Alabama thread!

If you don’t have bed stiffeners, I would get them. It’ll happen over time regardless.

And Roll Tide!

 

Ive got em already. Ive heard some ppl have problams and some dont. I know some ppl who run ttents and bed racks without them and have zero issues.

 

Do they wheel their trucks hard?

 

Not like bang em but they do do trails.

I remember @TRD Tyler said he didnt use em for a while.

 

I guess it ultimately depends on the trail. If you are constantly flexing the rear end hard and making the weight of the bed shift around on the frame it’s more of an issue. If you are doing mild trails and not riding on 3 wheels often it should be fine.

I think I’ll be boxing the rear section of my frame and running tube braces to minimize frame flex. Maybe that’ll help some.

 

What do you know!

I will say, it’s even on both sides so maybe that’s just normal spacing?

 

you even have bed bars, which I would theoretically think would help bed spreading...interesting.

 

meh, yes and no....the top still wouldn't spread because as you said that steel isn't going to give. the bottom would spread out or crack as you showed so maybe that's it. idk.

depending on weight, and the torture put on the bed supports those could also be "failing" by spreading out too. I mean, they are simple L brackets with small gussets...depending on design. they could go from 90 degrees to 91-92 degrees with some abuse and it would offer a noticeable gap on the bed.

 

you are right, it would take a lot of torture for those brackets...just depends on design. if it happened to be a couple degrees off at the start then it would definitely show issue. I still don't think the bars have anything to do with it...they are literally a connection between the bed rails that will not spread.

 

I'll try to remember to take a look at mine tonight again. it was spreading with camper shell before bed stiffeners. stiffeners pulled it in to "perfect" and always stayed that way with rtt/shell/bedrack/etc but I haven't done a sanity check in a while.

 

got the stiffeners before I ever wheeled with the tent. My RTT weighs Around 180 lbs loaded that has been the only thing on there for a while. My bikes add another 50ish lbs

 

what does the bumper have to do with it?

 

My guess is the type of person that puts on a rear bumper is more likely to do harder trails causing more flex.

 

Correct, it’s just thin sheet metal. The plate bumper probably reinforces the rear end of the truck if nothing else.

But if someone has a HC rear, chances are they are wheeling their truck more than the average trail rider. Catch 22

 

Or build the truck strong enough that it’s not an issue.

 

I’m probably 5-6 years from a fully boxed frame and a tube flatbed. That won’t spread...

 

does that mean you'll be buying another tacoma for daily driving

 

I’ll make the Tacoma a weekend toy and get a car. That or I’ll buy a Toyota pickup

a flatbed wouldn’t prevent me from daily driving the truck though

 

Sorry for your loss. You're in our thoughts and prayers.

 

I get 18-20 in mine on the interstate