Will the composite bed stand up to throwing firewood in?

I'm looking at buying a new SR5. Only one concern - I cut, split, and deliver about 7 to 8 cords of firewood each year. Northern hardwood - oak, maple, beech, ash. I've had nothing but Tacomas for 35 years now, and I'm used to drop-in bedliners, that you can't hurt if you're throwing axes into the bed. I saw and felt the composite bed, but I can't tell by that whether it would stand up to the impacts again and again. A good size stick of my firewood is 20 to 22 inches, and can be up to 15 pounds, and I might throw it in from the pile out in the field, maybe a 10 foot toss or more. And I have built stone walls around my property, and might load stones of 75 to 100 pounds (but those I would not toss, I'm too old for that now).

So how much should I worry about getting a bedliner to go on top of the composite?

Thanks for any ideas

I attached a photo of a 12 lb. log

 

I've hauled many loads of post oak in the truck for smokin some brisket and it has held up perfectly. Don't try to break it and it wont break

 

The Tacoma's bed is tough. I've actually read it is more impact resistant than steel beds, as well. HOWEVER, where steel would dent/bend, I'm not sure if you might eventually crack it. But in my opinion, I would trust the interior of the Tacoma's composite bed just as I would a steel bed.

 

Purchase the $110 Toyota bed mat and you will have no problem.

 

I pick up a half cord a couple of times a year and have never had any problems with damage. Its all scratched to shit, but there haven't been any breaks, or real damage that I'd be worried about.

 

If you don't already have one, get the OEM bed mat. You'd be hard pressed to damage the bed with that thing.

 

Good call!! that'd take the impact out.

 

Bed mat to soften the blow. Cut up horse stall mat for around the bed sides if you think you beat on them.

You can't load all that much wet wood w/o overloading trucks weight capacity anyway.

 

The bottom of the bed is strong as a mofo. I would just avoid wailing on the front wall with heavy things. It is more flexible than the floor.

 

What's this "weight capacity" of which you speak?

 

I don't haul wet wood. It's all well seasoned before I move it home to the cellar.
And the bed mat idea sounds good.
And I'm impressed that BeachBum2012 can get a half cord in one load. At about 1/3 cord I'm about as full as I can get without wood spilling out the sides. And I have worried a bit with my previous Tacomas, about how low the bed sinks and how squashed the tires look with that much. I always thought Tacoma was a half-ton. But I see online that its payload rating is 1685#???

 

That 1685 is the MAX. most are a few hundred pounds less with options.

 

Heavier springs doesn't legalize exceeding the door jamb sticker capacity. It's not all about just the suspension.

For the overall size of these trucks they are pretty light duty.

 

Does fine. No protection required.

 

agreed. Springs don't change the capacity of tires, springs, frame, axle, bearings, etc.

 

I'd be more worried about my aim chucking wood from 10' away than about hurting the bed.

 

I'm not suggesting anyone actually overload. BUT, running at max payload or anywhere close regularly without some sort of helper springs/air bags/stronger leaf pack, etc is going to lead to sagging suspension, or driving around with next to no up travel which can also damage things or even be unsafe from a vehicle control standpoint. The OEM springs on Tacos will de-arch fast when loaded heavy regularly. There's no way around that. Again, not telling people to drive over payload, but reminding people that driving at payload regularly will wear your suspension out quickly.

 

I'd invest in a headache rack, for sure.

 

You'll be fine, used my truck to carry this load on my property before winter hit

 

I realized how tough the composite bed is when I hit my 2nd gen bed with a centre punch to drill holes for front tie downs. Damn.

yes to bed mat, yes to bed stiffeners and yes to headache rack.