of water had pooled up in the bed of the truck, near the back wall, under the window. This was exacerbated by the truck parked on an incline in my driveway.

I placed a call to INEOS Grenadier Customer Service, and while they were eager to answer the phone, they flatly stated that they cannot recommend any modifications to the vehicle. They balked when I requested a line to one of their engineers to discuss such a thing. Which, I understand, even if it's frustrating. They did offer to sell me a tonneau cover, which, while a nice gesture, won't work as the INEOS-branded unit won't fly with my primary use of my truck - hauling motorcycles.

I have a call into my local dealer - RTGT INEOS - and I'm awaiting to hear back.

All of my prior trucks, a few F-150s, GMC, Silverado, a Colorado, and a Tacoma, all had some manner of drain holes in the floor near the back of the bed, under the rear window.

Other than going all cowboy with my favorite drill, how might I go about adding some needed drain holes in the floor of the bed, near the back window? Has anyone attempted such a thing? Areas to avoid?

Drill 'em. Did it on mine. Find the lowest point where the water pools. Avoid any visible wiring harnesses or brackets underneath. Stick to the flat sections of the sheet metal. Use a sharp metal bit, go slow, and hit the fresh edges with touch-up paint to prevent rust. It's a truck bed, not a show car.

 

[Bobcat Sig]

If you pull those holes, you can then maybe route a tube out of the tub. Or you can buy my canvas cover. And have no water problem. I'm moving to a tray and half box

I’m assuming those plugs are underneath the bed?

INEOS corporate suggest either the cover or a tonneau cover, but as I frequently haul motorcycles in the bed of truck; neither will work.

Parking it the other way round so the rear is lower ?
Do you have the L rails at the bottom of the bed? If not there are holes where you’re supposed to screw the rails.
Beyond that, not specific recommandation but to treat the holes you’ll drill to avoid corrosion.

Heh. While I could park it the other way, that would mean that every time I need to load a motorcycles, I need to back the truck up, turn it around, and back into the driveway. Or, as it is now, simply pull forward until the truck is on flat ground, and load the bike. Easy.

In reality, it’s an over site to only have drainage holes in the rear of the bed, where the spare tires rest. Every other truck I’ve owned - at there have been many - all had adequate drain holes.

Drill 'em. Did it on mine. Find the lowest point where the water pools. Avoid any visible wiring harnesses or brackets underneath. Stick to the flat sections of the sheet metal. Use a sharp metal bit, go slow, and hit the fresh edges with touch-up paint to prevent rust. It's a truck bed, not a show car.

Where did you drill your holes? I’m assuming your QM also has the bed liner?

And yes; I’m quite aware it’s a truck. It’s why I ask about drilling holes in the bed.

 

[ADVAW8S]

I pulled the plug and felt metal when I stuck my finger in the hole. I assume you would need to run a tube somewhere.

 

[Rocky]

I pulled the plug and felt metal when I stuck my finger in the hole. I assume you would need to run a tube somewhere.

Interesting that you felt metal after pulling the plug. I’m wondering if there is a channel designed in there to help prevent road debris and little critters from migrating into the bed. Maybe if you poured some water into the hole it would still drain out?? I can’t imagine those plugs are for anything else but for drains, but I dunno.

I need to get some drain holes installed too before winter settles in. I’d like to pull the plastic liner out and then Line-X the tub but can’t see spending a $1000 if I’m replacing the tub with a tray/canopy system next year.

 

[ADVAW8S]

Interesting that you felt metal after pulling the plug. I’m wondering if there is a channel designed in there to help prevent road debris and little critters from migrating into the bed. Maybe if you poured some water into the hole it would still drain out?? I can’t imagine those plugs are for anything else but for drains, but I dunno.

I need to get some drain holes installed too before winter settles in. I’d like to pull the plastic liner out and then Line-X the tub but can’t see spending a $1000 if I’m replacing the tub with a tray/canopy system next year.

I wouldn't spend that cash. Originally I was going to spray with line x but that 1000 can go towards the tray. Now if your keeping the tub and putting it on a trailer chassis then that might be different. I'm still trying to think what to do with the tub. I don't want to throw it out.