Bike mount utilizing Tacoma bed rail system - my version

I answered someones post on Toyota Nation about a bike mount system, so I thought I'd post it here too. There are plenty of options available. I like what I've come up with because it was cheap, VERY secure, and doubles as tie down points for the front of the bed. Here is what I did:


I bought 2 of these:

http://www.theproscloset.com/Shop/Co...id/0/SFV/32625

Total was around $21. Then I went to Lowes, got 2 large washers to fit inside the bed rail system ( I brought in a bed cleat with me to use to size the correct washer), bought 1.5" long bolts (I think they were 1.5" long, might have been 2", but with a 1/4" diameter thread. They fit PERFECTLY through the hole in the rocky mounts bike mount), a couple of lock washers, and fashioned my own mount system. I think I spent around $32 on all hardware required (for 2 mounts).

Instead of putting the bolt through the washer and having the bolt stick out towards you from the rail, then securing the bike mount with a nut - I did something else. I used JB Weld to secure one of the nuts that fits my bolt to one of the large washers that fits the rail. I used one of the bolts to align the hole in the washer with the nut to make it easier - just have to be careful not to JB Weld the nut/washer to the bolt itself. I did two of these per mount.

When the JB Weld was dry, I slid the washer/nut assembly into the bed rail with the nut on the inside of the rail (so you can't see the nut itself). Then take the bolt, put it through hole in the bike mount, then screw it into the nut/washer assembly you just made. Do that again for the 2nd hole in the mount. I used a lock washer between the head of the bolt and the bike mount itself. I also had to trim probably a little less than a 1/4" off of my bolt, otherwise it would hit the back of the bed rail before it was tight.

To do this I threaded a nut onto the bolt, trimmed off with a dremel what I didn't want of the bolt, then took the nut off. The nut will reshape the threads that got mangled by the dremel. If you dont do it this way, you might not be able to thread a nut on the bolt at all after you trim the excess threads from the bolt.

The JB Weld securing the nut/washer together is only to keep the two together. By putting the nut/washer assembly into the rail so that the bolt has to go through the washer before it threads into the nut, the JB Weld is providing no assistance in securing the load down. On the other hand, if you were to put the nut/washer assembly into the rail with the nut facing you, then you would be depending on the JB Weld to hold the nut to the washer, and therefore keeping the entire load secure... Not the optimal situation in my opinion.

So far I only hauled one bike about 15 miles with this setup. It was secure as can be though. I just used a bungee to secure the back tire. Another that is nice is that these mounts can double as tie down points. I take out the clutch part of the mount and store them under my seat when not in use. The mount itself stays mounted on the rail. You can attach bungees or tie downs to them to secure other things - just remember to stay within the safe load limits of the bed rail system itself.

Sorry no pics, but I suppose I could snap a few if they'd be of any help.

 

Thanks for the great thread. A few pictures would be nice but no biggie if you don't get em.

 

pics would be great... they might help me with another thing I am working on.

 

Do you do any mountain biking? If so wheres your favorite around here?

 

I haven't done much in St. Louis yet. Castlewood Park is good though, along with Klondike.

 

If you look at www.gorctrails.com/ it tells you about the ones around here. Ive been to a few, was just seeing your thoughts.

 

Pics! I just ordered one of those damn 50 dollar ones from toyota a few days ago I wish i'd seen this before!

 

Note that it's best to use a tap and die set for these purposes. Just a helpful hint

I've done simillar, and a big thing to watch for is how tight you bolt things down - it's not hard to bend the rail if you start reaping on things.

 

I wasn't going to bother getting a tap and die set when this would work just fine. I've done it before, and I've never had an issue!

I agree with tightening them down too tight. You've definitely got to be careful.

 

Not to rub it in, but I got 2 Toyota ones off of ebay for $30 shipped.

 

Well that's depressing. I really need to get better about researching stuff more before I buy

 

try and take them back maybe?

 

Not to mention, you lose the use of one of the tie downs for each bike mount. I'd take the oem one back and make my own and you still have use of all stock tie downs

 

Plus 2 more tie down locations in the front of the bed, depending on the mounts you get. Mine can easily be used to strap a bungee to.

 

Subbin'...can't read it right now.

 

I dont think that you totally lose the tie down points. Ive used mine with the bike racks on them several times.

 

So I went to adjust my mounts last night, trying to move them as close to the the outside of the bed as possible therefore maximizing the storage space between the bikes. I loosened the mounts, slid them over, tightened them a bit. Mounted the bike to finish tightening them and to make sure they were tight enough. While finishing tightening the bolts, the washers securing the mounts to the bed began to bend.

The washers are obviously not strong enough. I ordered a rail mounting kit meant to mount the Rocky Mounts to Toyota bed rails. Those should be a bit stronger.

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up that this solution isn't strong enough. At least the washers bent instead of the bed rails!

 

Huh I will have to show pics of what I have. My washers hold just fine.

 

hate to beat the dead horse but are there any pics of these mounts? its been a year, how have they held up? and that link is dead.

 

Eh, it's been over a year, I guess I should finally post those pics, lol.




This has been on my truck for probably 2 years now. No rust, just some discoloration of the paint - might spray it with rustoleum at some point.

Bike mounts are made by XPORT and were $8 from Performance Bicycle (price has gone up a bit since then). it looks like the design might have changed, mine have vertical slits for bolts to go through, the stock photo looks like they switched to a single drilled hole.


Not sure the exact size on the bolts, I think they are 3/8" or so. i ended up drilling out the holes on the bike mount so they would be wider, because the panhead bolts needed to be of a sufficient size so the washers would fit in the rails without falling out. To do that, I used a countersink bit from a cheap drill bit set and went to town.



Since installing that first set, I found a better mount using 1 1/3" carriage bolts, a special square washer, cut washer, lock washer, and nut:



However, that square washer isn't sold in stores, it's specially made for hanging electrical wire to telephone poles. I did a massive search (I thought a unistrut bolt would do the trick, but those don't come in the right size), so if you find anything in an over the counter solution, please post up.