Just ordered a set of Total Chaos bed stiffeners

Built my own brackets from scrap metal i had left from another project.
Got tired of the ratchet strap i had across being in the way every time i hauled something. If the bed had opened up any more, my tailgate wouldn't have latched.
After my brackets, latches hit exactly where they should, same spot they had before my shell pushed things apart.

 

Subbed for future purchase. I like the extra tie down points.

 

-Yes, for the average Tacoma owner with no camper shell they are overkill.
-For the owner with a camper shell installed, they become good insurance against the bed supports spreading - creating a gap at the tailgate.
-For the owner with a camper shell installed who does off-pavement driving or traverses uneven/bumpy roads, they should be strongly considered for the reasons above and to prevent damage to the sheet metal supports.
-Add a roof rack, RTT, awning, etc... and they become a priority modification IMO. I would place the odds at 9/10 that the bed supports will start cracking in this scenario; 10/10 if the user goes off-highway, which they probably will considering the territory.

I'll snap some photos of my friend's 2013 next time we meet up. The cracks in his supports were roughly the same size as the one photographed to the right.

I'm not sure where this "no evidence, all theory" argument is coming from. Plenty of owners with toppers/racks/RTTs etc. installed are reporting cracked bed sides. Thanks for posting this for those who are responding before conducting a simple search.

I concur 100%.

 

Absolutely. I would recommend them if a topper is in your future. I would also recommend installing the stiffeners before the topper is set on your bed. The install is a bit easier if the bed is square without the bed supports being spread apart. You will not have to pull the sides back to 90* and risk snapping a bolt, especially the top bolts.

 

I just bought a new 17 TRD..........I am reading everything I can. I was unaware of anything like this and plan on adding a rack or topper for my RTT. Good info to check into. Thanks

 

I'm a little curious how the bed spreads apart as well if you're using a bed rack. The bed rack bolts to the bed rails so wouldn't the bed rack have to bend in order for the bed rails to bend out? I would only think possible damage would be like the image of the tire carrier if it got over loaded and started crinkling the bed rails downward, but not out. I understand if you had a shell that has more flex this would be possible.

I'm planning on getting a bed rack/rtt soon and already have a bed extender and brackets bolted to where stiffeners would go. Correct me if I'm wrong please. Or are we just discussing the cracking at the bottom?

 

i run a set from @At The Helm, good stuff and better price point. I do find the best bang for the buck mod is the tailgate stiffener plate, i got tired of watching the tailgate flex under load or multiple people just sitting on mine

 

Not an issue of the bed rack bending- the issue is both bed sides will move under load- the leverage is too much for the weak structure of the bed assembly. BAMF makes a rack that addresses this issue- here is a pic of one FS;

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rrors-rigid-industries-light-and-more.490587/

I am sure that if you and a buddy stood on each side of the truck with the tailgate down and each shook the truck as hard as you could side to side- I think you would be able to break the bed side where it joins to the bed floor.

 

Gotcha. So in my case I'm not so worried about the bed separating from the tailgate like OP, but the added weight of a rtt on the rails will cause more flex/strain where the rails join the floor, causing cracking/weakening at the base but not so much separation from the tailgate.

 

You're missing the most important aspect of the ATH stiffeners...

Dual bottle openers, FTW!

 

SAY NO MORE!

 

This thread inspired me to take a look at my truck and I'm glad that I did. Both sides were cracked. I have a camper shell and a rtt on it. Just added the stiffeners to my parts list.

 

Well Ok I'm sold, I have a topper on my 15 and just checked and mines not cracked but Ill order them up anyways, I like the tie down holes LOL.

 

I think I may be ordering a set of these...

 

Dang. Subbed.

 

I truly miss my Tacoma and never would have parted ways with it had kid # 4 not come along. However, it's threads like these that make me happy I traded it for a Super Duty.

 

When I had my cap installed they put some seals around the tailgate that eliminated dust and water coming through those cracks. After three years of owning the truck with a cap on 100% of the time I noticed I was getting moisture in the bed right by the gate. Gap had definitely widened on me since purchasing the cap, so I bought the At The Helm variants and I'll probably get a fresh set of the seals they used on my tailgate

 

I have the total chaos ones and these things are awesome. I'm almost always using the extra tie down points.

 

thats quite the gap @fatfurious2