how to fix bedsides after being pushed apart?

anyone have a fix to separating bedsides? On the passenger side I can now fit my fingers between the tailgate and light and it makes this horrible creaking sound..
Good -

Bad -

How do I fix it before putting the reinforcements on?

 

At the helm fabrication makes a bed side stiffener that works perfectly. So does total chaos. Used both on two different trucks. Both are top notch.



https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...s-tie-downs-out-of-stock-taking-names.476123/

@At The Helm

 

X2^^

 

Maybe a good ratchet strap hooked to the tailgate latch bracket and to the opposite side tie down ring on the bed floor...? Then install reinforcements. Just a thought..

 

Bed reinforcement brackets. It's a thing. Several vendors. @Bentrodder fabs up batches occasionally, Total Chaos makes some, too.

 

You won't need to use anything other than installing the bed stiffeners but take that cap off while you do it.

 

+1 AtTheHelm

I like that they don't engage the top bolt like the total chaos stiffeners do so that I can still use my BAMF CB mount.

 

Is there any bolts I need to tighten up before installing stiffeners? I can move the bedsides with my hands, so I'd like to fix that. then add the stiffeners

 

Nah man they come with everything you need. They will fix it right up.

 

Total chaos actually told me to use a ratchet strap to help alittle. I didn't because i wasn't taking off campershell and it was tight to the bedsides anyway. Dodnt want to damage shell.
So it didn't correct the gaps but sides and bottom of bed are flush to bracket. Now that im possibly going to remove shell could i try to fix gaps? Or too late

 

I know everybody loves them, and I'll probably get flamed, but I tried the TC brackets. Didn't do anything for me. So i sold them. The bedside is way stiffer than the bracket. When I tightened the bolts on the side, it pulled the bracket to the bed, not the other way around. When you bolt the bracket down to the bed, you can flex the top of the bracket with your hand, and push it into the bedside. If you try and push on the bedside towards the bracket, it won't budge. But lots of people rave about them and supposedly one member said he could actually feel the rear end being stiffer after installing them...
Maybe my bedsides just weren't that loose?

 

Did you just assume your tailgate edges are square and the same width top to bottom? I only ask because my tailgate isn't...

 

I installed my ATH version yesterday. My bedsides weren't as bad as yours but I knew the right side was a bit off and a large framing triangle showed it. I did all of my prep then attached the bracket to the bedsides and loosely installed the bed bolts. As suggested by someone else on here, I used a ratcheting strap attached to the two newly bolted on brackets to pull the sides, checking them with the square. It only took a little but when they looked good I torqued down the bed bolts. It'd have been very easy if not for me being too lazy to remove my camping gear and sleeping platform.

 

The gap was always a little more on the passenger side (since I've owned it), when I put the shell on it moved it out farther. I can now see into the bed through the gap
If that's what you were asking...