Plastic bedliner 'slots'

[petersharp]

My 2007 longbed Prerunner has 4 'slots' in the ridge that runs the length of the bed walls (see attached pics, the slot is above the inverter). I was thinking of making up 2 planks (either wood or aluminum) that would sit in these slots to go across the width of the bed for carrying 8' x 4' sheets of drywall/lumber etc. The width between the wheelarches is less than 4' so an 8' x 4' wouldn't sit on the bed floor properly.

I wanted to make the top surface of the planks the same height as the ridge and wheelarches for maximum support of the material; if I use a standard 2" x 6" it will be too high unless is sand it down a bit.

Has anyone done this? If so, what material did you use? And how much load did you put on there?

[marvin02]

Most people just use standard lumber because anything you put in that is 4 feet wide won't rest on the ledge on the side of the bed anyway.

[petersharp]

Thanks for your reply. I thought that it might be good to use the wheelarches as support as well.

[surfsupl]

I dont know the lenght of that particular area but would a 1x6 or 1x8 #2 pine work?

[petersharp]

Originally Posted by surfsupl

I dont know the lenght of that particular area but would a 1x6 or 1x8 #2 pine work?

I can't say that I have tried those exact boards but when I visitted my local Home Depot I couldn't find anything of standard thickness that would go straight in without modification.

I was also planning to an extra support for the 4' x 8' sheet on the lowered tailgate but reading the thread about how weak the tailgates are makes me a bit nervous about doing that.

[piercedtiger]

Originally Posted by petersharp

I can't say that I have tried those exact boards but when I visitted my local Home Depot I couldn't find anything of standard thickness that would go straight in without modification.

I was also planning to an extra support for the 4' x 8' sheet on the lowered tailgate but reading the thread about how weak the tailgates are makes me a bit nervous about doing that.

If your tailgate brace covers the whole tailgate to spread the weight evenly you should be fine. The tailgate can support a lot if weight IF it's evenly distributed. The problem comes when a lot of weight is only support by a small area like the center, or 2 wheels of an ATV on the edge.

[piercedtiger]

Or, if you have a hitch, you could get a brace that slides into the hitch so none of the wood, drywall, etc sits on the tailgate.

[phantom]

this is what he is talking about and only about $20 and is adjustable in height

[piercedtiger]

^Thanks. I can never remember what they're called...

[surfsupl]

Very nice!...If I could get away with it I would drive around with that on all the time! (damn So Cal drivers!)...Where did you find that?

[phantom]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39168

note in the pic i have my hitch break light dangling when i hooked up for the pic !


(cheap and will wake up someone behind you and dirt cheap at the same place)

[surfsupl]

I 4got to add...........non/never have been/never will be....insured driving californians!

[dbbd1]

A 2X8 works with just a little shaving on one edge. Here is what I did with my slots. (I do not carry most of my offroad gear with me all of the time, just the "important" stuff and the rest, which you see here, when I am 'wheeling).

[piercedtiger]

^ looks good! So what's in the black box?

You know you can't post the pic of an ambiguous black box and not list it's contents!

[dbbd1]

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

^ looks good! So what's in the black box?

You know you can't post the pic of an ambiguous black box and not list it's contents!

It is a Pelican case. At first I bought it because it is water- (and air-) tight. I found it very useful to hide the first wife's body until I could dispose of it properly. Now, it holds my power-puller, tow straps, duct tape, gloves, plastice tarp and such for off-roading (I can take some pic's tomorrow of the inside, when I am up in the hills).

[piercedtiger]

Nice! I was wondering if you could fit a body in it.... I need something like that for my extra off road gear. I just leave my hi-lift in 24x7 now, and my tow strap behind the rear seats. Once I get any more crap I'll need a box in the bed for it.

[mjp2]

Originally Posted by petersharp

I can't say that I have tried those exact boards but when I visitted my local Home Depot I couldn't find anything of standard thickness that would go straight in without modification.

I was also planning to an extra support for the 4' x 8' sheet on the lowered tailgate but reading the thread about how weak the tailgates are makes me a bit nervous about doing that.

I used some 1x8 composite deck material and it seems to line up pretty good. It's not Trex brand, but I did find it at Home Depot.

[dbbd1]

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

Nice! I was wondering if you could fit a body in it.... I need something like that for my extra off road gear. I just leave my hi-lift in 24x7 now, and my tow strap behind the rear seats. Once I get any more crap I'll need a box in the bed for it.

This is where I got it from, good price too.


http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...-solution.html

[dbbd1]

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

^ looks good! So what's in the black box?

You know you can't post the pic of an ambiguous black box and not list it's contents!

Here is what it is used for now, wink wink, nod nod.

[piercedtiger]

looks good. So was it hard to get the blood off?