New player in the bed stiffener game...?

That would require paying engineers. Aint nobody got time for that!

 

Wait a second you did not get mine or my girlfriend permission to post her picture here!! That’s breaking the forums rules!!

 

I'm running ATH. I picked them up for about the same price as these. Something about running a knockoff that doesn't sit right with me.

The same reason I won't but a Martin roof rack.

 

The Rago stiffeners came in today. I got a sticker and a piece of candy! Lol. They look good and solid. Came with beefy installation bolts. Will try and get installed this weekend.

 

Got my Hooke Road stiffeners yesterday. Initial impression is that they look good. Powder coat is clean, all cuts are nice, only minor complaint is there some some weld splatter away from the welded area. Not a lot of weld splatter and this is the only thing I could complain about.

Hole size on these are 1/2 inch, which is plenty for the ratchet type straps I have. Once installed there will be 49" between the uprights so transporting 4x8 sheet material is still possible, but obviously you'd want to put a towel or board near the stiffeners so your sheet material isn't getting marred on the edge of the stiffener.

I haven't installed them yet. Installation on these (and most stiffeners) requires removing and reinstalling rear bed bolts. I looked at my bed bolts and believe they are original, so I'm going to order new bed bolts and move the d-rings up to the front of the bed since I will no longer need them at the back.

 

Got the Rago installed Saturday. Very nice pieces. Finally gave me an excuse to buy step drill bits.

 

Do we really need an excuse to buy tools though?

Looks good. Only time will tell how they hold up, but that's true for any brand you get...including the expensive ones.

 

LOL, I work in the furniture industry and that particular chair is designed that way by a very famous designer. It retails for over $5k.

https://fritzhansen.com/en/products/Lounge chairs/pk22_leather

 

LOL WTF? $5K for a single chair? That’s nuts.

 

and they look like the ones everyone puts out with their trash.

 

My Rago set is ordered. Great customer service. I hope I get a piece of candy too.

 

I didn’t realize this was a thing until I read this thread. Went out and looked at my truck.











Can’t imagine I’m gonna buy one of these kits though, had I not been enlightened, probably would have never noticed and don’t think I’ll have any real problems

I have Thule bed racks

 

Where steel is sourced from is a huge impact on the strength and quality of it.

I have the Hooke Road Roof Rack w/ 21” led bar.. decent for the 380$ price tag. Compared to the Prinsu.

Very durable and rugged, textured powder coat on it is tip top. With 4 eye anchor points that are movable.

The one issue I had:

when I hit 60mph the front angled piece wobbles and you hear it.

I fixed the problem with some simple Pipe Insulation from Cheapo Depot and filled the 3/8” gap that was causing it.


I loosened the front brackets and lifted the rack enough to slide in the pipe insulation letting enough meat for the rack to sit on. Then tightened the rack back down. Used a razor knife to slice the rest of it off. Tiny bit of whistling, I’m talking minimal.

if you have doubts, don’t!

if you don’t want to spend a metric fuck ton of $$ on highly sought after products, which know they are sought after, explaining the price.. then get the Hooke Rack, still American made.

just got the stiffeners and about to install them.

 

They've really dipped....think I'm gonna give them a shot! As for someone saying that they won't allow you to truly use the tie down. I'm going to just clip in a couple of my rated carabiners!! Will report back!

 

I can't speak on the bed stiffeners, but I do have their bed rack that's been carrying my rooftop tent for a couple years now, and only good things to say about the quality.

powdercoat is good, had some overspray in the corners but otherwise no complaints. it's built sturdy and can handle some serious weight and offroading. I wouldn't be concenred about buying their bed stiffeners if i didn't already have the total chaos ones.

 

How often are people having failures associated with deflection of the bed sides? Looking at the measurements from sloped bedsides, I'd argue the flexural stress at the lower corners of the bed sides is fairly minimal.

 

pretty sure Hooke started in China or something not the US
and may still be

 

Has anyone heard anything about the bed stiffeners from 4wp? Looks like a bit more to the install but at least they don't sit in the actual bed.

$150 4 Wheel Parts Factory Tacoma Bed Stiffeners - 61748W

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/2021-...K1aAiWIMjSyNHBwQIuPfHRR9fzqD-b68aAuC7EALw_wcB

 

Just looked to compare and put links in 1 place.

Amazon 89.99 then minus 5% = 85.49

$70 Hooke Road Tacoma Bed Channel Stiffener Support Brackets Compatible with Toyota Tacoma 05-23 2nd & 3rd Gen Pickup Truck - Pair

Amazon.com: Hooke Road Tacoma Bed Channel Stiffener Support Brackets Compatible with Toyota Tacoma 05-22 2nd & 3rd Gen Pickup Truck - Pair : Automotive
Ebay 59.99 2x Metal Bed Stiffener Support Brackets for 2005-2021 Toyota Tacoma 2nd &3rd Gen | eBay

Cali Raised 109.99 2 gen 149.99 3gen 2005-2021 Tacoma Bed Stiffners &Channel Supports – Cali Raised LED

4WP internal 149.99 and here is install pdf: 61748W.pdf (4wheelparts.com)

Rago 159.95 (Total Chaos - did not find a listing)

 

Somebody suggested them in a stiffener thread last week but it was the lone suggestion for them. The other 90% were running tc or the cr ones. I’m with you I like the fact that they are concealed and also agree it’s looks a bit more involved. I don’t need any more tie downs. I have 9 d rings in the factory rail system and d rings on the front and rear bed bolts. When I buy stiffeners I will most likely get these or a similar design.