Can't drill hole in roof ditch track

Yes, you read that correctly. I cannot get a drill bit all the way through the metal of the roof ditch track. I am currently trying to install the Rhino Rack ditch track and I can't get the drill bit all the way through for the front most rivet.

I started back to front and didn't have any problems with the first three holes but when I got to the front I thought the brand new bit was wearing out. But nope, I went to the other side and the same thing. The 3 holes in the back went fine but the front one stops making progress after about 1/8" deep.

I was thinking of drilling a new rivet hole in the ditch track but I can't see why the front one won't drill through and don't want to go through trial and error to find a spot that will. Then I was thinking I could forgo the front rivet, but the track really needs that rivet to contour to the curve of the roof.

Any suggestions? A couple of other members here have seemingly installed these tracks on their 16-19 Gen 3s without enough issue to mention it in their install threads. I can't believe there would have been a significant change to structure of the roof for the 2020 models that would cause this problem.

PROBLEM SOLVED: After probably 10 total minutes of drilling with a number of brand new bits I decided to move the hole in the track up 1/2" away from the front and it drilled through in 10 seconds like the rest of the holes. The track requires some further modifications for the rivet gun to fit.

 

Did you get this sorted out? I'm about to install the same thing on my 2018.

 

There are different numbers of layers along there. There’s a beam across the roof that adds one but it’s at least 3 everywhere. Use a drill stop or drop the headliner, the air bag curtains are right there.

 

I drilled a new hole in the track 1/2” up and it drilled through the roof just as easy as the others. I DM’d some other members here and talked to Rhino rack and I seem to be the only person with this problem. There may have been some change with the MY2020 update or just a fluke with my truck, who knows. But everything seems to be waterproof and I’m happy with the rack.

 

Might have hit a spot weld with harder steel.

 

If I had to guess, I'd say you're not pressing on the bit hard enough. Drill bits have to dig into the metal to cut with the tiny little blade at the tip of the bit, and to get hold of to do that you have to put some force behind them. A lot of people seem to start out way too light and dull the bit by just spinning it against the metal.

 

Have you tried new bits and or a bit of cutting oil to help? Just need a drop. What speed are you drilling at? Likely just hitting a more reinforced section and it will take longer to drill through more material.
Post up a few pics too... can’t hurt.

 

Is the drill turning the right direction. I’ve seem folks not realize they had it in reverse.