first taco, adventure truck

Hey all,

Just bought my first Tacoma a few weeks ago... 2016 TRD offroad access cab. It's silver and awesome. Currently living in Houston and am planning on using it as my escape vehicle. Hopefully I'll be able to find some rad spots to take it for biking/climbing adventures (pretty hard to find in Houston). I'd also like to get a camper shell on it eventually.

I've started researching some different ways to transport bikes in my truck. I have a hitch rack that I've put on the back, but I don't love it (sticks out a bit too much). I've been looking into fork mounts that can go along the rails, but would be more keen to have the mounts directly on the bed of the truck (for if/when I get a shell). I'm just not sure the best way to attach the mounts onto the bed. I've seen people attach them to a piece of wood along the bed, but was wondering if there was another, more secure way? I don't want to bolt them directly into the truck bed... is there some sort of rail that you can put along the bottom? First time truck owner, clearly.

Probably not the place to ask these kind of questions, but it's my first post so I thought I'd give it a shot before going out into the real world...

Cheers!

 

Welcome to TW!

Quick google search shows a locking fork OEM bike rack that uses the bed slide rails. The ebay link has better pics than the dealer link, didn't spend much time searching:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/282000473706?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

 

Welcome to TW, you can mount your bikes to the front rail in the bed. I know the 16 does not come with rail , but you can get that from a toyota dlr. your truck is already set up for the front rail. do a search on here, there are write ups about what you want/need to do. Its a slick set up, not to pricey.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World. I bought the Toyota locking fork mount made by Yakima at the dealer and it works great. Mounts to the rail with security screws and uses a key lock on the fork clamp.

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome to the site lots of great info here.

 

You don't say what type of bike you're riding, but you might be able to get away with just using some ratchet straps, or throwing the front wheel over the back tailgate. If you plan on getting a camper shell, I'm not too sure I'd waste much money on any sort of bed mount...

 

Ive heard of people putting fork mounts in the lip of the tailgate so when u open the tailgate it pulls the bike out to you. Or you may be able to use something like this, even with a shell:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/kb-voodoo-outboard-bike-mount-ready-to-ship.377374/
The sky is pretty much the limit with fork mounts- just find a place the bike will fit and bolt it down

 

Thanks for the info everyone! I think I'm just going to buy a couple of these fork mounts:

$17 Sunlite Fork Mount Bike Block

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A...+bike+rack&dpPl=1&dpID=41MtsikYFVL&ref=plSrch

And then these t slot things:

$24 Te-Co 41406T Black Oxide 1018 Steel Tapped Through T-Slot Nut, 3/8"-16 TPI, 5/8" Height x 7/8" Width x 9/16" Table Slot (Pack of 5)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009SWGLHW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=detailpage

And attach them to the side rails. My road bike fits sideways, not sure if another bike would fit near the cab or if the wheel wells would get in the way. If so, I might just get a piece of wood and attach the fork mounts to that (which i may end up doing if i get a shell). Cheap option first and then maybe I'll get fancy later on that outboard bike mount looks sweet though!

 

Welcome!