bed modifications

any cautions, tricks, or advice for drilling into the composite bed tub? I remember putting some holes for nutsert style threaded inserts in my 2011's bed, and the "tailings" seemed to mostly crumbles.

I didn't put much use on them, it was for a short lived toolbox install which turned out to be not as necessary as I initially thought, so I don't have a feel for the long term effects of cutting into the bed.

is there a specific angle point which does better? I thought a "regular" bit did some pulling and maybe a uni-bit style would work better. or is drilling taboo and there are better ways of holding stuff down?

have seen a few things in this thread so thought it might be a good place to "ax".

thanks

 

what do YOU need to drill for specifically? Is it possible to use a bed bolt thats already there?

Id imagine a holesaw working well.

ax?

 

well, imagine I wanted to bolt something to the bed floor. I couldn't go 'round using a holesaw to accommodate a 1/4"x20 tpi bolt now could I? I have imagination, I need actuality. happiness lies somewhere between.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/can-you-drill-through-the-composite-bed.165510/

 

thanks.

part #2: what is the safe hole size before a backing plate is recommended?

part #3: what is suggested to prevent stress cracks radiating from drilled holes?

part #4: should the hole be sealed for the thickness of the bed so water will not migrate through the layers & delaminate the composite?

 

Good questions... too bad u dont have a bedbolt already in a location u can use.
Maybe someone else can finger them out... they may want a working load as an example?

 

Easy to drill, regular bits will work, it's messy. I would use fender washers on any bolt you install and I would not plan on using it to secure much weight. It may hold or it may not, it's a composite bed after all and some folks have had issues with them over the years. If I needed to secure something valuable or heavy I'd plan on using the factory tie downs or I'd use some sort of piece of metal secured to the factory tie downs ex. a piece of angle iron bolted to two different tie downs.

 

aha! beat the bushes long enough and the grouse will flush out!

appreciate the additional tips, too. helps let me know i'm not that far 'round the bend . . .

 

Depends on how much weight your trying to hold. Adding D-rings to hold something heavy like a motorcycle? Id pass. Real light loads are ok. I drilled some holes in my bed side and used 1/8" Bolts to hold fishing rods along the bed side. No issues at all, but obviously not much weight.