Cheap/Free Mods

Saw a set of these bed rail tie downs on eBay for $29. Built my own set (of 4) for just under 14 dollars.

All that is needed:
4- 3/8" unistrut spring nuts
4- 3/8" short eye bolts
12- 3/8" fender washers

They fit great. Slide when loose. And you can unscrew them and they will pop in anywhere on the bedrail.

 

I like your ingenuity, but those pics scare me a bit.

It looks like the nut that's actually IN the rail doesn't sit behind the rolled steel edges of the rail, but wedges between them. Not a huge deal under light tightening/light loads, but too much torsion on those puppies while they're under load and you'll pinch/crease a section of your rail.

Worst-case could find them bending the rail enough to let them slip out.

Is there a way to put a couple washers in that rail between the nut and the rail? That might solve the problem right nicely (sorry about the grammar - I'm from Maine, after all.)

 

This is usually used in construction - usually electrical. The 4- 3/8" unistrut spring nuts fit in the unistrut - that is what they are made for. 3/8 bolt threads into the spring nut just as it is supposed to do. Nice job.

 

There're probably channel nuts. I've seen them at Fastenal. They have grooves near the ends to lock into the bed rail channel.

 

Unistrut fail

The spring goes on the opposite side from the bolt. The spring holds the nut in position until the bolt is tightened.

Reversed as shown....

The grooves are on the wrong side.

 

When I did mine, I used half inch unistrut nuts and ground them a little on the bench grinder. I eliminated the spring though. Didn't need it. I did use washers on the inside of the rail to lock it into the notches in the rail. Keeps it from migrating down the rail. Nice clean look to the op though.

 

here is another option. Used one of the cheap stake pocket bed tie downs found for about 4 bucks at auto part stores. Ground down the nut and removed the rubber block. Looks and works great

 

There is a black connector in the one fuse block under the dash that's leads to the dome light I recommend splicing from there. I have to do a write up on it I've just been busy as hell

 

Write up on what exactly?

 

Sorry that post can be deleted I posted it in the wrong forum

 

Delete it yourself.

Edit > Delete Post > Confirm (don't put in a reason for deletion).

 

Great idea!!!

 

So I'm not really a fan of the stock bottle jack or the breaker bar. Went out and bought some better replacements. - Under $20 - Under $25 - About $5

The bottle jack I bought extends about 3" shorter than the factory jack, but most of us lifted Tacos are probably shoving a block of wood or brick under the jack anyways. It's all tucked in where the factory jack goes, even using the rubber things to prevent rattling.

 

Great idea for those who want or need replacements. Will you list the sources for the stuff that you bought?

 

Updated my post with links to the products.

 

Just a FYI, for someone who may not know, but for some models of Tacoma's the wheel lugs are 21mm. So, of course, some may require a . Hate to see anyone swap out the factory and have the wrong size for their application. Because when you really need it, it'll be in a 107°F blizzard amidst a wildfire on the side of the road at 3:00 in the morning.

I always carry both sizes at minimum. Some lower end trailers use 19mm. My Tacoma just happens to also have a 17mm >thin wall< socket, because I needed it once (hot chick in Audi) and didn't have it. Won't let that happen again! LoL

 

Definitely a good idea for anyone to check their rim/lugs to buy the appropriate socket to make sure it can fit on the lugs, and inside the rim. Also make sure it fits on the key for locking lug nuts, if they are used. I only still have that pouch in my truck to I can drop the spare if necessary.

 

Subd

So far:
Rear locker anytime mod (no relay method)
Fogs anytime mod
Seatbelt chime OFF

 

One more thing that I personally carry for tire changes is a speed wrench. I had a set of winter tires a few years ago on my winter car that I bought used and for whatever reason they wouldn't hold a bead in really cold temperatures so I constantly found myself changing tires in -25 to -30 degree celsius temperatures....SUCKS!! It was so bad I never put the tools away, carried an extra full size spare so I'd have 2 and tossed in the front mat from my door step to kneel down in the snow. Time being of the essence though I bought a speed wrench and now always have one. Use your breaker bar to break the nuts and of course re-torque them as a speed wrench can't apply any significant amount. Once you break them loose, switch your socket to the speed wench and raise the vehicle and you'll have them off almost as fast as an impact.