OEM Bed Extender Install 2016 Tacoma

Bought a Toyota Bed Extender the other day, figured id post a thread of the install, it's not really hard but the directions that come with suck and are only useful for the templates lol...
Step 1 : Take off the taillights
There are 3 10mm bolts holding each of the taillights on, after unscrewing them simply pull the lights off, keep it mind it may take some force, as they are held in by clips, but dont worry they wont break (dont try to hulk it either though, i pulled the bottom first and then the top)

Step 2 : Attach the templates to the pillars and drill some holes
Just cut out the supplied templates, get some tape, and align the template with the bottom of the sheet resting on the bed liner, and the inside portion of it being right against the curved part of the D pillar near the tailgate. After doing this for both sides, either use a centerpunch to make drilling a little easier, or just go to town right away, i used a 7/32 drill bit instead of a 6mm one, you can get away with a 1/4in bit too. (also just make sure the template is properly scaled, just match the bracket to the picture on the paper)

Step 2.5 : Make sure the holes work with the brackets
Self explanatory... make sure the brackets fit before doing anything else..



Step 3 : Protect the drilled holes
This step isnt necessary, but takes no time at all and will pay off if you live in the NE or anywhere where they salt the roads ever.. I personally used some clear coat spray instead of paint, but anything that will seal up the drilled area works... i also taped the area around the holes off since i was spraying the clear coat so i wouldnt make a mess... after spraying wait 30 mins and go assemble the extender
Step 4 : Install brackets
3 nuts and bolts, get an 8mm wrench or socket and a 3mm hex head, hand tighen, be careful not to strip the hex head


Step 5 : Reinstall taillights
reverse step 1
Step 6 : install the bed extender
the directions were clear enough in the manual, and its a straightforward install.. just make sure to install the tighteners on the center 3 posts. when tightening the block things make sure to do it flush with the plastic post...



Thats pretty much the entire install, takes a half hour, maybe longer depending on how distracted you get... just make sure to have all tools before you start this.
The extender fits perfect under the tonneau cover the truck came with as well.



first time ever doing a thread like this so it may be messy, but i hope it helps people in the future though! ask away if any questions, will put a dirtbike in there later when i get my bedmat in

 

gotta learn how to properly embed the pics next time too -_-

 

I just brought AMP research extender and i have a Tonneau hard cover installed by dealer did you need different mount bracket or you use the ones that came with extender

 

no used the ones that came with the extender man

 

haha thank you, after using the extender however i need to make a slight revision tomorrow morning to this guide, the two brackets should be switched sides so the extender could actually be put in after you load in a motorcycle or such... i dont know how the factory directions messed it up, even the templates haha, but regardless ill be doing an update to this tomorrow lol

 

Seem cheap enough on eBay might have to get one..

 

The design for this bed extender wastes a lot of usable space at the corners of the tailgate.

 

thanks for feed back

 

Yeah with this one it does shave some space but it looks cooler imo... with the short bed its a pita to even get the bike in sideways the square bed extender wouldnt have made a difference to me

 

Yeah, I think it looks nice too but I feel a U-shaped extender would work better. Also, Toyota really should design their own extender that attaches to the bed rails to make drilling and measuring unnecessary.

 

Oh that it does for sure, now that ive experienced first hand the pain of this crap, id drill the mounts as far as possible and definitely buy a U shaped one haha

 

Used your instructions...thanks!

 

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........ Good write up ... thanks OP
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Glad to be of help!

 

Toyota could look to Nissan for some inspiration again. This is what my old Frontier came with! Was very useful. The way it mounts to the rails allows you to slide the extender up and down the whole length of the bed.

 

amen to that, itd be so much easier to do :/ regardless im happy to have a truck hahaha

 

I have one and find im always taking it out to allow room for other things. Have not decided if i will get one again.

 

personally i only use this for my motorcycle, and i usually remove it once im done riding, but i see what you mean, its a pain to keep in there if you use the bed often