Bed stiffiners are a gimmick...I think...

I read a lot about bed stiffiners being required when carrying heavy equipment over the bed to keep the sides from flexing. However, if you have a bed rack joining the driver and passenger sides of the bed together, doesn't that negate the need for stiffiners? I could be wrong.

 

Triangles are stronger than squares.

 

Agreed. I understand the principle behind gussets and agree that it is stronger. But is it needed....that's the real question.

 

I figure it’s cheap insurance, so why not run them. I’m running a shell, not bed bars.

 

I have a cap on my new Tacoma. Which I have heard here, speeds up the spreading problem if one exists.

I have also measured the distance across the top of the tailgate area and the bottom. Those measurements are recorded and kept in the glove box.
If I see any change or difference over time, I will add them.

 

I added them. Love the look. Can’t hurt also like the extra tie down points.

 

Circles are stronger still.

 

There's far more things that are more than $150 that are gimmicks besides bed stiffeners.

 

If the bed warping was really a problem wouldn't Toyota have stiffened it at the factory? The fact the composite bed has been virtually unchanged for 15 years tells me it isnt a problem.

 

Two sided triangles are stronger?

 

Extra tie down points would be great. I've never looked at these, since I wasn't running a cap or bed rack, but I wouldn't mind the added points to secure stuff in the bed. Not sure I want to drop $150 on them though. Maybe I'll watch the BST threads.

 

Egg shape is the strongest, Robbin Williams from Mork and Mindy flew that thing all over the universe.

 

I appreciate you.

 

No, because only a small percentage of people push it beyond the limits it was designed for. Plus, the frames have been rusting out for decades and they haven't changed them.

 

I went with the TC ones because they cover the most surface area. I figured if I can spend 1k plus on a camper shell I can spend 120 on stiffeners. I also think it has to do with where your driving. I personally have to drive 3 miles of rough fire road every day

 

If you are going to load the bed heavy and or do some hard off roading then they are a good idea . There's threads on here showing cracked beds and who wants a cracked bed

 

It may but the torn metal occurs at the bottom corners, see pic below

If you have a shell don’t wait for it to be a problem, get them now. Once your tailgate gap spreads it’s done.

Aw that’s cute, you must be new to Toyota’s...they never fix anything. It is a real problem and no - nothing has been done for 15 years.

It is a very real problem, it is not a gimmick. Folks that have never off roaded a mile have seen cracking simply from the weight of a camper shell or simply just using it ...wait for it...as a truck.

This is how the metal will start to tear in the lower corners by the tailgate :

 

People that add bed racks tend to also load a bunch of junk on those bed racks. If the rack isn't perfectly rigid, seems to me that it would not only push down on the tops of the bedsides, but also outward, compounding the problem. Stiffeners are the only way to short up those weak corners.