POP QUIZ, how many people know this about their tacoma?

LOL, I KNOW I CAN NOT BE THE ONLY ONE! how many folks know what the cut outs on the sides of your bed or for?

i have had this truck for about 8-9 years and made hundreds of trips to home depot for wood for various projects around the house. the biggest pain was always hauling 4' x 8' sheets of plywood or drywall because the bed is just to narrow for them to fit so i always would strap the sheets down at an angle, etc

not too long ago i went pick up some plywood and was once again fumbling with making the sheets fit and another taco guy walked up and basically ask what the hell i was doing, LOL!

I NEVER REALIZED what those little cut out things on the sides of the bed were for! he gave me a couple of 2" x 6" boards he cut for his, i laid them across in those cut outs and now hauling 4' x 8' sheets is a breeze!

(hope is is ok i borrowed the pic from another member to show the little cut outs i am talking about)

 

I did... As soon as I saw them I was like "Ha ! What a great idea, cut-outs for 2x6's to support 4x8 sheets... Ingenious !".

With the bed-rails though, it looks like you might be able to get eight 3/4" sheets or about ten 3/8" sheets in there...

 

I had to explain this feature to the toyota sales person!

 

Mind.blown.

 

Yeah, I knew that, but they're only deep enough for 1X material if you to support the edges. My old Ranger Penda liner had notches with clips to lock in a 2X4, but no edge support.

 

Yup. Knew that.

 

No way

 

Way dude, Way!

 

Have to say, I didn't. Eyes barely open this morning and I learned something. Thanks!

 

Just tell me your real name isn't Joseph or Joe.

I'd have to say I knew that but, I also get the coolness of discovering a neat & useful tool even if it's only new to me.

 

Actually pretty common on compact and mid size trucks. Even my '98 Frontier had them.

 

What is the alternative? Is the problem with now using those that the wood would bend if you just layed it across?

 

I see. In the picture in OP, what are those bars that connect to the adjustable tie spots? I'm assuming keeping things down?

 

I have used those things for years on other trucks and now on my Tacoma.
You do know what the door locks are for?

 

i put second set of tie down anchor loops or whatever they are called on the floor of the bed up by the cabin (if you do make sure you put as large a piece of metal as you can fit on the bottom, remember the bed is not metal!), using the 2" x 6" boards the guy gave me, i just run a ratchet strap from the oem anchors by the tailgate, over the boards and hook to the anchors i put up by the bed. boards stay in place and being 2" x 6" and only like 4.5' in length they are pretty strong, i never had any issues with them bending on me. also by strapping the cross boards down like that, after i secure the payload, i can add an additional (just in case strap) securing the payload to those boards.


if you mean bend, like sag out the back? if i am hauling several sheets of plywood i put about 6 or 8 clamps on the stack, its stays firm for the trip, of you can secure a couple of boards across the cross boards going front to back and lay the sheets on there

 

Ermagherd, 5/4"!!!!!!

 

yes, like i said in the original post, i just borrowed the picture to show the spots i was talking about, sorry for the confusion. i hope it is ok that used the pic?

 

Yep!!!

 

Indeed

 

I sense a little sarcasm there.