Good points. Kind of way detailed, but still good. I would agree with loading to failure, but most bolted connections on our trucks are way over-designed ( or I should say have an adequate safety factor.
) I would say that a nut and bolt connection will more likely fail at the thread root somewhere between the nut and the bolt head if pulled to failure, even if the bolt threads didn't extend past flush with the nut. Full disclosure: I have not done that test.
