Hey John! For what it's worth, I wouldn't cut the unuts underneath. The bolts are only held in place in the unuts about 3/8-1/2 worth of threads. Yes, you can snap the bolts. I had no problem removing them on my truck, but then mine was mostly garage kept. If you snap off any bolts, let me know the size of the bolts as your truck is newer than mine. Also, I'll be gone until Sunday, but if you need a hand and your back down state, maybe I can help you with the bed? Take care.

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1994 Ford Ranger XLT Extended Cab
2WD Automatic
4.0 V6 OHV
MODS: LED Dashlights, Wired for OHC (don't have the guts to cut the headliner), Lighted Visors, Auto-Dim/Mirror, Auto Headlights, other than that it's pretty much stock