Bed stiffeners...yay or nay??

How do we split that?

 

Obviously I get $400, ya'll do what you want with the rest.

 

ohh ok, that makes sense. Welp, i ordered the total chaos stiffeners... next thing is an awning..

 

Caliraised for me. Great add on

 

How many tons are you planning on carrying?

 

I like the idea of stiffeners. But I’m installing Swing Cases on both sides. Looks like the stiffeners would interfere.

I may modify the mounting bracket to go higher as the bracket will already provide some support.

I read a comment that Toyota should include these. Not a bad idea as they could likely make a very low profile support.

 

Corner reinforcement might be a consideration also:

 

I’d like someone to explain how exactly enough vertical force is transferred laterally to bend guesseted 3/16 steel.

We bash skid plates on rocks balance our vehicles on sliders yet somehow it’s not good enough to keep a bed from deflecting outward from a couple hundred pounds?

 

I couldn't be happier with the CaliRaised stiffeners. There's no need to go higher and the section through the corner is beefier.

Beyond that, the top plate support wide pallet loads that I have hauled. On the other brand, it would have been hung up on the rib.

I believe @tomwil is in our line of thinking.

For me, the moment that was flowing through the stock stanchion is now split between it and the stiffener allowing more efficient loading. It takes the outer fiber load away from that undercut at the bottom of the stanchion.

All good, IMO.

 

Bed stiffeners do a great job stole pics from here.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/anyone-else’s-bed-cracking-here.603580/

 

Nice write up. I have attempted to explain that in the past, much less eloquently.

Essentially, the patent is worthless unless it is an exact copy.

 

They are. Thats why I got one lol

The real answer is this truck and all truck suck with the wind

 

Honestly, not planning on carrying tons. Just want to protect my truck. Probably will get close to load capacity in the prinsu rack tho

 

this is what I can't decide on. Total Chaos is hard to find used, and expensive new.
People say it's stronger due to higher coverage.

However, I think ATH Fab is competent. If ATH saw the need for that, they'd make it higher. I want to support ATH because it's cheaper, and I'm happy with my rear bumper from them.
So so far, I'm undecided. Haven't pulled the trigger on a stiffener yet.
I'm not sure I need to yet because my bedsides seem straight with even panel gaps, and I have no weight up top yet such as a camper shell
but it does seem like stiffeners are a good mod to get...

A plus about Total Chaos, I think they come painted. Which is nice, because I don't have a yard or anything, so I'm not a fan of all that prepwork, spraying primer, paint clearcoat, etc... especially on something that everyone is going to end up painting black as standard

 

All this talk and back and forth, I just ordered the Total Chaos stiffeners.

 

I’be been sold on these after seeing yours...just ordered it.

 

yea the I think the extra height does minimal in terms of extra strength. Agreed others would add the extra piece if it was necessary.

I got mine preemptively. My thought was better to protect against it now than if it gets too bad to correct. And the extra tie down points are nice.

They are expensive. I got mine during a sale but still, not cheap. Sorry never had experience with ATH Fab but if you like their other products, maybe worth trying this out as well.

 

FTFY:

 

I general, joints should be balanced. Two fasteners either side, three fasteners either side, etc. with similar material sections. So, for all stiffeners, anything further up the sides than about two bolts is not really needed.

 

Nice were only 170