ATV/Bed Bar Build

Okay, i've started working on this project. I work at a machine shop/welding shop, that also does powdercoating (any color black you could possibly want) and I also am big into ATV's and Fourwheeling. Well, not long after I picked up my Regular Cab Short Bed tacoma, I realized I had a problem. There is no room for a toolbox or any way to protect my back window from a fourwheeler in the bed of my truck and still shut the tailgate. Yeah, i've thrown a board in there a time or two, or used an old tire, but I wanted something solid, that would mount to the factory rail, and look good, without sacrificing a lot of visibility out of the already microscopic back window. So, I drew up some plans, took them to the CNC plasma, and here's what I came up with:

So after transferring it to a print, cutting it out, and forming it, here's the base bar, that curves around the factory bed:


And here's what it looks like, until later this week when I weld on the D-Rings and powdercoat it. I still have full visibility, fourwheeler fits great, and mounts to the factory bed rail with some 1/2" T-slot nuts.


I am thinking about selling these down the road, I can do small custom touches, change the bar height, do light tabs, etc...
The tags between the bar here are custom too, just my initials in a design I like. There's a guy at work who wants me to do the same thing, only with TRD instead.
This works, to my knowledge on any of the 2nd Gen tacos, and fitment has been confirmed on the 2014 DC SB too.

 

I mean this as a feeler post as well. I want to see if anybody would be interested. Any questions or customizations, suggestions, are appreciated.

 

Very Cool Like the idea also like the tabs. Now how would this mount? Looks like it mounts to factory rails. How strong will it be mounted? Would you be able to secure the 4 wheeler down to the tabs and it hold? And could you estimate a round a bout price for one?

 

maybe have a brackets attached to side rails aswell, looks good though.

 

That is pretty cool. I have done about the same thing with my Banshee in the back of my truck. I would be very interested in one of these if you could put a kit together and figure out some pricing. I'd like it just raw material. I'll paint it later.

 

I don't even have a four wheeler and I might get one of these.

It's a great grab bar, and you can tie stuff to it.

 

pm sent

 

i'd be interested in the one shown in picture 2 w/o the extra bar.

 

That's badass man! I like it. I really like the toyota cutout

 

sub'ed to see how this comes along. I'd be intrested in a DIY kit I like to weld.

 

Well, here's the finished version, ready for powdercoating with D-rings attatched.

A guy at work with a 2014 TX Pro Tacoma wants auxilliary light tabs in his, and he wants the tags to say TRD instead of CS. I simply did the CS because those are my initials.

 

pretty sick! nice work man............now to find a reason to have one......

 

Yeah, that's easily doable, D rings could be included or not, but I get mine from the local farm and home store, so it could save you some cash to go that route. I'm still working on pricing, the person that owns the plasma cutter is on vacation, and we've gotta work on pricing, as well as talk to the guy that does the bending and decide his cut. I have two material options as well, my material now is 10 Gauge (approximately between 1/8" and 3/16" thick) but given time i could work on a 1/4" option, that just costs a little more.

I'm also working on all manner of light tabs and what not, but being that I didn't want any on mine, I have no idea how people would commonly want them. So, if anybody has any advice on good light tab design or mounting, i'd be glad to listen.

 

Definitely interested in one with some light tabs

 

Well where would the best light location be? On the bar? Or on the metal wraparound?

 

I would make it a DIY kit. Just bend up the metal and sell it that way as an option then also complete. There are so many different types of light mounts that its hard to say which is the "best". I would say that people should mount their own tabs on for lights. I am down for DIY kit when you figure out the price. TRD is a good idea for the support tabs in the middle too.

 

Looks awesome

 

Looks awesome
I wondered if you considered removing the factory bed rail and using the bed rail mount holes to make this bed bar permanently mounted? It might change the dimensions of your design (I think) but would give you a little extra room in the bed. Again, great work.

 

That is a great idea. My only issue is I have a tonneau cover. What about this layout?

Bolting flange, then return towards cab then put a rise of like 2 inches or so then return back out to rear of truck. That way the tonneau cover could still be intact and removed if needed. I can sent firm dimensions of you want. Since I have a cover.

 

Yeah, if you could sketch something out on a piece of paper and send it to me with pictures of how the tonneau cover is it would be helpful. I have never had a tonneau on any of my trucks so I have no idea how the mounting is, especially one for a tacoma.