Question for the fab guys on this site

I spend a lot of time hauling motorcycles and I want to get my truck setup to get it done. One of the problems is the rail system which is weak. I have mounted D rings in the front of the bed already but need more moving two bikes. I have seen something that I think will work here:

http://www.ccrsport.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=125&products_id=269
http://www.highrollerproducts.com/tiebar.html

I am all about helping these companies out by buying their product but I think it can be improved upon, specifically by designing something for the tacoma itself. I like the CCR sport rack but I dont think that the mounting of the bar is strong enough for the tacoma. Can any fab guys chime in here and let me know either 1) if there is a way to mount the bar (like the ccr pro) securely to the front of the bed or 2) is there a design that we can look at building for this application?

I run trackday here in SoCal and am pretty sure we can get some interest going if there is a strong solution.

Thanks guys!

 

bummer that nobody else chimmed in, i thought everyone on here was a fabricator of sorts (rolls eyes)

i would be confident in either system mounted to the plastic bed with nice, big fender washers. since your tying to the rack, and as long as the wheels touch the rack before they touch the bed the only stress your bed would endure is the weight of the rack itself. ie make sure and mount it at or just below center wheel hight.

 

Bump. Everyone keeping busy there days?

 

I can envision a rack that bolts into the bed using the bed bolts. It would transfer all the forces from the bikes to those mounting points. The bikes could mount in some sort of track.

Be a pretty easy design to come up with.

 

I can imagine something as well. Wish I had the experience and tools required to fab up something. I find many little things that can be made/improved upon based on the hobbies I have. Hopefully someone who rides and has the experience can chime in eventually.

 

How about a custom made rack to hold two bikes with the chock they have for you to mount one on a trailer. You could bolt it through the floor where the tie downs are with steel plates backing it up under the bed. You could also have tie downs on the frame for this that supports the chocks.

Something like this but double and connected together.

 

utilize a track system like the Nissan Titans have in the beds of their trucks called Utili-Track It's basically what we've got on the sides and front, but on the bed itself. Picture really says it all.

 

I like the track system but the issue with street bikes (or any heavier bikes) is that you can reduce the amount of force on the tie down points with a wheel chock of sorts. I currently run a baxley in my bed which will hold the bike upright on its own and the tie downs are just to prevent it tipping. If something were made that both held the front wheel (like the bed buddy) and had multiple tie down points (stronger than the weak tacoma rail system) that would be perfect for carrying two bikes.

I like the bed buddy for this but I am worried that since it mounts to the rail system, how strong can it be considering the rail system is weak as is? I might jump on the bed buddy and try to reinforce the mounting of it to the bed.

 

If I had more free time I'd definitely fab something up. Just got too many of my own projects going on right now to add to the list. Wheel chocks are incredibly easy to make and mount so long as you feel comfortable with drilling through your bed...

 

Was trying to avoid guessing on the quality of the work at shops I don't know. I see that most of the fab guys on this site have higher standards. Plus, being involved in multiple small businesses, I want to give my business to those that take the extra time to concern with not just quality but asthetics and customer service. I am not in a rush so ill just keep this idea in mind for now.

Thanks for all the responses thus far.

 

If you are looking for a way to customize a new bed track rail check this site. They sell aircraft cargo rail tracks and tie downs. This is very close to the Nissan system in how it's made. I had the utilitrac in my '08 Frontier and it's one thing I miss dearly about the Nissan. It's very well made and thought out.

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/Airline-Straps-Hardware

 

Very good stuff here. I am going to look into putting a couple rails in the floor of the bed. This is something I think toyota could have done better with their bed cleat system. Thank you.

 

Glad to help I had this site saved I found it on an Xterra forum they are mounting them in the floor of the cargo area on the Xterra's. I plan to swap my Toyota rails out for these myself soon.

 

Jim do good wiff Nissan idea?

 

Yup. I am going to look into this a bit more when I have some free time. I would like to swap our tacoma rails out for something stronger and I am sure I will have to find a better way to secure them to the side of the bed as well.

 

If only I were on leave...I'd whip ya something up with two wheel chocks and D rings for strapping them down that would mount right to the front of the bed. Don't go on leave until the end of September and I doubt you wanna wait that long lol

 

Well I already mounted some D rings on the front of the bed and they work great with a stand alone chock. Problem is trying to transport two bikes in a Tacoma. Thats why the bed buddy system (with reinforcements and better mounting to the bed) would be a great idea.

 

Bed buddy don't got shit on me! Well besides time to actually produce something...

 

hahaha! Well you let me know if you come up with anything (including free time) and we can work something out. I definitely have a few ideas from experience that I would like to see implemented.

 

How wide are your bikes, bar end to bar end? And do you care that your tailgate is down? Because even the long beds are too short to close the tailgate with a bike pulled straight in, even my XB12S wouldn't fit pulled straight in...