Bed stiffeners...yay or nay??

My anecdotal experience with bed stiffeners. I installed them upon initially purchasing my 2017 OR. I haul a lot of stuff in my bed and have found the additional tie down points useful. Whether I needed them or not is another question but for $90 on Amazon (Cali raised bed stiffeners) I figured why not? The worst thing I could be doing is prolonging the life of my bed.

 

Unless I'm missing something, they appear to be $110 now.

$115 Cali Raised LED Bed Channel Supports and Stiffeners for 2005-2023 Tacoma

https://www.amazon.com/Cali-Raised-Offroad-2005-2018-Stiffeners/dp/B07BL4YQGF/

 

I should have added i had a promotional coupon for 20$ off an order of $100 or more.

So, for me, $90. I still think $110 is reasonable for the product

 

I have the Total Chaos Bed Stiffeners and love them. I run a Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy so not much weight on the bedsides, however I have future plans to run a RTT on top of the Alu-Cab. For the price and the easy installation I see no reason not to install them. I also agree with some others here that the extra tie downs make things much easier. I find my self using the tie downs all the time.

 

You guys don't find it annoying to slide things in and out, never trip over it when working in the bed, never snag stuff on it? This is the biggest thing to me, I've had friends remove theirs. Sliding a 120lb cooler Up and around seems like a struggle.

 

I'm actually going to install a set so I have a more secure locking point for my mountain bike - I'm using a hardened steel chain and lock, but the stock tie down rings are a weak point. It looks like it would be nearly impossible to chop the steel on a bed stiffener due to the tight space up against the tailgate, and having the lock on it would be even more frustrating to deal with.

Not looking to leave it long term, but just to discourage the typical chop and go thief. I'm leaning toward the Victory brand at this point.

 

The All-Pros look like they’d be least susceptible to that. It’s too bad they are not made with stainless steel, like the Rago’s. Seriously, why not use stainless steel? The price difference would be negligible. Add some heat treatment and you could skip the powdercoat and have some sweet looking stiffeners.

 

No, I haven't had any problems with that. I carry stuff to and from the beach for 4-5 people at least once a week and loading and unloading our stuff (yeti 110 included) has never proved to be an issue.

 

I have the total chaos version and don't find them to be in the way at all. If anything, the bed mat makes sliding heavier items harder. But that's fine by me.

 

Fabbed my own...

 

I have not had any issues with that at all. I offshore fish and surf fish with the truck and am constantly loading heavy large coolers. I could see it if it was a 200-300qt cooler and you were trying to load it across the bed.

 

Here's a pic I snapped during my most recent road trip. This may be my favorite and most used aspect of the bed stiffeners. Locking the Yeti right to it!

 

I like that you leave enough slack in the lock that the thief can still have a beer....you’re a good person!

 

Sharing is caring...and a beer is cheaper than the cooler

 

I have a set from Total Chaos that I bought for the sake of having tie-downs I trust and a CB mount for off-road trips.

I just wish the powder-coating was holding up better after a year. Midwest salt isn't kind.

 

Nice sticker man! Chincoteague is my hometown.

@Chase8059 @Comatose Check out the sticker on the bottom left of the cooler

 

Good old ChickenFeet Island!

 

Rago Fabrications has bed stiffeners for $90 right now.

 

Worth it?

 

Haha saves money in the long run