Bed alignment issues

My bed was out of alignment exactly as vmantrdorlb pictures. I took it too the dealership and at least wanted it to get documented that the bed was shifted, so later on they couldn't blame me for it. But when I picked it up the next day they were able to fix it. Then said they just loosen the bed bolts and shifted it to the correct position. Also, when I dropped of the my truck, I saw that three other new Tacoma on the lot had the same issue.

 

With regards to the bumper alignment, mine was much closer on the right passenger side than the left drivers side. Learn from my mistakes and don't DIY this yourself without first removing the parking sensors, license plate lights and trailer hookup. When you remove the plastic step pad there are 4-5 bolts directly underneath on the top side of the metal frame and two on the underside that, once loosened, allow for you to tweak the end of the bumper.

I didn't remove the parking sensors and busted the retainer on one which isn't a separate part from the whole sensor. I also man handled the plastic step pad too much and broke a clip. I'll do a write up in case people want to DIY this as opposed to having a dealer attempt it.

 

Any issues with the chrome bumper or is this a color match plastic bumper issue?

 

My 2017 Limited has had multiple trips to the dealer for rear bumper issues. At 1200 miles on the NY Thruway the Blind Spot Detector (BSD) system failed. Dealer fixed after 1/2 day in the shop be realigning the sensors. At 1800 miles after washing the truck by hand I notice that the rear bumper appeared to be mis-aligned. Brought it to the dealer they just looked at it and said the bumper is warped and that they were ordering the parts for a new one. Sounded like they had seen this problem before. It is one of the color matched three piece units. I am waiting for the dealer to call, he said he will need another day to mount the new bumper and re-align the BSD again. I have driven toyota's since 1987 without any issues, however most of my vehicles were built in Japan. This truck came up from Mexico. I walk around the dealers lot and found about a third of his new Tacoma's had rear bumper alignment problems. He had a mix from both locations. Waiting for the call.

 

Mine is off just like yours

 

Wow, that is off a good bit.

 

My bed was misaligned from the factory just like yours. Dealer fixed no problem.

They need to realign the bed then realign the bumper.

 

I had the same identical problem with my 2017 OR taco, the bed was shifted to the left flush with the cabin whereas the right side was exposing the cab a lot. Dealer wanted to take apart the whole box and inspect it, I told him I'll call back. At home I took off the 6 bolts holding the bed to the frame and found the problem, fix it myself for good.
- frame has 6 screw nut holes for the screws and all are in the center, no problem there.
- bed is composite (soft material) and has a leg to support it on the frame (is not flat on the frame)
- to prevent the screw schussing the bed leg to the frame, inside is a metal bushing as tall as the leg of the bed BUT a hair longer past the bed top and the screw rests on it as opposed on the composite bed.
- bushing inside is about 1" ID compared to the bed screw that is 3/8" (?)
- since the bed is NOT pressed to the frame and is space between the bed screw and bushing, during movement the bed is walking away thus the uneven alignment to the cab.
- NEED A MACHINIST TO HELP YOU MAKE THE PARTS! (I have a lathe and made my own parts)
- get a solid AL rod (hard plastic may work) that fits inside the metal bushing kind of tight but finger moving.
- drill off center holes for the bed screw to fit through.
- align the bed to the frame and cabin (use rope to measure if needed) till is perfect centered - DO NOT TOUCH IT AGAIN
- find the best fitting bushing filler you made to fit inside the bushing and also to allow the screw to pass to the frame without changing bed location to the frame (twist it around till the hole is lined up)
- repeat for all remaining screws.
- tighten the bolts to the bed to frame
Problem solved. Your bed will not shift anymore since there is no more gap between the metal bushing and bolt allowing the bed to shift position.
Buy me a beer for solving your problem

 

Quality post right there, well done.

 

@Dacon Any pictures of the parts you fabricated? Really interested

 

*****************
Parts with the truck gone...

 

My inner-OCD had to know after checking this thread, so I went out and checked.

Mine is definitely misaligned, although not as bad as some. I'm not quite sure how--it's not a left-to-right issue, its like the whole thing is rotated (clockwise if you were looking down on the truck) slightly, and then the bumper is rotated even more I think. The cab to bed gap on the right side is about 5/16" larger than on the left side. However, the bed to bumper gap on the right side is also larger by about 1/4". This doesn't really add up--if the bed was crooked, then the gap at the right side bumper would be smaller (theoretically, by about 5/16") not larger. Unless bed is misaligned, and the bumper is even more misaligned (with the frame or cab as a reference point)??

 

Alright, glad that drawing is there though. Would of been perfect to have a real/visual reference.

BTW, was solving this issue hard? What was the process like? Bolts torqued to what setting?

Sorry for all the questions. This mod is extremely helpful down the road. Thanks!

 

If you come to Phoenix, I will do it for you.
Questions now to help you.
- is your bed misaligned?
- how? where. (pictures)
- take one bolt out of the truck bed.
- take a good and clear picture inside the hole as it is now and post it here and will explain.

 

Mine is misaligned as well. But oh well

 

Take it to the dealer to get it aligned, free.

 

Passenger driver side
I don't really care ,I just drive it as is.

 

mine was off just as bad as yours and I said who cares too, until I started to see more road wear on that side (like stone marks) so took in to have them fix it was no big deal they had it for about 1/2 a day and it came back 100% straight even the rear bumper... id say get it fixed!

 

@Dacon Right on, might have to make a trip out of that. But schedule right now is conflicting. Pmd anyhow

 

I'm gonna go do that on my next service, I hope they don't give me hell about it.