Will the composite bed stand up to throwing firewood in?

You should be fine if you don't throw it in too hard but there have been issues
Toyota tacoma broken composite bed site:www.tacomaworld.com

 

My 13 has been fine to handle all the abuse. Stay within truck capabilities and it’ll be fine as far as the composite bed goes. Mat helps to keep things from sliding. Also a negative as it won’t slide when you want it to lol. I’ve done way crazier than below pic but all within trucks abilities. Tacomas are tough and durable. Be smart, use within capacity specified and maintain it and it’ll take care of you.

 

I have hauled hundreds of cords of firewood over the last 15 years in both of my Tacomas . It can absolutely handle the job without hesitation. Also, fyi, the 6’ bed along with a bed extender will hold 64cf (1/2 cord) of neatly stacked firewood . You will have to crown the load (higher in the middle) but it will do it safely and haul it no problem. Wet oak weighs more then seasoned ash, so payloads vary, but the composite bed has never let me down and can take quite a beating.

I also occasionally use Toyota’s steel cargo divider and invert it so it protects most of the back glass . I have shattered a window when loading carelessly.

 

I've had no issues either, (just have to be a little careful around the plug hinge). A Mat is a must!

 

My brother- in-law built a vertical "headache panel" out of plywood that he stands up at the front of the bed. Just a temporary window protector to keep his boys from ventilating the cab. Dunno how he held it to the front wall of the bed - will have to ask. Flat and easy to store - I've seen it in there when hauling but never checked it out.

 

How much wood can you fit in the back of a 5 ft bed if its stacked? about a face cord?

 

Looks like white pine on the tailgate.

 

Not sure. After looking at the dimensions it looks like it might fit. A half cord sits about a foot to 18" above the bed rails when stacked very carefully in my long bed. Seems like half that should fit in the short bed.

 

Put a piece of plywood across the front of the bed and stack a couple rows to hold it in place, cheap headache rack to prevent your rear window from breaking if you have a piece bounce up. Another piece on the bed floor will help prevent scratching if that worries you.
Otherwise, the bed can handle it.

 

Its a truck with a box on the back that is tough and durable. Just use it.

 

I used my truck to move a felled and cut-up tree to another location on my property. I didn't baby it when I was loading the bed, but I didn't toss them in from six feet awy with height either. I wouldn't do that to my son's F150, never mind my own truck. I was more worried when I loaded the old, cut-up pressure-treated kid's swing-set with the various metal brackets, and heavy 2x6 and 8's (and Carpenter ants: hate 'em!) with the lag screws etc to take it to the dump/transfer station. The bed was fine. The only problem/near disaster I had was when some %$$@^# drove behind behind me at speed as I backed up, and when I hit the brakes I almost "auto un-loaded" the payload in the middle of the parking lot: No bed mat. The attendant threw him out of the place: Justice! (I have a bed-mat now)

My other son has a 2005 AC LB: 18 years: Some scratching, No sun-fading, no warping, no holes, no color change: no nothing. (except for the two side cubby boxes over the wheel-wells: they took flight at some point and were never seen again.)

 

Rather than the bedmat I put in a quarter inch sheet of plywood. It and the bed have held up to tree stumps concrete rubble. Even exceeded payload doing it a few times. I think you'll be fine with cords.

 

My son put a piece of plywood in the bed (aluminum) of his F150 a few months after he bought it.... more to keep down the scratching than anything else. There's no dents or dings in it at all, and he cuts his own firewood and transports it in the bed all the time. The weight of the bed mat in my truck smooths out the ride a little and I really think it cuts down on some of the road noise as well.

 

My big bitch with the Taco bed is the lack of stake pockets........... How do you build a decent "pig fence" on there with nothing sturdy to attach to?

 

That’s right! About an hour to an hour and an half away from little ‘ol L.A. Oh wait, you prefer desert? Ocean? We got it all.

Angeles National Forest allows it for about a $25 permit for soft wood, and a bit more for hardwood, which is usually blue oak or me fave, canyon oak. Best part, one gets the keys to the gate(s)

 

Yes, permit, only I. Designated areas, return of key (big blow to the pocket if you loose it!) They really don’t monitor the load count in Angeles that well. But that’s on one’s conscious.

I like the way the forest service up in Kennedy Meadows (about an 3 1/2 hour drive from here) allows felling, with rules, but felling nonetheless. I was hard core into wheeling for wood when I had my 2012 OR and getting permits in Porterville as well! Feels awesome cutting wood near a Taco using a Husky :0)

 

NEVER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS!

Fast Huskies for life.

Custom head for a 3120FP worksaw. Yes folks, worksaw pulling long bars.

 

And a big shout out to Mr. George Harrison from Grass Valley, CA! Who by the way drives a 2016 OR!

Laters!

 

This is the craziest thing I ever did. I can’t believe that’s all the straps I used too! Fuuuuuudge.

I didn’t have a mat, and alls that happened was it got scratched up. Loads of firewood. HEAVY f’ing rounds of Euc being thrown in. Never broke.

I hope this little ‘ol mill can handle 4130!

 

Let’s try this again, lol!

yeah, you folks have me reminiscing alright! (Yeah yeah yeah, ;0)

I used to use the Taco to skid too. It’s a video, but I took screen shots. The Taco’s size makes it easier to maneuver in tight spaces.