Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners

Just installed these today on lunch break, they’re really easy. I’ll drill the six holes tomorrow plus I’m getting bigger washers for the backside /inside the taillight area. I used antiseaze on the bed bolts, they were a bit tough to get off and I only have 3500 miles on the truck.

One thing I was surprised at how thick and heavy these are, definitely stiffened up the bed and sides.

I’ll post more tomorrow

 

These would unfortunately not work with my cargo extender.

 

This is also my first Taco and I'm trying to understand how I'd know if I needed this product or not. What use / issue does this specifically address and how would I know if I did or did not suffer from a lack of stiffeners?

 

^^^I have the same question....^^^

 

Some with toppers, racks or other heavy accessories, rtt's, etc., mounted to the bed rail, have experienced their bed rails widening out over time, especially it the truck is seeing off camber situations frequently when wheeling. If these conditions don't apply to you, then NO, you don't need them.

 

It’s also a restively cheap ($150) way to get 6-8 tie downs at the end of the bed, as well as stiffen your bed and sides.

 

I bought a Tacoma because of people like this son of a bitch!!!!!

 

I purchased Total Chaos stiffeners from Amazon in February and was offered $70.00 off the price by applying for an Amazon Capital One credit card, which took just a few minutes online. Sold!

$89.00 for the pair.

 

mine either so I'm removing the extender. i like the extender but I'd get more out of a firmed up bed and extra tie downs.

 

And then the D-rings can be repurposed toward the front of the bed.

 

Sweet, this is something I’ve been thinking about, funny you brought this up. I’ve actually bought 10 DRings and tBolts from Hondos Garage for the bed rails for tie downs.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/TEN-Replacem...m=252743300730&_trksid=p2056116.c100935.m2460

 

I like my extender.

I wonder if someone could build a slot into the bracket....the gussets would probably interfere though.

 

A workaround has already been done.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...feners-with-amp-research-bed-extender.484522/

 

that's nice and do-able. i think that once i get the stiffeners installed I'll be using a net for the extension if needed. just a little less hardware to deal with.

 

Finished up the TC bed stiffeners today, drilled the 6 holes and used my own bigger washers on the inside of the taillight area. Blacked out the bolts with a sharpie, I’ll eventually paint them, I’m a geek. Put in the tie down d Rings, all looking good and now have 12 tie downs

 

I like how three people asked why someone would need or know they need bed stiffeners and the only response that even eluded to answering the question was to add tie downs to the end of the bed.

As someone who has the same question as those three ignored, lost souls, "Why would someone need or know they need bed stiffeners?" I owned trucks in the past and never heard of this but for some reason they are discussed alot in regard to the Tacoma.

 

If you put several hundred pounds on the top bed rails with topper, tent, etc keeps the sides from opening up.

These beds and sides can be pulled apart with two average size men.

 

I've seen it mentioned a number of times a a known issue from weight and flex stress with the 2nd gens.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/check-your-tacoma-hairline-cracks.83175

 

Perhaps you just missed it.
Yes, the question concerning why was asked in post number 20, 23 and 24, and answered in post 25.

With the composite bed interior structure, many hard core off roaders even attach their carry bars for roof top tents and other equipment to the bed floor instead of the bed rails so as to not have that weight sitting on and pushing against the rails.

The composite is very dent resistant compared to steel and doesn’t rust when scratched. Composite has high impact strength and is also light weight.

It is slippery, but so is steel when it’s wet.

As far as exactly how much deflection and bending compared to steel, I don’t know.

I figured that for the price, the stiffeners provide additional sturdy tie down points and could help decrease bending when a future fiberglass canopy and racks of 150 to 200 pounds is installed.

Fiberglass is stiff, slowly breaks down and can easily crack over time, so the stiffeners might help to provide some stability for the weight of a canopy and its struture with other equipment and weight mounted above it.

Composite can crack. Steel can crack, bend and deflect also.

And, aluminum will probably do the same too over time.