Anyone else’s bed cracking here?

Somewhere recently I saw an internal cap reinforcement frame option, I think it may have been ARE. Still doesn't fix the weak sidewalls.

 

Really the best solution to any of this is to tie into the bed bolts somehow, because that goes to the frame. So a bed rack that bolts to there, or maybe a custom internal cage that ties a cap into it. That'd be sweet.

 

Not an simple question. But the fact that canopies and bed rack are open at the bottom and the back of the bed is open at the top. No matter how strong they are, forces are going to cause them to open up.

Put your thumbs together and your index fingers together and push. What starts as little vibrations will grow over time. A little flaw, then a little crack, and then spreading. It is just the nature of the beast and Toyota didn't do a good enough job taking care of it.

As was noted earlier, even hard working metal beds will spread.

 

Yeah I mean they're placed at the end of the bed when most likely they'll start to bow in the middle and out. I'm sure it'll prevent cracking where it's placed but probably won't stop it from bowing out like that photo.

 

It's probably due to the folks running top heavy RTT or whatever then doing some rough terrain wheeling. That's a lot of lateral flex. Just like buildings and earthquakes.

 

I just checked mine and there is no sign of any crack developing.I can push on the top of the bed sides and move them with the tailgate open with not much effort. I have nothing but a roll up cover. Our roads are terrible washboards for most of the year. Any load on the bed side(especially high up on the side) acting in any direction other than directly downward (statically) is going to spread the bed and cause or contribute to that crack starting. That is why a triangular shape is so strong, the bottom leg is preventing spread as a load is applied at the apex. A cap with a load on the roof is the same as an open base triangle. Its sides force the bed apart at the top. Bed side wall mounted tool boxes, tires and even heavy jacks are working at spreading the bedsides outward or inward every time the truck is driven, especially with the tailgate open or off. It's better to mount them to the front wall of the box.

I wonder if the metal in that area of the upright is brittle due to the forming process used to make that part. It is thin and a complex stamping. If it is brittle due to work hardening it will crack in time.

 

Or a 1st gen.

 

Not a cure all, but a helper. I see it that they get the bending load away from the corner and into more of a direct tension / compression.

 

So....gather around.

I had a fibreglass truck cap and then added a rtt. Prior to the rtt I did add the bed stiffeners and they did help. However time of rough roads, rock ledges and general wheeling that didn’t lead to any body damage took its toll.

If I could go back, I would have done it very differently to avoid the issues I had. I have lost a lot of faith in the bedsides of these beds. Throw some weight in the bed sure. Have some weight on the rails....your looking for issues. There is not structure in the rails. Farm jacks, shovels, even using the rails as tie downs isn’t a good idea (within reason....I would tie down a tank of gas for instance but strapping down a tarp sure).

Instead of replacing the bed I added a flatbed and essentially had to rebuild my setup. It took about 6 months of going a few hours after work, and also took the “opportunity” to strengthen to the frame to avoid any future issues.

 

Added a cap it started to go, added the stiffeners. Then rtt down the road.....the beds aren’t to great.


When I started to figure out my “build” I looked at so many builds running a cap and rtt. No issues. There are guys running campers and jumping. I don’t know how there isn’t any issues. Maybe there is, maybe the campers are more structurally sound than a fibreglass cap. Lots of variables. I don’t believe it was due to abuse.

 

The 2nd and 3rd gens are a far cry from the Hilux/Pickup/1st gen legendary toughness and reliability.

Seems the best mod now would be a custom high-clearance aluminum utility body, or hey, how about a Dodge Dakota bed swap?

 

Why I didn’t bother replacing the bed. Priced it out and went with the flatbed. My flatbed is built to haul 3 tons (iirc) far more than I would ever imagine of carrying. However it won’t break when I am using the truck within its limits.

 

Do you have any pics of the loads on the truck and cap, and the off roading when this occurred? Was anything mounted to the interior bed wall?

Did the bed stiffners bend as well?

 

I hear you. I mean, $9-$14k...
https://www.treadmagazine.com/featu...s-an-aussie-toyota-pickup-on-american-shores/

https://www.mainlineoverland.com/products/norweld-mid-size-long-bed-canopy?variant=13400142676034

 

Bed stiffeners did not bend. The bedside pulled away from the support.


Then battery got relocated to bed and rtt and stiffeners added




Again considering other setups I didn’t think it was crazy or any different. Especially those with water tanks on their rails. I did have a hi lift jack. Tire was setup in this configuration but strapped to the floor

I was 6k CND for the bed and cap....

 

It will look fine, just like it did on the 2nd gens...JFC, 3rd gen logic here sometimes.

 

Thank you for the info.

Still not sure what stress or combination caused your failure but I never attach heavy items directly to the bed wall. I will strap heavy items but so far never had any issues with a number of trucks.

I will keep an eye on things when loading up the roof rack on my new topper basket.

Is that a Leer shell and which model? Alum rear door frame or solid rear glass?

Thanks again.

 

Hindsight is always 20/20. Tacoma16 must have had every bit of 400 pounds, probably more, hanging off the top of the bed. Cap, roof rack,tire, battery and other stuff in tool boxes. It seems, from what he said, that the bed side sheet metal was peeling off the bed frame work, skimpy as it is. Wow, unbelievable.

 

Leer cap, window in the rear and aluminum doors I believe. It has been a year since it has been gone if I remember correctly so I may be wrong.

Biggest thing is to be mindful. Stiffeners help but they aren’t a for sure thing as I had thought

 

Had the battery, cap and tire. Then just the rtt. Again not saying I had no weight but compared to others, I didn’t think it was unreasonable at the time. Better to know an outcome I guess.