jimmyray447

hey guys, i know i need to pull molding off the sides inorder to get the carpet up and i'm just going to start with the back. this way i can see if theres rust and then work on fixing that and still be able to drive it to work.

i'm wondering is if those tie downs are a compression fitting or a rivet? the only way i can see of removing them is to take a drill and drill out the center inorder to get the carpet up?

thanks

liftedjeepxj

I would guess just drill them out...my 99 just looks like rivets

Vindicator9000

I believe they're a rivet directly to the framerail. I had to cut mine off too.

jth877

Don't drill them! If your sheet metal is good, then you'll loose the tie downs and have nice new holes in the floor. Make a small cut in the carpet near the rivet and pull it over.

Vindicator9000

Yeah, actually this is true, and I hadn't thought of it.

I cut mine off because the tiedowns were actually rusted to the floor. If your tiedowns are in good shape, I would agree to just slit the carpet around them.

jimmyray447

thats a good point. wow thanks i didnt think about that.... mine are not rusted but they dont look new anymore either. ill cut the carpet first and if they are bad then ill cut them out.

thanks guys.

jimmyray447

so i got my back section of carpet out and theres some rust but no holes that i've found anywhere... there is however a big black square of some material in the middle of the back cargo area and half moon pieces on each of the wheel wells... any idea as to what that is?

could it be a plastic ish material that someone tried to patch or cover something with? the piece on the cargo area looks as to be almost as big as the gas tank and seems like its directly above it??

i know pictures would be helpful i'm going to go grab some and post them soon....

thanks

tuxfan212

Its stock. I have seen other cherokees with it. I dont know why its there but it is.

jimmyray447

really thats weird... it seems plastic ish and almost like theres not metal behind it.

heres what under the carpet looks like in the back.



under the rear bench seat on the passenger side... worst i've seen. still have to pull up under the front when i can find time to....

jimmyray447

am i able to put some sort of a truck bed coating down over the black pieces in the picture above?

does any sort of primer need to be used before the bed coating??

thank you.

XJ Stryker

You can always re-poprivet the tie downs back in place. A rivet gun is only 15 bucks at home depot and they are a nice tool to have once you start taking the truck offroad a lot.